The legal troubles surrounding Josh and Anna Duggar have escalated dramatically, with a judge now threatening contempt of court against the couple for their continued failure to comply with a court order. The latest development stems from a years-long property dispute that has exposed a pattern of alleged legal stonewalling and noncompliance by the disgraced reality TV figure and his wife. Court documents reveal that Anna Duggar was ordered to appear in court on May 22, 2024, to explain why she and her company, ALB Investments, should not be held in contempt for failing to pay a $5,000 attorney fee judgment.
She did not show up.
The case, which began in 2019, involves a parcel of land that Josh Duggar purchased from a man named Ed Lewis. The problem was that the property had allegedly already been sold to Carl Echols years earlier, who had been living on the land and paying taxes on it for over a decade. Josh Duggar and his company, ALB Investments, acquired the property through a quiet title action, a legal maneuver that essentially allowed them to claim ownership without properly notifying the rightful owner.
Echols sued, and the legal battle that followed has been marked by repeated failures by the Duggars to cooperate.
Josh Duggar’s legal team, initially led by attorney Travis Story, who also happened to be the incorporator of ALB Investments, was disqualified from the case after a conflict of interest was raised. The judge removed Story, and the Duggars were ordered to appear for depositions and court hearings. They repeatedly failed to do so.
At one point, Josh Duggar was held in contempt for his absence, and the judge threatened him with jail time. The court ultimately ruled in favor of Echols, quieting the title back to him and ordering ALB Investments to pay $5,000 in attorney fees.
Despite the ruling, the Duggars have not paid the judgment. The attorney for Echols filed a new motion for contempt and an order to show cause in 2024, demanding that ALB Investments provide a schedule of its assets and pay the outstanding fees. The motion states that the judgment debtor is required by law to file a verified schedule of all property within 45 days of the final judgment.
The Duggars failed to do so. The court then ordered Anna Duggar, as a representative of ALB Investments, to appear on May 22 to show cause why she should not be held in contempt.
The proof of service filed on May 21 shows that a certified mail receipt was sent to Anna Duggar at her address. The green card was signed by Michelle Duggar, Josh’s mother, on May 15. Anna Duggar did not appear in court.
No further filings have been made by the Duggars since that date, leaving the judgment unpaid and the contempt order unresolved. This is not an isolated incident of legal noncompliance for the family.
Josh Duggar is currently serving a federal prison sentence for receiving child pornography. During his sentencing, a $50,000 fine was imposed. He has not paid that fine either.
The federal government has placed a lien on the home of Jim Bob Duggar, Josh’s father, to secure the debt. Additional liens have been filed against properties in Maryland and Benton County, Arkansas, where Josh Duggar no longer lives. The federal lien remains active, and the Duggar family has not moved to satisfy it.
The property dispute case highlights a broader pattern of behavior that critics say is emblematic of the Duggar family’s approach to legal and financial obligations. The use of shell companies, the failure to conduct proper title searches, and the refusal to pay court-ordered judgments have drawn scrutiny. The Duggars have a history of creating multiple business entities with little to no online presence, making it difficult for creditors and courts to track their assets.
ALB Investments, like many of their ventures, has no public website or clear operational footprint.
Anna Duggar, who has been publicly selling puppies through her business Golden Girl Pups LLC, has been accused of running a backyard breeding operation. The business remains active and is registered with the American Kennel Club. Critics have pointed out that while she sells dogs for up to $2,000 each, she has not paid the $5,000 owed to Carl Echols.
The discrepancy has fueled public outrage and accusations of hypocrisy. The Duggar family has not issued a public statement regarding the contempt proceedings.
The legal saga is far from over. Carl Echols and his attorney are seeking to hold ALB Investments in contempt and are requesting additional attorney fees and costs. The court has not yet ruled on the latest motion.
If the judge finds the Duggars in willful contempt, they could face further sanctions, including additional fines or even jail time for Anna Duggar. The case serves as a stark reminder of the legal consequences that can follow when court orders are ignored.
The Duggars’ legal troubles are compounded by Josh Duggar’s ongoing appeals in his federal criminal case. He has filed multiple motions to vacate his conviction, alleging that the Bureau of Prisons is retaliating against him for exposing mail fraud. He has been moved to a facility in Ohio after facing disciplinary issues in other prisons.
He is currently unable to have visitors, including his wife Anna, and communication between them is severely restricted.
The situation has left many observers questioning the Duggars’ commitment to the rule of law. The family, once celebrated for their reality television show, has seen their reputation crumble under the weight of scandal and legal battles. The current contempt proceedings are the latest chapter in a story that shows no signs of ending.
For Carl Echols, the man who lost his property for years, the fight for justice continues. The court’s next move will determine whether the Duggars will finally be held accountable for their actions.
