Marisol Meza, of Hawthorne, filed the lawsuit against Holly Stanley, Psychic Readings, Psychic Readings by Holly, and unidentified defendants in New Jersey Superior Court in Bergen County on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
Meza lost her husband in October 2022 after what the lawsuit describes as a “long, traumatic, and tragic illness.” Still grieving, she met the defendants in February 2026, the complaint says.
The psychics learned about Meza's grief and emotional vulnerability and presented themselves as spiritual advisers capable of communicating with and assisting her late husband, the suit alleges.
It started with $500 for an initial consultation, according to the complaint. The defendants then allegedly asked for $7,000 for a ritual to “cleanse” Meza, followed by another $6,500 to “cleanse” her husband's spirit. Meza was instructed to put the cash in a small box with some of her husband's belongings, including a watch, necklace, bracelet, clothing, wedding photograph, and an old key to the couple's home, the lawsuit says.
The demands allegedly grew: The psychics eventually requested $65,000 in cash for another ritual, telling Meza it was needed to remove a curse allegedly placed on money she had inherited, the lawsuit says.
They allegedly told her the price amounted to $1,000 for each year of her husband's life and would cover candles, crystals, bracelets, church donations, and people involved in prayer rituals. Meza was instructed to put the money into 65 separate white envelopes, each containing $1,000, according to the complaint.
Meza ultimately gave the defendants a box containing $71,500 in cash along with her husband's personal belongings, the lawsuit alleges. The defendants allegedly told Meza her husband had been cursed while alive and that his spirit required “urgent cleansing.”
They also claimed the negative energy could transfer to Meza if it was not addressed immediately, creating fear that she could die like her husband if the ritual wasn't completed, according to the suit. Meza's husband died following a 12-year battle with chronic kidney disease, the complaint says.
The rituals continued at home: Meza was given a 14-ounce pink candle containing small crystals and told to burn it in her bedroom for about 30 minutes each night, record a short video of it burning, and send the footage to the defendants, the lawsuit says. She was also allegedly given a gold-colored vanity box and told to put her engagement ring, wedding band, wedding photograph, and a heart-shaped pink crystal inside.
The defendants later demanded another $52,000 for an additional “critical ritual,” according to the complaint. Instead, Meza became alarmed, researched the defendants online, and discovered what the lawsuit describes as another $41,000 scam dating to 2016. Meza then demanded her money and belongings back, but the defendants refused, the lawsuit alleges.
The complaint accuses the defendants of fraud, undue influence, unjust enrichment, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.
Meza is seeking the return of her money and belongings along with damages, attorneys' fees, costs, and other relief.
When reached by Daily Voice on Monday, Sept. 8, Stanley provided a three-page agreement bearing Meza’s name and signature.
The agreement, dated Feb. 15, says the accuracy of consultations, readings and advice is “speculative” and cannot be guaranteed. It also says information provided by Stanley or Psychic Readings is for “educational, spiritual and entertainment purpose only.”
The agreement says all services offered by Stanley and Psychic Readings are for entertainment purposes and includes language releasing them from claims arising from the relationship. Meza’s name and what appears to be her signature are on the document.
Stanley also provided a separate service agreement dated March 21 that lists the services as “Supplies + donation” and the location as Paramus. The document acknowledges receipt of $71,500 and states that all services are final sale with no refund. Meza’s name and what appears to be her signature are on that document as well.
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