Attorneys representing the late Nicholas Brendon are striving to push forward with a breach of contract lawsuit that the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star was involved in prior to his passing at the age of 54.
Brendon had been ensnared in a legal battle with Stephen Britton, a contractor based in Ohio, whom he accused of owing him over $121,000 due to a contentious work disagreement.
According to court documents examined by Us Weekly, Brendon expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of Britton’s construction efforts on his Ohio residence.
In filings from December 2025, Britton alleged that the actor had verbally abused his construction crew and had thrown objects in their direction.
Britton further claimed in the legal papers that his workers felt unsafe at Brendon’s home, where they frequently encountered accessible weapons like axes.
The Daily Mail has reached out to both Britton and Brendon’s representatives, as well as his lawyer, to obtain additional comments regarding the ongoing legal situation.
Lawyers for late actor Nicholas Brendon hope to continue to litigate a lawsuit the Buffy the Vampire Slayer star at the time of his death at 54. Pictured 2017 in Philadelphia
The contractor said in legal docs that he ‘became worried for his safety and his workers’ safety’ as result of the late actor’s mercurial temperament.
Amid the enmity, the late actor placed an Apple AirTag in his work bag to keep track of his whereabouts, Britton told the court, which Brendon denied.
‘I’ve never had this happen to me before, and it was alerted for probably three days prior that my iPhone picked it up,’ Britton said in legal docs.
Britton said of the tense atmosphere on the job: ‘I feared, immensely for my life.
‘To be able to go there and work, to be able to get a job done, to worry about weapons and axes that are going to get – you know, am I going to get a plate thrown at me?’
He added: ‘Am I going to get physically assaulted? I was fearful, but then when a tracking device is put on my person, that’s not acceptable.’
Brendon said that a $20,000 loan he provided the contractor with was not repaid, leading his attorneys to request a total of $121,260 with interest.
Attorneys for Brendon said that his estate is planning on picking out a representative who will see the case through the system in the wake of his unexpected passing.
Brendon played Xander Harris on the popular show Buffy, The Vampire Slayer
Brendon’s family announced his death last Friday, saying the actor died while sleeping due to natural causes. Pictured 2018 in Italy
Brendon had denied the claims, telling the court, ‘I don’t threaten people.’
His lawyer added, ‘He’s a very calm, relaxed, individual with lots of physical problems and is not threatening in any way shape or form.’
Brendon’s family announced his death last Friday, saying the actor, who played Xander Harris on the popular vampire show, died while sleeping due to natural causes.
His family said on his social media pages: ‘We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon.’
Brendon’s relatives said, ‘He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create.
‘Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was.’
Sarah Michelle Gellar, seen Monday in Rome, described Brendon’s death as tragic
Brendon’s Buffy costar Sarah Michelle Gellar described his death as tragic and premature.
‘It’s a tragedy when you lose anyone at any point,’ Gellar said. ‘It’s a bigger tragedy when you lose someone way sooner than needs to be.’
She called Brendon ‘an integral part of Buffy, and that never goes away.’
Gellar said of her late colleague’s work on the series: ‘I think as actors we talk a lot or think a lot about legacy.
He brought so much joy to so many people on that show, and that lives on. And that’s the truth.’
