Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Allred Poached Man Who Sued Travolta, Lawyer Says

(CN) - The attorney who first represented the two anonymous male masseurs who sued John Travolta for sexual assault earlier this month claims in court that celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred illegally stole one of his clients.

Okorie Okorocha claims in Los Angeles Superior Court that after filing the complaints against Travolta on May 4 and May 8 on behalf of John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, he learned of a possible conflict in representing them both and advised Doe 1 to find a new lawyer. After Doe 1 hired Allred, Okorocha continued to represent Doe 2, according to the complaint.

But on May 15, Okorocha claims Allred contacted Doe 2 and tried to convince him to jump ship to her law firm. In an interview with CNN, Okorocha went public with the allegations, which Allred denied to the news network and later sent an email warning him not to make "false statements" about her. Days later, he learned that Allred's firm had signed up Doe 2 as a client.

As evidence, Okorocha attached to the lawsuit screen grabs of text message conversations between him and Doe 2. In the exhibits, Okorocha tells Doe 2 that Allred hasn't been in courtroom in 20 years, instead "doing stupid ass press conference side shows."

Okorocha, whose practice is based in Pasadena, filed the suit pro se. He seeks unspecified damages from Allred and her firm, Allred, Maroko & Goldberg, for interference, unfair business practices and attorney's fees, claiming he is "carrying out enforcement of a public policy ... to protect the public from 'ambulance chasing' by dishonest and unethical lawyers."

Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...