The McKamey Manor lawsuit picture actually covers three separate legal fronts tied to owner Russ McKamey and his Summertown, Tennessee attraction: an $8.4 million civil suit McKamey filed against Hulu and a documentary source, a federal suit he filed against the Tennessee Attorney General to block a consumer protection investigation, and a criminal case in which he was arrested on rape and attempted murder charges that prosecutors later dropped. Two of the three are closed. The third ended when the state dismissed his claims.
The Suit Against Hulu and Justin Yerace
The civil case grew out of Hulu’s October 2023 documentary Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House, directed by Andrew Renzi. On April 8, 2024, McKamey filed an $8.4 million suit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee naming Hulu, the production companies behind the film, and former visitor Justin Yerace.1The Tennessean. McKamey Manor Tennessee Haunted House Owner Sues Hulu, Others After Monster Inside Documentary The complaint alleged invasion of privacy, violations of the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and Stored Communications Act, unauthorized use of McKamey’s likeness, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.2What’s on Disney Plus. Hulu Sued Over Monster Inside Americas Most Extreme Haunted House Documentary
The core factual claim centered on Yerace. In the film and on a Facebook group he created called “McKamey Manor Exposed,” Yerace said he had called McKamey’s email provider, impersonated him, reset the password, and then posted about 60 screenshots of McKamey’s private emails online.3GovInfo. McKamey v. Yerace, Case No. 1:24-cv-00037
Hulu and the production companies were dismissed by stipulation on August 30, 2024, with terms that were not made public.4PACER Monitor. McKamey v. Hulu, LLC et al That left Yerace as the sole defendant.
The Summary Judgment Ruling Against Yerace
On January 15, 2026, Judge Aleta A. Trauger granted partial summary judgment for McKamey. The court found Yerace liable for violating the Stored Communications Act by accessing the email account without authorization, and for invasion of privacy through unreasonable publicity given to McKamey’s private life.3GovInfo. McKamey v. Yerace, Case No. 1:24-cv-00037 Liability on a third claim, intrusion upon seclusion, had already been established earlier.
Yerace’s own words drove the outcome. He had described the hack publicly in the documentary, on his Facebook group, and on a podcast. When deposed, he invoked the Fifth Amendment. The court drew an adverse inference from that refusal and combined it with his prior admissions to conclude he had accessed the account without authorization.3GovInfo. McKamey v. Yerace, Case No. 1:24-cv-00037
The court denied summary judgment on three other counts. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act claim failed because McKamey had not shown the $5,000 in economic losses that statute requires for a civil suit. The Tennessee Personal and Commercial Computer Act claim and the intentional infliction of emotional distress claim went unresolved because factual disputes about damages remained.3GovInfo. McKamey v. Yerace, Case No. 1:24-cv-00037
Trial was set for February 17, 2026. Before it began, the parties filed a stipulation of dismissal and joint status report on March 16, 2026, and Judge Trauger administratively closed the case the next day.4PACER Monitor. McKamey v. Hulu, LLC et al The filing suggests a settlement. Terms were not disclosed.
The Suit Against the Tennessee Attorney General
The same documentary triggered a state investigation. In November 2023, the Tennessee Attorney General’s office sent McKamey a letter raising “serious concerns” and opened a probe under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. It focused on three practices: the policy against quitting or using a safe word, the 40-page waiver participants reportedly did not see until arrival, and a $20,000 prize the state suspected was impossible to win.5The Tennessean. Tennessee McKamey Manor Investigation Hulu Documentary The AG then issued a formal demand for 18 categories of documents, answers to 28 interrogatories, and McKamey’s sworn testimony.6WKRN. McKamey Manor Sues TN AG Over Investigation Into Haunted Houses Practices
Instead of complying, McKamey sued. On March 29, 2024, he filed a federal action against Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Carter Lawrence, the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and State Fire Marshal. He alleged the investigation violated his First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendment rights and called it “coordinated targeting” designed to create “criminal exposure.”6WKRN. McKamey Manor Sues TN AG Over Investigation Into Haunted Houses Practices He asked the court to block the AG’s demand for testimony and to halt fire marshal inspections that had documented code deficiencies at the property.7GovInfo. McKamey v. Skrmetti, Case No. 3:24-cv-00363
The state moved to dismiss, arguing the Fifth Amendment does not support a blanket refusal to cooperate with a civil investigation, that fire safety inspections are not unconstitutional searches, and that the retaliation claims lacked required elements.8Squarespace (Static Filing). Defendants Motion to Dismiss and Exhibits The court dismissed the case in August 2024.9WKRN. Attempted Murder, Rape Charges Against McKamey Manor Owner Dropped McKamey’s attorneys filed a motion to reconsider. The outcome of the underlying AG investigation has not been publicly reported.
The Criminal Case That Was Dropped
On July 19, 2024, McKamey was arrested at his Summertown home and charged with attempted second-degree murder, rape, and domestic assault. An arrest affidavit alleged he raped and strangled his girlfriend until she lost consciousness.9WKRN. Attempted Murder, Rape Charges Against McKamey Manor Owner Dropped Bond was set at $60,000.10The Tennessean. McKamey Manor Owner Charged With Rape, Attempted Murder
All charges were dropped on September 23, 2024, after a hearing in Lawrence County. District Attorney General Brent Cooper personally reviewed the evidence and met with the accuser before concluding the case was not prosecutable. McKamey’s defense attorney, Davis Griffin, said Cooper determined “the allegations had no merit whatsoever.”11The Tennessean. Tennessee McKamey Manor Russ McKamey Criminal Charges Dropped
Is McKamey Manor Still Open?
Yes. As of October 2024, McKamey confirmed the attraction remained open and operating despite the investigation, the criminal case, and the civil litigation.12People. McKamey Manor Still Open Despite Backlash The manor’s website continues to advertise a production called “DESCENT.”13McKamey Manor. McKamey Manor Official Site No known lawsuit has been filed by a participant against McKamey or the attraction; the litigation to date has been driven by McKamey himself and by the criminal complaint that prosecutors ultimately declined to pursue.