Michael Avenatti Loses Bid to Have Two Nike Extortion Charges Tossed
Michael Avenatti, center, exits federal court in New York on May 28, 2019.
Photographer: Louis Lanzano/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti lost his fight to dismiss two counts in the criminal case accusing him of trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike Inc. while representing a youth-league basketball coach.
U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe on Monday rejected Avenatti’s argument that the counts, which relate to communications Avenatti allegedly sent Nike demanding payment, should be tossed because they were too vague and prosecutors failed to properly allege “wrongful conduct.” Avenatti, who gained a national profile after suing President Donald Trump on behalf of adult-film star Stormy Daniels, is set to go on trial later this month in Manhattan.