ATTORNEY GLORIA ALLRED ANNOUNCES LAWSUIT AGAINST TRUMP BY FORMER “APPRENTICE” CONTESTANT
Gloria Allred Announces Former ‘Apprentice’ Contestant Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Trump
Published on Jan 17, 2017
we are here to announce that this morning we filed a defamation lawsuit
on behalf of our client, Summer Zervos, against President-elect Donald
Trump.
subjected to unwanted sexual touching by Donald Trump and that she had
told family and friends about the incidents not long after these
incidents occurred.
She did not go public or take any action
against Mr. Trump at that time, however, because she decided that Mr.
Trump’s behavior had either been an aberration, a test, or that he may
even have regretted or been ashamed of his behavior.
The lawsuit alleges the following:
“In
October 2016, that all changed. On October 7th, when Trump’s own
recorded, crude and vulgar comments to Billy Bush on the Access
Hollywood tapes recorded in 2005 were broadcast, it became clear that
Trump’s sexually inappropriate behavior towards Ms. Zervos was entirely
consistent with Trump’s own words, and his belief that he had the right
to sexually assault women – and even to boast about it. Then at the
October 9th presidential debate, Trump told the world a boldface lie: he
stated in response to a direct question from Anderson Cooper that he
had not ever done any of the things that he had bragged about to Billy
Bush.”
Ms. Summer further alleges in the lawsuit:
“For
the first time, Summer Zervos saw Trump’s behavior towards her for what
it was: that of a sexual predator who had preyed on her and other women.
She realized that she was just one of many women who had been
victimized by Trump’s predatory conduct. Ms. Zervos could no longer
rationalize or excuse Trump’s behavior by telling herself that his
behavior had been a mistake or an isolated incident for which he might
even be ashamed. Trump had no shame. His own boasting to Billy Bush made
clear that his behavior was intentional.
Ms. Zervos knew that
Donald Trump had lied – to the country and to the world – and knew that
the statements he made to Billy Bush were not just words or “locker
room” talk, but were evidence of his pattern of misconduct towards
women. Ms. Zervos felt a responsibility to inform the public of the true
facts. It was unacceptable to stand by and allow a presidential
candidate to lie openly, with impunity, to the American public. She
came forward – as a number of other Trump victims did – to inform the
public of the facts she knew were true, to make clear that Donald Trump
had kissed and groped her without her consent, repeatedly.”
The
lawsuit goes on to allege, “And what did Donald Trump, the liar and
misogynist do, to cover up his lies? He lied again, and debased and
denigrated Ms. Zervos with false statements about her.
immediately lied, saying that he “never met [Ms. Zervos] at a hotel or
greeted her inappropriately.” He quickly went further, describing Ms.
Zervos’s experience, along with those of others, as “made up events THAT
NEVER HAPPENED;” “100% fabricated and made-up charges;” “totally
false;” “totally phoney [sic] stories, 100% made up by women (many
already proven false);” “made up stories and lies;” “[t]otally made up
nonsense.” He falsely stated: “Every woman lied when they came forward
to hurt my campaign, total fabrication. The events never happened.”
During the last presidential debate, he stated that these women were
either being put forward by the Clinton campaign, or were motivated to
come forward by getting “ten minutes of fame,” and nothing more.”
