Will Donald Trump be successful suing his old lawyers?

Trump sues over web name

12th August 2008, 8:00 WST

Donald Trump, the real estate developer and star of the television show “The Apprentice,” claims in a $A12 million lawsuit that his former lawyers illegally engaged in the “rank commercialisation” of his reputation by using his name on their website.

Trump sued the law firm Morrison Cohen and partner David Scharf in state Supreme Court in Manhattan, claiming references to him on the firm’s Web site and in press articles violates New York’s law against using a person’s name in advertising without consent.

“I am very unhappy with the firm,” Trump said in a telephone interview today. “I don’t want to in any way, shape or form endorse this firm.”

The August 8 complaint seeks an order barring Morrison Cohen from using Trump’s name on the site or in press interviews. Trump also asked the court for $10 million plus punitive damages.

“Defendants have engaged in the rank commercialisation of Mr. Trump’s reputation and unyielding demand for excellence,” Trump said.

Scharf claims the suit is the result of Morrison Cohen’s attempts to collect $A5000,000 Trump owes the firm for successfully representing him in a suit against a contractor. Scharf and another lawyer helped Trump win more than $A2.1 million in damages plus $A1.5 million in attorney fees from the contractor, he said. The dispute involved the renovation of the Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York.

“It’s frivolous. It will be dismissed,” said Scharf, who said he represented Trump and his organisation from 2001 to 2006.

“This is just part of a fee dispute,” said Scharf.

If no settlement or news of a settlement has been publicly announced by the end of the market period, the question will be settled as a NO.