Defamation lawsuit against President Trump by Stormy Daniels was dismissed by Federal judge awarded Trump’s attorneys’ fees.
Michael Avenatti — the lawyer who became famous by representing Stormy Daniels, Porn Star, later served as counsel for a women who accused Supreme Court nominee for gang rape, were quickly cast into doubt and who is now mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate in 2020 presidental election — was ordered to pay nearly $5 million to an attorney at his former firm, a California judge ruled Monday.Superior Court Judge at Los Angels County Court I the hearing – which Avenatti did not attend — said Avenatti must pay compensation of $4.85 million because he personally guaranteed a settlement with attorney Jason Frank in a lawsuit over back pay.
Frank had been accused of misstating his profits and that he still owes millions.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dennis Landin issued the ruling after turning down Avenatti’s request to transfer the case to federal Court which was seen as a strategy to delay the matter by the other side.
Monday’s decision also follows an earlier ruling from a U.S. bankruptcy court judge who ordered Avenatti’s former firm to pay $10 million to Frank.
Avenatti, meanwhile, told that Frank owed $12 million dollars to the firm and to him “for his fraud” – but didn’t give any details on what that fraud was, reported the Associated Press
The latest legal setback for Avenatti comes a day after the highlighted report published by The Daily Beast, how he owed millions of unpaid taxes but allegedly managed to live extravagantly. The lawyer – who’s become like President Trump’s celebrity critic, was criticized by the commander-in-chief last week after Avenatti filed defamation lawsuit was brought up by a federal judge.
“I just beat him in a big case. … Beat him badly. In fact, he has to pay me legal fees,” Trump told Fox Business’ Trish Regan. “I don’t think he has any money, but he and [Stormy Daniels] have to pay me a lot of legal fees.”
Trump has acknowledged about the huge money payment but strongly denied the allegations about his affair.
Source 1: www.foxnews.com
Source 2: www.cnbc.com
