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Very interesting #AmericanGreed episode about Michael Avenatti tonight on @CNBC. As my new @LAMag story explains, his old law firm's financial ruins are catching up to a lot of people right now, including a couple of his old racing buddies. A thread! https://bit.ly/3bDURu3 1/11
Those facing claims aren't generally accused of doing anything other than accepting payment from the wrong source. As an attorney for three told me, "They should not be expected to police how EA and Avenatti ran their business or paid their bills.” https://bit.ly/3bDURu3 2/11
Much has been made by Avenatti's supporters (yes, as @popehat said, they still exist) about my work and Avenatti's alleged inability to "defend" himself, but as the article states, his lawyer Dean Steward said they've "decided to remain low profile.” https://bit.ly/3bDURu3 3/11
Yes, Avenatti's release conditions prohibit him from using Twitter, because they prohibit him from accessing the Internet. But they do not prohibit him from giving interviews. That's up to him. https://bit.ly/3bDURu3 4/11
The article mentions a judge recently denied Avenatti's request to force his second ex-wife to unblock him from their son's Instagram. These court records are of course public, and they raise an intriguing question about Avenatti's release conditions. https://bit.ly/3bDURu3 5/11
Why would Avenatti want access to the Instagram account if he's accessing the Internet at all? (The court record doesn't mention his release conditions, which are of course for another case.) https://bit.ly/3bDURu3 6/11
And regarding Avenatti's upcoming @Nike sentencing, Dean said probation is recommending 10-12 years in prison. Avenatti's lawyers will be asking for probation. (The sentencing memorandums outlining the supporting case law have yet to be filed.) https://bit.ly/3bDURu3 7/11
I think it's unlikely Avenatti gets 10 to 12 years, but he faces the same time if not longer if convicted in the California criminal case. As of now, I don't see a trial happening before the end of the summer, at the earliest, because Judge Selna has no problem waiting. 8/11
Unlike his colleague Judge Carney, Selna says the pandemic justifies suspending speedy trial rights. So Avenatti is stuck. But bankruptcy is full steam ahead, and I've got more reporting coming up for @lamag. Stay tuned! https://bit.ly/3bDURu3 9/11
With 20 or so adversary cases pending, there's a lot to track, so I'll be updating as cases progress. One update: the $73k claim against the security company for a system the trustee says Avenatti paid for in 2018 was dismissed with no explanation. https://bit.ly/3bDURu3 10/11
Everything else is active, including a contentious action against Avenatti's ex-law partner that'll be the subject of some future reporting from me. Stay tuned! https://bit.ly/3bDURu3 11/11
