Nicholas Brendon was accused of abusing construction workers before his tragic death on Friday.
The “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” alum has been in a bitter legal battle with Britton Excavation and Construction Services for more than $120,000.
Brendon claimed that contractor and company owner Stephen Britton failed to complete renovations to his Ohio home despite paying him $79,441 to address his medical needs.
The TV star claimed that only $7,622 of fence installation had been completed before Britton terminated his contract.
However, in December, Britton filed for a civil stalking protection order against Brendon, according to court documents. According to the order, the contractor claimed he stopped working with the Ohio resident because he “became concerned for his safety and that of his employees.”
According to People magazine, evidence in the complaint filed on March 12 shows that Britton accused Brendon of air tagging her.
“I’ve never had anything like this happen before, but I was warned probably three days ago that my iPhone picked it up,” Britton said during the hearing, according to the filing. “So I sent something to my wife, and she discovered what it was and helped me figure it out. We put a little alert button on it and we found it and stuff. That’s how we found this pneumatic device.”
According to People, Britton claimed that she was in “extreme fear” for her life, but the judge denied the order.
Another exhibit shows Britton also claiming that she was “scared to work in Nicholas’ house” and that “there were axes and weapons” and that the late actor’s actions “necessarily had nothing to do with drugs. That’s what they’re trying to blame – his prescription drugs.”
Brendon was previously charged with controlled substance prescription fraud and refusing to identify himself during a traffic stop in 2021.
After pleading guilty to the felony prescription fraud charge, Brendon’s misdemeanor charge was dismissed and he was sentenced to one year of probation.
But Brendon denied Britton’s claims, telling the court: “I’m not threatening people.”
Brendon’s lawyer told the judge: “He has a very calm and relaxed personality, and although he has a number of physical issues, he is not a threatening person in any way,” according to court documents.
Britton added that her “privacy was violated.”
“Nicholas Brendon heard multiple stories, and I don’t know which ones are actually accurate, but he and his assistant Theresa Fortier admitted that the tracking device was placed in my tool bag, that it was placed on me. They then responded to the court and said they did not put it there,” Britton said at the hearing.
Britton claimed Fortier was “sleeping on the garage floor during the day,” according to the filing.
“I just needed some quiet time because there was so much noise everywhere and I had a quiet corner where I could escape and no one could come and ask me questions,” Fortier told the court. “I didn’t have to hear what was going on, so I could sleep a little bit more peacefully and avoid everyone.”
Mr. Fortier claimed that no work was being done while he was sleeping in the garage.
Brendon’s death was announced by his family in a social media statement on Friday.
“We are saddened by the loss of our brother and son Nicholas Brendon,” the statement said. “He passed away in his sleep from natural causes. Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and the characters he brought to life over the years.”
“In recent years, Nikki has developed a passion for painting and art. Nikki loved sharing her enthusiastic talent with her family, friends, and fans.”
“He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was the purest reflection of who he was as a person.”
“It is no secret that Nicholas had a difficult past, but he was on medication and treatment to overcome his diagnosis and was optimistic about his future at the time of his death.”
