Woman Sues Bergen County Psychic, Saying She Paid $78K For 'Cleanse'

NORTH JERSEY — A North Jersey widow is suing a Bergen County-based psychic, saying the woman took advantage of her vulnerability to trick her into paying more than $78,000.

In the suit, filed Sept. 2 in Bergen County Superior Court, Marisol Meza of Hawthorne says that after she lost her husband in 2022, Paramus-based "Psychic Readings" proprietor Holly Stanley offered to put her in touch with him, and to "cleanse" her.

Now, Meza is asking for her $78,500 back, as well as triple damages.

Late Husband's Jewelry

In the suit, Meza says she lost her husband in October 2022 after a "long, traumatic, and tragic" 12-year battle with kidney disease. The loss left her with "substantial grief and emotional vulnerability," the suit says.

Last February, according to the suit, Meza happened to meet Holly Stanley and her associates.

According to the suit, "Defendants became aware of Ms. Meza's grief over the death of her husband and of Ms. Meza's emotional vulnerability concerning the well-being and spiritual condition of her deceased spouse."

Stanley and her company "held themselves out as psychics and/or spiritual advisors capable of communicating with, assisting, and cleaning" both Mesa and her late spouse, the suit says.

Meza paid $500 for a consultation.

Stanley and others asked her for personal information, then "converted Ms. Meza's grief into a relationship of trust and emotional dependency," says the suit.

According to the suit, the associates would frequently praise Meza for doing what they asked in order to gain her trust. Then, they'd ask for more money.

After receiving the $500, they asked for $7,000 more to "cleanse" Meza, the suit says.

Stanley's company then took another $6,500 to cleanse Meza's late husband's spirit.

They also told Meza to fill a box with cash, as well as some of her late husband's belongings — including jewelry — but never said what they'd do with the items, the suit alleges.

Another $65K

Finally, Stanley asked for an additional $65,000 to remove a curse on some funds Meza inherited, saying they needed $1,000 for each year of her husband's life, according to the suit.

Meza provided the money, but "became alarmed," the suit says.

She researched the company and asked for her money back, but Psychic Readings refused, she says.

All totaled, she had given the company $78,500 and her husband's jewelry, according to the suit, which was filed by attorney Richard Joel of Oradell.

The suit asks for Meza's money and belongings back, as well as triple damages and attorney fees. Meza's attorney has asked for a jury trial.

Psychic Responds

Reached by phone on Tuesday, Stanley said that she had only been paid for "hours and hours" of her services, and that Meza had signed a confidentiality agreement.

"She signed a waiver," Stanley said. "It's supposed to be for privacy. She's supposed to ask for my permission first if she puts anything on social media or anything like that...she signed two waivers."

Stanley said that she spent hours medicating with Meza, and bought special crystals to work with her. She said it's not fair that her business is being slammed.

"It's not illegal to charge for my time and crystals," she said. "I had to go to a third party and buy the crystals....I feel like I'm being slandered and cyber bullied. They're saying that I'm a scammer. When she was crying, I was there for her, counseling her, working with her for months."

Stanley also said that she's willing to return Meza's husband's belongings, which she described as "a pair of socks and like a beaded necklace." She acknowledged there was a watch, but said it was only worth around $100.

"I'm sure they're valuable to her," she said. "I'm sure it means a lot to her."

She added, "Just because I'm a psychic doesn't mean that I scammed her. I showed up every single time until she decided not to work with me anymore."