Attorney Who Slapped Paul Hastings Partner in Face During Depo Loses Suit Against Law Firm
A New York attorney who admittedly slapped a Paul Hastings partner in the face during a deposition last year in response to an alleged spittle-spewing, finger-wagging verbal meltdown on the partner’s part has lost a $1.1 million damages suit he filed against the law firm.
Saying that statements made during a deposition are immune from a slander suit and calling a civil assault claim unjustified by the facts of the case, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge on Wednesday dismissed the case filed by Kenechukwu Okoli against Paul Hastings and partner Allan Bloom, Reuters reports.
After the altercation, a Kings County judge said all future depositions in the underlying employment discrimination case must be held at Paul Hastings and videotaped at Okoli’s expense. That order is now being appealed.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Suit Claims Lawyer Slapped Paul Hastings Partner Because of Violent Finger Shaking, Spittle-Spewing”
