Mark Geragos Cleared of Liability in Avenatti Case, Jury Awards $100K in Damages Without Legal Basis

LOS ANGELES — A ruling issued this week by a Superior Court judge has cleared attorney Mark Geragos of liability in a malpractice lawsuit stemming from his association with Michael Avenatti and a controversial Nike extortion case. The jury found that while Avenatti’s former client, Gary Franklin, was entitled to $100,000 in damages, they did not establish that Geragos was at fault or that his actions caused Franklin’s alleged harm. Franklin had sought millions in damages from Geragos, arguing that the attorney’s involvement in negotiations with Nike in 2019 contributed to Avenatti’s federal convictions for … Read more

Former Trump Foe Michael Avenatti Extends Unexpected Praise from Behind Bars

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — Amid the clamor of political turnabouts, J.D. Vance’s shift from a vocal critic of Donald Trump to vice president-elect stands out, yet it’s Michael Avenatti’s latest expressions from behind bars that really provoke puzzlement and speculation. Avenatti, once an ardent opponent of Trump and a frequent cable news fixture, congratulated the former and potentially future president from his prison cell, where he is currently serving a sentence for multiple felonies. Avenatti, age 53 and incarcerated at FCI Terminal Island, managed—despite strict internet restrictions—to laud Trump’s recent electoral performance via social media. … Read more