A New York state appeals courtroom dominated in favor of billionaire investor Leon Black on Thursday, rejecting a defamation declare by a lady who additionally accused the Apollo World Administration co-founder of rape and sexual abuse.
In a 4-1 resolution, the Appellate Division in Manhattan stated Guzel Ganieva’s October 2015 nondisclosure settlement coated all her claims in opposition to Black, together with that he defamed her by saying she tried to extort him.
It additionally stated that even when Ganieva signed the settlement below duress, she “ratified” it by accepting $9 million from Black, together with a $100,000 month-to-month stipend, earlier than suing in June 2021.
“We recognize the trauma attendant upon sexual abuse,” the bulk wrote. “However, we disagree with the dissent that the same principle should allow plaintiff to repudiate a contractual arrangement after accepting its benefits for over five years.”
Black denied Ganieva’s claims.
The dissenting decide stated Ganieva was entitled to sue as a result of the previous Russian mannequin remained below “the same continuing duress” till March 2021 when she first spoke out about her six-year relationship with Black, which led to 2014.
Ganieva’s lawyer didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. A spokesman for Black had no speedy remark.
The lawsuit stemmed from a March 2021 interview the place Black acknowledged having a consensual affair with Ganieva, and stated she extorted him primarily based on threats to go public.
He was responding to Twitter posts the place Ganieva accused him of years of sexual harassment and abuse.
A trial decide had dismissed Ganieva’s claims in Might 2023.
Black, 73, is price $17.1 billion in accordance with Forbes journal.
He’s additionally defending in opposition to a lawsuit in Manhattan by an autistic lady who stated he raped her in disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s mansion in 2002, when she was 16.
Legal professionals for Black have known as the girl’s claims “categorically false” and a “malicious smear.”
Black stepped down as Apollo’s chief government in 2021 after a evaluation by an outdoor legislation agency discovered he had paid Epstein $158 million for tax and property planning.
The case is Ganieva v. Black, New York State Supreme Court docket, Appellate Division, 1st Division, No. 2023-05694.
