An emergency hearing occurred Wednesday after a former law partner alleged that California attorney Michael Avenatti, who is no longer representing Stormy Daniels, improperly filed for bankruptcy protection to avoid a deposition. Avenatti filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time last Thursday regarding his old firm Eagan Avenatti, this after a judgment of $10 million was awarded to his former law partner Jason Frank.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Catherine Bauer dismissed the second bankruptcy filing, ordered Avenatti to explain why he filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy on the eve of a scheduled deposition and prevented him from filing for bankruptcy protection for 180 days (or six months), the Wall Street Journal reported.
Although it’s been said that Avenatti could be sanctioned if the judge finds the filing was done in bad faith, Avenatti wasn’t worried. He told the Journal, “No sanctions will be awarded.”
Law&Crime reached out to Avenatti for comment and he said that this is “a big nothing burger.”