Ellen DeGeneres is fighting a woman who sued her over a 2023 car accident in California, claiming she was never served legal documents despite the alleged victim saying otherwise.
“On December 23, 2025, certain documents were left at the front desk of Neuman + Associates. Neuman + Associates is not Ms. DeGeneres’ home, habitual residence or usual place of business. Additionally, Ms. DeGeneres was not at Neuman + Associates at the time of the delivery,” the documents obtained exclusively by Documents. Us Weekly and date of January 21 revelation. (Neuman + Associates is a business management firm led by Harley Neumanwho serves on the board of directors of the Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund, according to the company’s website).
As stated in the legal documents, DeGeneres’ alleged victim claimed that a process server also attempted to drop off documents at NKSFB, LLC twice, on January 6th and the next day, January 7th, leaving the paperwork with an “Employee/Security Guard.” (Neuman + Associates is a division of NKSFB).
“There was no reason to believe Ms. DeGeneres would be there at all, and especially not on these two random days in January,” read the former talk show host’s response. “It should be reasonably obvious to anyone, especially a process server, that a security guard in a 20-story building is not ‘in charge’ of a business on the fifth floor of that building.”
Ellen DeGeneres
Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesThe response argued that it would be “extremely unlikely” that the NKSFB employee “had a relationship with Ms. DeGeneres such that the security guard would reliably hand her the complaint documents.”
DeGeneres, who turned 68 on Monday, January 26 and moved to UK in 2024 with his wife, Portia de Rossiafter donald trumpNeuman’s second presidential victory also drew attention.
“I have a business relationship, through Neuman +, and am generally familiar with the business operations and personal life situation of Ms. DeGeneres,” her filings, dated Jan. 21, read.
While acknowledging that documents were left at the front desk, the business executive stated that “Ms. DeGeneres was not at Neuman + Associates at the time of the termination,” but she was.
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“There has been no verbal interaction with the process server that I am aware of. The process server did not inform anyone of the contents of the documents that I am aware of. No one signed any acknowledgment of receipt of the documents that I am aware of. Likewise, I am not aware that a copy of the summons and complaint was mailed to my office,” Neuman.
In September 2025, DeGeneres was sued by a woman who accused the comedian of running a stop sign and crashing her vehicle into the alleged victim’s Tesla.
The alleged car accident happened in Santa Barbara County in October 2023.
The woman sued DeGeneres for negligence, claiming she was injured in the accident. She is seeking an unspecified amount of damages.
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His court date is scheduled for April 30.
DeGeneres is no stranger to controversy.
In 2022, she was criticized after being accused fostering a toxic work environment on the set of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The series finale aired in May 2022, concluding its 19-season run.
DeGeneres later addressed the allegations in her 2024 Netflix special, saying the ordeal was “devastating” at first.
“(I’m) just a multifaceted person with different feelings and emotions, and I can be happy and sad and compassionate or frustrated,” she explained at the time. “I have OCD and ADD. I’m honest. I’m generous. I’m sensitive and thoughtful. But I’m tough and impatient and demanding. I’m direct. I’m a strong woman.”
DeGeneres said it finally gave her perspective on what really matters.
“So, after a lifetime of caring, I can’t take it anymore. So no,” the comedian shared.