Leon Black loses bid to revive lawsuit against Russian model, others

Leon Black, the billionaire co-founder of private equity firm Apollo Global Management, cannot revive a lawsuit accusing former Russian model Guzel Ganieva, Apollo co-founder Josh Harris and others of conspiring to destroy his reputation.

In an unsigned order on Thursday, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said a lower court judge had discretion to dismiss the racketeering and defamation lawsuit without considering an amended complaint that Black wanted to file.

The judge, Paul Engelmayer, last June found Black’s lawsuit “glaringly deficient in fundamental respects” and said amending it would be “futile.”


Leon Black
In early 2021, Leon Black stepped down as Apollo’s chief executive and chairman after an independent review found he had paid sex offender Jeffrey Epstein $158 million for tax and estate planning.
Bloomberg via Getty Images

Apollo co-founder Josh Harris
Black has accused Apollo co-founder Josh Harris and others of conspiring to destroy his reputation.
Bloomberg via Getty Images

He also said Black gave up his chance to amend his lawsuit by responding to arguments for dismissing it.

A spokesman for Black had no immediate comment. Lawyers for Harris did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ganieva’s lawyer Jeanne Christensen said she was “extremely pleased” with the order.

Ganieva sued Black in June 2021 in a New York state court, saying he defamed her by falsely claiming she tried to extort him after accusing him of rape.

Guzel Ganieva’s lawyer Jeanne Christensen said she was “extremely pleased” with the order.
Billy Farrell Photography

Russian model Guzel Ganieva
Black has said he and Ganieva had a consensual affair from about 2008 to 2014.


Advertisement

Ganieva's lawsuit against Black remains pending.
Ganieva’s lawsuit against Black remains pending.
David X Prutting/BFA.com


Advertisement

Black, 71, has denied that the encounter occurred, and said he and Ganieva had a consensual affair from about 2008 to 2014. Ganieva’s lawsuit remains pending.

In early 2021, Black stepped down as Apollo’s chief executive and chairman after an independent review found he had paid sex offender Jeffrey Epstein $158 million for tax and estate planning.

Black also faces a lawsuit claiming he raped another woman, Cheri Pierson, two decades ago in Epstein’s mansion in Manhattan. His lawyer has called that lawsuit “baseless.”

For all the latest Business News Click Here 

 For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News

Read original article here

Denial of responsibility! TheDailyCheck is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – [email protected] The content will be deleted within 24 hours.