Aspiring actress Mareli Miniutti was granted a restraining order against Michael Avenatti, and accused him of physical and verbal violence including hitting her face with pillows, calling her an "ungrateful bitch" and dragging her across the floor. cnn.com/2018/11/20/pol…
In a declaration filed as part of the request for a restraining order in Los Angeles Superior Court, Miniutti described an altercation last week in which she said she and Avenatti started fighting about money.
As the altercation worsened, Miniutti alleged, Avenatti "began forcefully hitting me in the face with pillows from the bed," and then grabbed her wrist and, later, her arm.
"He dragged me on the floor of the apartment towards and out of the door into the public hallway."
"He dragged me on the floor of the apartment towards and out of the door into the public hallway."
Miniutti also said there was another occasion -- in February of this year -- when Avenatti "acted in a physically violent manner" toward her. He "had been drinking," she said, "and became angry at me."
Avenatti’s attorneys: "Ms. Miniutti and Mr. Avenatti had an argument… during which Ms. Miniutti behaved in a volatile, agitated and irrational manner. However, Mr. Avenatti did not inflict any corporal injury or cause any traumatic condition upon Ms. Miniutti."
I also spoke with Mareli Miniutti’s husband, Michael Miniutti. He told me: "In Mareli's defense, she was never aggressive. She never put me in an aggressive state of mind or anything like that. She’s a very calm, well-mannered, respectful individual. Very polite. Classy woman."
Avenatti’s attorneys say there are witnesses, as well as surveillance video in the halls, elevator and entrance to the building, that bolster Avenatti’s statements. cnn.com/2018/11/20/pol…
Mareli Miniutti’s lawyer tells me: "Mareli Miniutti stands by the accuracy of her statements to the LAPD. The suggestions contained in Mr. Avenatti’s counsel’s letter to the LAPD are vindictive, contrary to the evidence, and unworthy of further reply.”
