Trump loses case against Omarosa, who wrote tell-all White House book

NBC News ^ | September. 28, 2021 | Dartunorro Clark

[Coronal]

A New York arbitrator said former President Donald Trump's non-disclosure agreement against his ex-White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman is "unenforceable" in a ruling handed down on Monday.

Arbitrator T. Andrew Brown said in the ruling that the terms of Trump’s non-disclosure agreement were "highly problematic" because it did not adhere to typical legal standards, describing it as “vague, indefinite, and therefore void and unenforceable."

“The Agreement effectively imposes on [Manigault Newman] an obligation to never say anything remotely critical of Mr. Trump, his family or his or his family members’ businesses for the rest of her life," Brown said in the ruling.

Manigault Newman and her lawyer both released statements celebrating the decision Tuesday.

“Clearly, I am very happy with this ruling," Manigault Newman said. "Donald has used this type of vexatious litigation to intimidate, harass and bully for years! Finally the bully has met his match!”

John Phillips, her lawyer, said in a statement that he hopes it encourages more people to "come forward and blow the whistle on corrupt government."

"It’s over. We’ve won in Donald Trump and the Trump Campaign’s chosen forum," he said.

Trump’s campaign filed an arbitration complaint with the American Arbitration Association in New York City against Manigault Newman in 2018, alleging that the former top White House aide was in breach of a 2016 confidentiality agreement.

The action was related to claims made by Manigault Newman in her 2018 book, "Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House," in which she called the president a racist and suggested he was in severe mental decline.

[caww]

Omarosa reminds me of another angry black woman

[Lod881019]

Completely untrue see Tom Cruise successful lawsuit of a porn actor a few years back for defamation

[hanamizu]

sue anyway

---

I understand how you feel, but it would be just a waste of time money and energy. As I understand it, for someone who is in public life to prevail, they not only have to prove that the slander is false, they have to prove that the slanderer knew it was false and did it to deliberately harm the victim.

One reason why Sandmann (the kid who ‘smirked’ at the Indian ‘elder’) has been able to collect money from the media is because he wasn’t a ‘public figure’ and the media lied about him.

But lies against Trump...he cannot get relief in American courts. I think the Brits operate a bit differently.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

This idiot has a book coming out as well. “oooo Trump got mad waaah”

https://dnyuz.com/2021/09/28/stephanie-grishams-book-details-trumps-terrifying-temper/

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Woman?

[hanamizu]

Completely untrue see Tom Cruise successful lawsuit of a porn actor a few years back for defamation

---

As I read the description of the case, the porn actor pretty much gave up defending against the suit.

But, the fact still remains that any public figure in the U.S. has a very difficult time suing for slander/libel.

[Cowgirl of Justice]

https://madamenoire.com/271247/michael-clarke-duncans-family-believes-omarosa-may-have-coerced-him-into-adjusting-his-will-just-before-his-death/

https://www.thedailybeast.com/omarosa-manipulated-actor-michael-clarke-duncan-in-his-final-days-say-family-and-friends

[kosciusko51]

And what Trump did was expose DC as the clown show it is.

And then the clowns had their revenge...

[mac_truck]

Another memorable Trump WH hire.

[Robwin]

I suspect the agreement was legally binding and the decision to void it was politically motivated.

That said, like so many others, I question why Trump invited this woman unto his team given how kooky and irresponsible she had already shown herself to be. Compassion which came back to bite him?

[God luvs America]

Start the smear campaign now with the facts

[God luvs America]

Actually it would be a double edge sword against people like her- if they are not able to sue for damages it shows yet another double standard.

I also wonder if there’s a distinction between slander and out right lying- assuming of course that takes place.

[Coronal]

It’s possible, but more difficult.

[old curmudgeon]

Sue her.

Even if it is not successful, the depositions would be disastrous to her. A person with her history would be dead meat in a deposition.

[DoodleDawg]

Unless you're a leftist like Oprah.

Oprah probably had a competent attorney write the NDA. Trump's agreement was "vague, indefinite, and therefore void and unenforceable." Probably had Michael Cohen write it.

[DJ MacWoW]

Since the arbitration took place in NYC, I wouldn’t bank on it being badly written.

[T.B. Yoits]

So...the State of New York is saying that a Non-Disclosure Agreement between two parties can be tossed on a third party interpretation. Omarossa signed it knowing what it said.

New York State just declared their own Non-Disclosure Agreements specious. Time to let fly on Nursing Home Killer (NHK) Cuomo.

[ridesthemiles]

I would NEVER hire her to do anything.

She is useless.

[Eagle Forgotten]

Sue her.

Even if it is not successful, the depositions would be disastrous to her. A person with her history would be dead meat in a deposition.

The rule in New York state courts is that defendant gets priority. Her attorneys would get to depose Trump before his attorneys would get to depose her.

The arbitration award means Trump has no cause of action for breach of contract. His only possible suit is for defamation. And that would mean that her attorneys could ask him about everything in his life -- before, during, and after his presidency -- that might be relevant to an accusation of, for example, racism, or whatever he says was defamatory.

If Trump got out with only five full days of testifying, I would be surprised. Does he really want to devote all that time and energy to going after a D-list celeb?

[DoodleDawg]

Since the arbitration took place in NYC, I wouldn’t bank on it being badly written.

Why not?