According to sources, Chris Cuomo, former host of “Chris Cuomo: Prime Time,” has hired Mark Geragos to represent him in his $125 million dismissal case against CNN. Geragos, who has represented high-profile clients such as Winona Ryder, Colin Kaepernick, Michael Jackson, and Jussie Smollett, was a contributor to the network for 20 years before being summarily booted when he was named as a co-conspirator in the extortion case against jailed lawyer Michael Avenetti. Geragos was later cleared of the allegation and branded CNN a “lame-ass,” “know-nothing network” after his ouster.
Cuomo, on the other hand, was fired by the network for allegedly giving advice to his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, during a sexual misconduct scandal while Chris was supposed to be covering said scandal as a journalist. Cuomo filed a $125 million lawsuit against CNN, claiming that his journalistic integrity was unjustifiably smeared, making it difficult for him to find similar work in the future and damaging him in amounts exceeding $125 million.
The Hire
Cuomo picked Geragos because “he’s a good lawyer” and because they both have an ax to grind. “If nothing else, they’re going to have some fun,” said an insider. According to sources, Geragos is planning to call in some central figures for depositions in the coming weeks, including former CNN president Jeff Zucker and Zucker’s now-girlfriend and longtime mistress (and former public relations chief) Allison Gollust.
It is not clear if Geragos is replacing Cuomo’s current legal team or joining it. Cuomo’s current legal team consists of Freedman + Taitelman and Clayman Rosenberg. Geragos has also been appearing regularly on Cuomo’s new home network, News Nation.
CNN has not responded to requests for comments.
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