Chuvalo “Mark” Ferrell, the ex-husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Kelli Ferrell (now legally Kelli Potter), has two federal lawsuits pending in the Northern District of Georgia that together seek $400 million in damages. One accuses his ex-wife and Rockdale County officials of colluding to strip him of Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles, the restaurant the couple ran during their marriage. The other accuses Bravo, NBCUniversal, and the show’s production company of broadcasting false and defamatory claims about him. Both cases are active as of mid-2026.
The $200 Million Suit Against Kelli Potter and Rockdale County
Ferrell, represented by attorney Latoya Francis-Williams, filed Ferrell v. Rockdale County, Georgia et al (Case No. 1:25-cv-05978) on October 27, 2025.1Atlanta News First. Ex-Husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Claims His Business Was Unlawfully Taken The named defendants are Kelli Potter, Rockdale County Superior Court Clerk Janice Morris, and Rockdale County itself.2PacerMonitor. Ferrell v. Rockdale County, Georgia et al, Case No. 1:25-cv-05978
The complaint describes what Ferrell calls a “willful campaign of fraud, perjury, theft, administrative collusion, and intentional defamation” running from February 2022 through at least August 2025. Ferrell says he was the sole founder of Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles, which had locations in McDonough and Sandy Springs, and can document his ownership through signed operating agreements, Secretary of State filings, EIN numbers, and tax records.3Bossip. Mark Ferrell Sues Bravo and Rockdale Clerk for Divorce Mishandling
Against Potter, the suit alleges she and her attorney falsified business documents, including a lease agreement, and misrepresented the status of disputed business funds to the court, resulting in Potter gaining sole ownership of the restaurant. Against Clerk Janice Morris, the complaint alleges she advanced filings, garnishments, and orders that benefited Potter while ignoring defects in service and due process, and that her actions were influenced by a personal and professional relationship with Potter. The complaint also references allegations, though the judge is not a defendant, that Rockdale County Judge Nancy C. Bills coerced Ferrell into transferring ownership of his food truck to Potter under threat of additional jail time during divorce proceedings.1Atlanta News First. Ex-Husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Claims His Business Was Unlawfully Taken
Ferrell says he was jailed for more than 40 days in 2024 over claims that disputed business funds had not been repaid, despite records he says prove otherwise, and that his home and personal belongings were sold while he was incarcerated.4CBS News Atlanta. Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Kelli Potter Accused in Federal Lawsuit of Stealing Ex-Husband’s Business He also disputes his ex-wife’s claim that he stole nearly $500,000 from the business, saying the money came from loans and grants intended for expansion and that he returned $320,000 to a joint business account before a June 2022 hearing.3Bossip. Mark Ferrell Sues Bravo and Rockdale Clerk for Divorce Mishandling
In a statement accompanying the filing, Francis-Williams said: “This case isn’t just about paperwork errors; it’s about a man being imprisoned, threatened, and stripped of everything he built.”1Atlanta News First. Ex-Husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Claims His Business Was Unlawfully Taken The suit seeks $200 million plus attorneys’ fees.
The case is before District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim and a joint motion to stay on December 31, 2025. Neither has been ruled on. Discovery has moved forward while those motions sit, with additional disputes over scheduling generating filings as recently as June 2026.2PacerMonitor. Ferrell v. Rockdale County, Georgia et al, Case No. 1:25-cv-05978
The $200 Million Defamation Suit Against Bravo
On October 19, 2025, Ferrell filed a separate defamation action, Ferrell v. Bravo Media, LLC et al (Case No. 1:25-cv-05980), against Bravo Media, NBCUniversal Media, production company Truly Original, and cast member Shanae Humphrey. Kelli Potter has intervened in the case.5PacerMonitor. Ferrell v. Bravo Media, LLC et al, Case No. 1:25-cv-05980
Ferrell alleges that producers knowingly aired false claims portraying him as someone who abused his ex-wife and stole from a $420,000 business loan the couple jointly took out in 2022. He says the show allowed cast members to call him “a criminal, an abuser, and a fraud” without verifying those claims, and that he had in fact repaid the loan.6TMZ. RHOA Kelli Porter Sues Bravo for Defamation He seeks $100 million in compensatory damages for reputational harm and another $100 million in punitive damages.
The case is assigned to Judge William M. Ray II. There has been no ruling on the merits. Filings in May 2026 include motions to withdraw as attorney from the legal team representing all four defendants, indicating the defense representation may be changing.5PacerMonitor. Ferrell v. Bravo Media, LLC et al, Case No. 1:25-cv-05980
What Kelli Ferrell Said on the Show
Kelli Ferrell joined The Real Housewives of Atlanta for Season 16, and the divorce and restaurant fight became on-air storylines. During Part 1 of the Season 16 reunion, host Andy Cohen pressed her on her finances. She said she owed $100,000 in unpaid rent, interest, and late charges for Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles, and attributed the shortfall to spending $200,000 on attorney’s fees. She also said her estranged husband had told her he would “close everything” and that she “would not have anything without him” if she left.7Bravo TV. Andy Cohen Gives Kelli Ferrell Financial Advice After Issues
Mark Ferrell has separately alleged that Kelli diverted more than $30,000 from over $700,000 in business loans for personal expenses, including spa sessions and transfers to personal bank accounts.8Bossip. Mark Ferrell Kelli Ferrell Misusing Funds Nanas Chicken-N-Waffles The couple married in 2011, began divorce proceedings around 2022, and finalized the divorce in September 2024.7Bravo TV. Andy Cohen Gives Kelli Ferrell Financial Advice After Issues
Mark Ferrell’s Own Arrests
The legal trouble runs in both directions. In December 2025, days before Christmas, Mark Ferrell was jailed for contempt over $61,992 in unpaid child support owed to Kelli Ferrell. He was released a few days later after agreeing to pay.9AOL. Kelli Ferrell Ex-Husband Mark His court-ordered monthly child support obligation is $3,991.
On March 17, 2026, Ferrell was arrested again, this time on an unrelated felony theft-by-taking charge. By then he had allegedly missed another $7,982 in child support for January and February 2026.10Divorce.law. RHOA Kelli Ferrell Ex-Husband Arrested Felony Theft Child Support
What the Defendants Have Said
Kelli Potter has not publicly addressed the substance of her ex-husband’s federal allegations. She did not respond when CBS News Atlanta contacted her in November 2025.4CBS News Atlanta. Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Kelli Potter Accused in Federal Lawsuit of Stealing Ex-Husband’s Business Atlanta News First reported that a spokesperson said a response would come later, though none had materialized publicly by mid-2026.1Atlanta News First. Ex-Husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Claims His Business Was Unlawfully Taken Rockdale County officials declined to comment. Bravo and NBCUniversal have not publicly responded to the defamation suit.