The fight over late actress Daveigh Chase’s estimated $400,000 estate has grown even more contentious, with her former manager now stepping into the legal clash already unfolding between her parents over who should manage what she left behind.
The unusual probate battle follows the tragic death of the former child star, best known for frightening moviegoers as Samara in The Ring. Chase died at 35 after a painful struggle with addiction and a period of homelessness in Los Angeles.
In the months leading up to her death, Chase had reportedly been living in an RV in Skid Row, the troubled downtown Los Angeles area, while loved ones searched anxiously for her and tried to reconnect.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later ruled that Chase died on June 16 from the combined effects of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, and polysubstance use disorder.
But even amid the heartbreaking details of her final months, court filings later showed that Chase still had assets. Her mother estimated the estate to be worth about $400,000, according to court documents obtained by Our News Outlet.
That estate has now become the center of a widening legal dispute involving Chase’s mother, Cathy Chase, her estranged father, John Schwallier, and former manager John Ryan, all connected to the question of who should oversee her remaining money and property.
During a Wednesday hearing in a Downtown Los Angeles courtroom, Daveigh’s parents and their lawyers told the judge they intend to press ahead with rival petitions, with each side seeking authority over their daughter’s estate.
Cathy told Our News Outlet that Daveigh was still owed residual payments from past work in commercials, movies and television projects that she had never collected.
Late actress Daveigh Chase had an estate valued at $400,000, according to a court filing from her mother in the wake of The Ring star’s tragic death at 35 in June of this year
Chase’s former manager John Ryan has now entered the probate battle over her $400,000 estate. Chase died in June from AIDS and polysubstance use disorder. Pictured in 2011 in LA
Daveigh, who died at 35, is seen with her mother Cathy as a child during happier times (2002)
John Schwallier, who has not seen Daveigh since she was a child, initially told Our News Outlet he would rather have a fiduciary, Megan Boling, be appointed by the court to deal with settling the estate affairs.
He also filed paperwork asking a judge to approve Boling as administrator to Daveigh’s estate.
Then, in a surprising turn of events, another name came forward to obtain a piece of Daveigh’s earning.
An attorney representing Daveigh’s former manager also told the judge that his client, John Ryan, had filed paperwork in support of Boling as the administrator.
Ryan had publicly criticized Daveigh’s boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, for setting up a GoFundMe for the actress, calling it ‘fake’ and warned the public not to donate to the crowdfunding site.
‘That GoFundMe is not going toward ANY expenses for Daveigh,’ Ryan said in a statement.
‘Myself, her father, her uncle and all of us close friends who knew her for decades are encouraging people not to donate to this page. This man making these claims brought her into the hospital in terrible condition and didn’t let any of the family know until she passed so he can control the dialogue.
‘Daveigh’s actual family is handling all arrangements, we have contacted go fund me to let them know this man started this page on his own under Daveighs name when she was already unresponsive and urging people to report the page and not donate.’
Chase had been unhoused and was known to have stayed in an RV in Los Angeles’ Skid Row neighborhood, pictured, before her death
Daveigh in 2011 at the peak of her career following a string of high profile movie and TV roles
Attorney Richard Pershing, who represents fiduciary Megan Boling, told the judge he met with Cathy Chase’s attorney, but they could not ‘find a resolution.’
Cathy Chase, who was on the video call, remained quiet. Her ex-husband, however, spoke to the judge in frustration.
‘Ultimately, I would like a court-appointed person,’ said Schwallier as he rubbed his brow.
‘I’ve got nothing but ill representation from my ex-wife and I don’t see her treating this fairly. That is why I want a fiduciary person to do it.’
Attorney Cliff Melnick, who represents Cathy, said he was concerned with the amount of time it could take to argue over the competing petitions.
‘Your Honor, I am concerned about the length, time and expenses this is going to take,’ Melnick said.
‘There are so many competing petitions. And as far as Ms. Boling is concerned, my client clearly has priority over Mr. Schwallier’s nominee.
He continued: ‘I guess my overall worry is that we’re just going to keep pushing this. A resolution is important to my client. It’s a tough situation, and under these very difficult circumstances, I am further worried that we are being engaged in discovery.
‘It’s going to become some form of a fishing expedition. There is nothing in any of the papers that I’ve seen indicating Cathy Chase should be disqualified for any reason whatsoever.’
Chase’s estate reportedly includes money connected to her years working in movies, television shows and commercials. Chase is pictured in 2012 in LA
Chase began acting as a child and built a career that included major film and television roles; Chase is pictured in 2008 in LA
Before the 15-minute hearing ended, Schwallier told the judge he also plans to file his own petition.
He told the judge, ‘If you are not going to grant [Boiling to take over] or a court-appointed fiduciary today, I will file a competing petition.’
The judge told Schwallier to file his petition by January 8. The hearing was continued to February 10, 2027.
In June, Cathy Chase told Our News Outlet about the harrowing moments she experienced upon learning of her daughter’s death via online news alerts.
‘I was devastated,’ Cathy said. ‘It felt like something inside of me squeezing all of the air out of me, and at the same time, it felt like I was exploding outwardly.’
She continued, ‘I let out this guttural scream and I just was running. And these weird sounds were coming out of me, these kind of, like, primeval sounds.
‘And I went out into the backyard, and I was screaming, “No, no, no, no!” I am in so much pain but I hope her soul heard me.’
Cathy told Our News Outlet she had said a prayer for her late daughter when she identified her at a Los Angeles hospital early June 18.
She said a chaplain joined her as they ‘were able to lay hands and pray.’
Aged 12 in 2003, she won the ‘Best Villain’ MTV Movie Award for her turn in The Ring. Ashton Kutcher and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs presented her with the award
Chase became internationally recognizable as a child actress for playing the terrifying Samara Morgan in the 2002 horror movie The Ring. Chase is pictured in The Ring with Naomi Watts
Cathy added, ‘We were able to lay hands and pray. Technically, we were touching the glass, but it’s as close as we could get, so we were able to lay hands and pray for her.
‘It was a beautiful experience, and, I feel very blessed to have been able to share that with my daughter.’
Daveigh Chase was best known for her work in films such as The Ring and Lilo & Stitch, both of which had been released in 2002.
The Las Vegas-born actress had previously appeared in the 2001 film Donnie Darko and 2003 series Oliver Beene.
