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Meghann Cuniff

7 Dec, 8 tweets, 3 min read

@PIMCO

INBOX: Looks like @PIMCO founder Bill Gross knows the restraining order hearing hasn’t been going all that well for him. He just issued “an open letter from Bill Gross” that calls for an end to his legal case and donations of legal fees to food banks etc prnewswire.com/news-releases/…

Gross acknowledges his taste in a “theme song to a 1960s sitcom.” “I want nothing more than to be a good neighbor, even if it means revising my choice in music.” But will he turn his music down? Doesn’t say!

One way to sum this up: A billionaire (with a B!) is putting forth the bold idea of donating some bucks to pandemic-related charities if the neighbor he’s accused of harassing drops his court case.

The letter is of course critical of “the media” covering this case, as if the coverage isn’t anything other than a few reporters listening to a YouTube stream and banging out some quotes.

This letter follows a *few* scoldings of Gross’ lawyer by the judge (who is the decision maker here; there is no jury) including the recent comment: “Please refrain from that type of comment. It's not helping you or your client."

Towfiq’s lawyers at Keller/Anderle reply to Bill Gross’ “open letter” with this: “This is just billionaire Bill Gross trying to buy his way out of accountability for his horrible behavior.”

Aaaaaand Gross’ team fires back with this reply to Towfiq’s lawyer’s reply. This is Jill Basinger’s response to Jennifer Keller. (Keep in mind this open letter from Gross is NOT a settlement proposal.)

Not to be outdone, Towfiq’s lawyer Jennifer Keller added this to her previous statement. Gotta get it all in!

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Meghann Cuniff

@meghanncuniff

7 Dec

@PIMCO

Alright we are back in OC Superior for day what is it, five? of the @PIMCO founder Bill Gross restraining order hearing. You can watch online here: We're back tomorrow at 1:30, then all day Thursday.

Back on the stand is Efrain Alba, Gross' property manager. His full-time job is to take care of Gross' mansion in Laguna Beach. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Sounds like a good gig! Apparently we're also going to hear today from Rob Giem, Gross' realtor.

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19 Oct

I’m here at the OC federal building, and it turns out Michael Avenatti will *not* be here in person for the 9 am pre-trial hearing. “We decided to play it safe,” his lawyer Dean Steward told me in the hallway just now, referring to covid19. #housearrest

Court clerk observes: “I think the government needs to invest in a barber.”
“Until we get to the orange tier, I’m not cutting,” Prosecutor Brett Sagel says.
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Six months into his covid-related home confinement, Michael Avenatti is set to be in federal court in OC Monday for a pre-trial hearing in his 36-count criminal case. Judge Selna typically issues tentative rulings before his motion hearings, and Avenatti's case is no exception.

@USAO_LosAngeles

Selna issued his tentative tonight, ruling on everything from severing the counts to @USAO_LosAngeles's bid to tell jurors of misconduct not included in the indictment such as perjury in judgment debtor exams and embezzling client money from a settlement with @NFL.

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Meghann Cuniff

@meghanncuniff

13 Oct

This could be a pandemic first: a federal judge here in Orange County is dismissing a criminal indictment because the Central District of California won’t hold a jury trial due to coronavirus concerns.

Federal prosecutors earlier dismissed on their own accord an immigration case to avoid this legal debate. But this case is different: It’s a major OxyContin distribution indictment against a Newport Beach physician linked to patient deaths.