Lawyer Mark Geragos proclaims triumph as the overturned $100,000 malpractice judgment is reversed
In a surprising turn of events, celebrity attorney Mark Geragos has been cleared of extortion charges in a high-profile case involving Nike and a youth basketball coach in California. The jury's verdict, which was announced earlier this week, overturned an initial ruling that ordered Geragos to pay $100,000 in damages.
The case stemmed from allegations made by Gary Franklin, a youth basketball coach, who claimed that Geragos and Michael Avenatti, another attorney, botched a potential $1.5-million settlement with Nike. Franklin accused the two lawyers of threatening to reveal allegations of misconduct unless Nike retained them for a lucrative internal investigation.
However, the jury found that Geragos aided and abetted Avenatti and breached his duties as a lawyer, but they determined that Franklin was not substantially harmed by Geragos. The jury awarded Franklin $100,000 in damages for the "wrongful conduct," but this award was overturned by the Superior Court judge, Victoria Chavez.
In a statement to The Times, Mark Geragos, through a spokesperson, celebrated the victory. "Justice has been served," the statement read. Geragos's lawyer, who did not respond to messages seeking comment, also expressed satisfaction with the verdict.
It is important to note that Michael Avenatti, who was involved in the scheme, is currently in prison. Avenatti was convicted of attempting to extort millions of dollars from Nike and other companies.
California law prohibits awarding damages without an underlying finding of liability. This means that despite the initial jury verdict, Franklin will recover nothing from Mark Geragos. The judgment of the Los Angeles Superior Court was made by Judge Victoria Chavez.
The legal malpractice suit against both Geragos and Avenatti is still ongoing, and no new information about it was provided in this case. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven Cochran signed off on the order this week, officially clearing Geragos of the extortion charges.
The location of the case remains California, where the legal proceedings have been closely watched by sports and legal communities alike. The case serves as a reminder of the complexities and nuances involved in high-stakes legal cases, particularly those involving high-profile individuals and corporations.
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