The Los Angeles lawyer famous for representing Stormy Daniels is officially in the market for a new office.
Michael Avenatti’s law firm was officially evicted from its Newport Beach digs on Friday, according to the Los Angeles Times. Avenatti had attempted to ward off the eviction — despite failing to appear for the trial against his landlord, Irvine Co., last month and at Friday’s final hearing — but ultimately Judge Robert Moss sided with Irvine.
The landlord claims his tenant is four months late on rent payments and owes a total of $213,254. Avenatti’s law firm has until Monday to vacate.
Avenatti told the Times that he no longer owns the firm on the hook for not paying rent. That entity, Eagan Avenatti, was once owned by Avenatti, but now he claims there is a new, unidentified owner. He said his current firm is Avenatti & Associates. Though Avenatti & Associates operates alongside Eagan Avenatti in the same Newport office with the same staff, the firm’s had different arrangements with the landlord, he claimed.
“Eagan Avenatti, my former firm, was already in the process of moving. A non-event,” he wrote in an email to the Times. He argued in court that Avenatti & Associates had an “oral rental agreement with the landlord.”
The final order of eviction came two days after Avenatti was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. He was released hours later after posting bond to the tune of $50,000. [LAT] — Erin Hudson