LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Attorneys in downtown Los Angeles are expected to argue today over payment of fees for work on a defamation lawsuit filed by former adult film actress Stormy Daniels against President Donald Trump.
Daniels' suit, which was transferred from New York to Los Angeles federal court in August, alleges that the president defamed her on Twitter when he suggested she had lied about being threatened to keep quiet about their alleged relationship.
The judge dismissed defamation allegations in October but ruled that Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, must pay Trump's attorney fees. A hearing in a separate legal battle, involving Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, over a Trump-Daniels non-disclosure pact is scheduled for January.
Clifford's lawyer, Michael Avenatti, indicated that he will appeal the fees ruling. The amount now owed by Clifford to Trump's legal team is expected to be significant.
“Be clear -- even assuming Trump is owed attorneys fees from the defamation case (if he wins the appeal), they will be dwarfed by the fees he and Cohen will be required to pay in connection with the NDA case,” Avenatti tweeted, referring to the contested non-disclosure agreement. “Not even close.”
Last week, Clifford appeared to distance herself from Avenatti, saying he had filed the defamation suit against her wishes.