Trump sues his former lawyer Michael Cohen for $500 mil
Apr 13, 2023 05:55:29 #
https://japantoday.com/category/world/trump-sues-his-former-lawyer-michael-cohen-for-500-mn
Donald Trump filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against his former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, a likely star witness in the criminal case facing the former U.S. president in New York.
The suit, filed in a US District Court in Florida, seeks $500 million from Cohen over his alleged breach of attorney-client privileges and a confidentiality agreement.
Cohen was among the witnesses who testified before the grand jury that ultimately indicted Trump, making him the first former or sitting U.S. president to face criminal charges.
He has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
Cohen says he arranged the $130,000 payment in exchange for her silence about a tryst Daniels says she had with Trump in 2006.
Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges in a Manhattan court on April 4.
In his lawsuit, Trump accuses Cohen of "spreading falsehoods" about him and claimed to have suffered "vast reputational harm."
"Such continuous and escalating improper conduct by (Cohen) has reached a proverbial crescendo and has left (Trump) with no alternative but to seek legal redress," the suit said.
Trump is seeking a jury trial and compensatory and punitive damages of more than $500 million.
The 76-year-old former real estate tycoon has been embroiled in scores of lawsuits over the past decades and has a long history of attacking his opponents in court.
Cohen, 56, is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution if the criminal case against Trump in Manhattan ever comes to trial.
He has acknowledged paying Daniels on Trump's behalf and was sentenced to three years in prison for various crimes, including the hush-money case and tax evasion.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and claims he is the victim of a political "witch hunt" by the Manhattan district attorney, a Democrat, intended to derail his 2024 White House campaign.
Donald Trump filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against his former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, a likely star witness in the criminal case facing the former U.S. president in New York.
The suit, filed in a US District Court in Florida, seeks $500 million from Cohen over his alleged breach of attorney-client privileges and a confidentiality agreement.
Cohen was among the witnesses who testified before the grand jury that ultimately indicted Trump, making him the first former or sitting U.S. president to face criminal charges.
He has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
Cohen says he arranged the $130,000 payment in exchange for her silence about a tryst Daniels says she had with Trump in 2006.
Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges in a Manhattan court on April 4.
In his lawsuit, Trump accuses Cohen of "spreading falsehoods" about him and claimed to have suffered "vast reputational harm."
"Such continuous and escalating improper conduct by (Cohen) has reached a proverbial crescendo and has left (Trump) with no alternative but to seek legal redress," the suit said.
Trump is seeking a jury trial and compensatory and punitive damages of more than $500 million.
The 76-year-old former real estate tycoon has been embroiled in scores of lawsuits over the past decades and has a long history of attacking his opponents in court.
Cohen, 56, is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution if the criminal case against Trump in Manhattan ever comes to trial.
He has acknowledged paying Daniels on Trump's behalf and was sentenced to three years in prison for various crimes, including the hush-money case and tax evasion.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and claims he is the victim of a political "witch hunt" by the Manhattan district attorney, a Democrat, intended to derail his 2024 White House campaign.
Apr 13, 2023 06:12:50 #
According to the wife, Cohen could get bitten hard on this. She said courts generally take a very dim view of breaches of attorney-client privilege. According to her, some allegations may get swept aside due to investigations, but courts will normally evaluate each individual breach allegation on it's own merits. She says that attorney-client privilege piercing due to criminal activity does not automatically eliminate that privilege across the entire Attorney-Client relationship.
She said the same about any confidentiality agreements they may have had. She said they likely contained severability covenants which would make fighting it a real headache for the defense.
One thing for sure, this is going to cost Cohen well into 6 figures to defend.
She said the same about any confidentiality agreements they may have had. She said they likely contained severability covenants which would make fighting it a real headache for the defense.
One thing for sure, this is going to cost Cohen well into 6 figures to defend.
Apr 13, 2023 06:42:57 #
WNYShooter wrote:
Good for Trump, fighting back.
Apr 13, 2023 06:44:21 #
WNYShooter wrote:
According to the wife, Cohen could get bitten hard... (show quote)
The discovery process is going to be very interesting.
Will FL courts kick this out saying it belongs in NY?
It will cost Cohen and Trump.
Apr 13, 2023 07:00:23 #
Triple G wrote:
The discovery process is going to be very interesting.
Will FL courts kick this out saying it belongs in NY?
It will cost Cohen and Trump.
Will FL courts kick this out saying it belongs in NY?
It will cost Cohen and Trump.
You quite obviously don't have a clue how discovery works in a case like this.
Apr 13, 2023 07:05:17 #
WNYShooter wrote:
You quite obviously don't have a clue how discovery works in a case like this.
I've actually done discovery - have you?
Others are watching with interest also.
https://www.axios.com/2023/04/12/trump-michael-cohen-lawsuit-michael-cohen
Apr 13, 2023 07:06:18 #
Trump must really be worried about his felony trial as he is trying this gambit to shut up the prime witness.
Apr 13, 2023 07:11:42 #
DennyT wrote:
Trump must really be worried about his felony trial as he is trying this gambit to shut up the prime witness.
Yup-get as much into the court of public opinion as possible.
Apr 13, 2023 08:22:55 #
Triple G wrote:
Yup-get as much into the court of public opinion as possible.
It could be that he hopes thru various delaying tactics such as this he hope to delay the trial date to past next election on the premise he wins and is therefore immune from prosecution as president . It is his only hope the way . Lawsuits have been his modus operandi for his whole life - well before his presidency . Thing have merely just gone back to his normal ways . Sue sue sue !
But with all the baggage he has now ..
Apr 13, 2023 10:29:34 #
Triple G wrote:
I've actually done discovery - have you?
Others are watching with interest also.
https://www.axios.com/2023/04/12/trump-michael-cohen-lawsuit-michael-cohen
Others are watching with interest also.
https://www.axios.com/2023/04/12/trump-michael-cohen-lawsuit-michael-cohen
Not Personally, but my wife certainly has in her 35+ year career as a lawyer.
And since you say you have, you obviously know that the respondent's discovery requests in Federal Court can only be based on and directly address the specific allegations made. You can't just go on a fishing expedition.
Apr 13, 2023 10:46:55 #
WNYShooter wrote:
Not Personally, but my wife certainly has in her 35+ year career as a lawyer.
And since you say you have, you obviously know that the respondent's discovery requests in Federal Court can only be based on and directly address the specific allegations made. You can't just go on a fishing expedition.
And since you say you have, you obviously know that the respondent's discovery requests in Federal Court can only be based on and directly address the specific allegations made. You can't just go on a fishing expedition.
I would think that’s exactly the point . Doesn’t Cohen have a right during disclosure to ask trump what “” spreading falsehoods"“” is he referring to and if they are really “ falsehoods” as the lawsuit asserts.??
It’s called open mouth insert foot
Apr 13, 2023 10:48:47 #
Apr 13, 2023 11:34:52 #
Attorney-Client Privilege does not apply when conspiring to commit a crime.
Trump will be very sorry that he opened this bag of worms.
Trump will be very sorry that he opened this bag of worms.
Apr 13, 2023 11:42:10 #
WNYShooter wrote:
Not Personally, but my wife certainly has in her 35+ year career as a lawyer.
And since you say you have, you obviously know that the respondent's discovery requests in Federal Court can only be based on and directly address the specific allegations made. You can't just go on a fishing expedition.
And since you say you have, you obviously know that the respondent's discovery requests in Federal Court can only be based on and directly address the specific allegations made. You can't just go on a fishing expedition.
I know. No one needs to go fishing. Enough has already been revealed in other investigations. It's not a plus to trump to have more spotlight on the charges. If he wants to see all the times Cohen witnessed what he believes Trump shows he is a racist and have those clips, documents, phone calls all out for everyone to decide, then someone isn't thinking beyond revenge.
Apr 13, 2023 12:16:49 #
Triple G wrote:
I know. No one needs to go fishing. Enough has already been revealed in other investigations. It's not a plus to trump to have more spotlight on the charges. If he wants to see all the times Cohen witnessed what he believes Trump shows he is a racist and have those clips, documents, phone calls all out for everyone to decide, then someone isn't thinking beyond revenge.
Once again, Discovery has to be specific to the Causes of Actions listed in the complaint. The causes of action listed are all related to terms of the Attorney-Client relationship and the terms of the NDA. All the crap you listed here is not listed as a Cause of Action.
You, being a self-proclaimed expert on the subject should have known that basic fact, but apparently you slept through that class.
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