The last time we covered Alina Habba, the ubiquitous Trump attorney was at her boss’ New Hampshire victory party despite telling a judge she couldn’t appear in court that day because of a covid exposure.
Since then, Trump lost his defamation case to E. Jean Carroll, and was ordered to pay the journalist a whopping $83.5 million in penalties. And Habba is getting skewered for her performance in the courtroom, even by folx in the Trump World.
One of Trump’s ex-lawyers, Timothy Parlatore, said in a recent interview with CNN’s Kaitlin Collins that he thinks Habba was useless.
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“From my perspective, I would regret having her represent him,” he said. “I think in both these trials, he was essentially un-defended.”
In other words, Parlatore believes Habba was as effective as a folding chair, and far more abrasive.
Parlatore wasn’t unfair to Habba either, which makes his criticism stick even more. He acknowledged the case was a loser from the start, given that a separate jury already found Trump liable for defaming Carroll, who says he sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.
But he said another attorney could’ve received a more favorable judgment. Unfortunately, Habba frequently cashed with Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, which didn’t endear her to jurors.
“I think it could have turned out differently,” he opined.
For his appeal, Parlatore said he thinks Trump should pick different representation.
“You want someone who is actually an appellate expert and I do not believe Alina is an appellate expert,” he said.
If Habba spoke as diplomatically, maybe Trump would be in better shape!
Though Trump might be better off switching attorneys, it’s probably too late. Habba has already filed a motion to overturn the case. Unsurprisingly, it is filled with laughable claims.
Her central argument comes down to a New York Post article that reports Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, worked at the same law firm as Judge Kaplan. The Post article alleges Judge Kaplan acted as her mentor.
In addition, Habba alleges Carroll’s other lawyer, Shawn Crowley, once served as Judge Kaplan’s law clerk, and he co-officiated her wedding. Thus, she argues, the court was “overly hostile” towards the quadruply-indicted, twice-impeached, one-term ex-president.
Related:
What’s really going on with Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba?
Habba appeared at Trump’s New Hampshire victory party Tuesday, despite telling the judge in his defamation case that she was exposed to COVID over the weekend.
Even if the aforementioned claims are true, other lawyers say that’s really no big deal.
“This is a bogus motion by the Trump team. There’s nothing here,” said CNN legal analyst Eli Honig. “Every judge in that courthouse knows, socializes with, has worked with, sometimes maybe mentored, dozens, hundreds of attorneys in this city.”
Hmmm. It’s almost like Habba isn’t part of the club, or something. 🤔
TBH, the case was a mismatch in court. Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, is one of the most accomplished and well-respected litigators in the country, representing Edie Windsor in the landmark Supreme Court case that overturned the Defense of Marriage Act.
Habba, meanwhile, appeared to arrive on Trump’s radar after she tricked an employee of Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster into signing an NDA in a parking lot after she alleged she was sexually assaulted by a manager.
Kaplan disproved one of Trump’s central arguments, that he doesn’t know Carroll and has–surprise!–never met her before in his life, with one damning photograph.
Appearing on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show Monday evening, Crowley suggested Habba’s uncontrollable client was behind her more outrageous conduct.
“I think that she had a hard job and you could definitely see a difference between her sort of style when [Trump] was in the court room,” she said.
“She was much more disciplined and frankly acted more like a lawyer when he wasn’t there. When he was, you could hear him telling her when to object and muttering things and loudly being frustrated with her.”
Regardless, it doesn’t seem like Habba is going to leave Trump’s side any time soon. She’s been filling in for MIA Melania for months, appearing at her boss’ political events and even accompanying him to his lame New Year’s Eve party featuring Vanilla Ice.
Related:
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Recently, a former Trump staffer was ejected from his victory party after posting a pic with her the same day she seemingly lied to Judge Kaplan about that covid exposure we mentioned earlier.
Busted!
She’s clearly ride-or-die for Trump.
With four criminal indictments and 91 felony charges, the ex-president has a slew of attorneys on his payroll (assuming they’re getting paid, unlike Rudy Giuliani). But at this point, Habba stands above below the rest.
At least until he dumps her for a newer model.
Brian
Both? She’s an inexperienced and incompetent attorney who ALSO has to run an impossible case. The root of the problem is Donald Trump’s habit of raping multiple women, and then it certainly doesn’t help when his attorneys are terrible. Not a lot left to debate.
Baron Wiseman
@Brian
Pay attention: President Trump has never been convicted of “raping multiple women.”
abfab
Yes he has.
decrans
Nope. Legal convictions vs. court settlements. Criminal vs. Civil. Basic legal 101 stuff.
SoPluckyWhat
Sorry Barren, you still aren’t on Trump’s list to be vise.
ZzBomb
Baron,
He’s raped multiple women, a court of law proved that which is why he has already shelled out money to the victims.
abfab
Of course he rapes women. He discovered long ago it was the only way he would stand a chance. I mean, look at him!
Kangol2
Roberta Kaplan and her team blew this buffoon Habba out of the water! Kaplan won twice in court, with juries both times convicting Don the Con. And this most recent jury was so disgusted by Habba and Don the Con they awarded Carroll a multiple of what she’d sued for! Habba ought to hang it up and just stick to being Don the Con’s running buddy.
abfab
Is that the equivalent to being thrown under the bus, Kangol2? Ivanka….you’re next.
Baron Wiseman
@Kangol2
Yes, the jury awarded E. Jean Carroll more than four times what she was asking for. Why do you think that is? Why would a jury do that on something that they have absolutely no proof?None.
abfab
Why don’t YOU tell US, Baron! You seem to know EVERYTHING!!!
abfab
Note to all judges and those who do voir dire/jury selction. Excuse Baron WIseman from serving.
still_onthemark
It’s a conspiracy, the likes of which we’ve never seen! Next, Baron will explain to us how Taylor and Travis are an “artificially culturally propped-up couple”! (to quote Vivek Ramaswamy)
ZzBomb
Baron
“Why would a jury do that on something that they have absolutely no proof?”
They have the dress she was wearing w/ his DNA on it. That’s proof and he’s already been tried and found guilty. You’re a failure at life just as he is.
Baron Wiseman
@ZzBomb
There you go again, making shit up again.
There is no dress with DNA on it!!! You are thinking of rapist Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. The coat dress that she claims she wore was not even manufactured yet! She doesn’t even know what year this supposedly took place. There is absolutely no proof that he raped her. None.
abfab
Baron knows all about stains. His.
ZzBomb
So Baron, why did he have to shell out $5 million already??? Hmmmm
B/c he raped her and then persisted to lie about it now has to pay $83 million more.
Baron Wiseman
@ZzBomb
Ugh.
He was found liable for sexual assault; not rape.
There is no proof of rape. There is no proof of sexual assault. There is no DNA on a dress like you stated. Like many things, you just made it up!
abfab
Baron, when taking the stand in his own defence:
”There is no proof of rape. There is no proof of sexual assault. There is no DNA on a dress like you stated. Like many things, you just made it up!”
Fahd
No doubt her court performance contributed to the large punitive damages the jury awarded. Punitive damages are damages a jury awards to punish the defendant and to discourage the defendant or anyone else from engaging in a behavior again. Most of the $83+ million is punitive damages, I think, and based on the behavior of the guy and his attorney in court, I can see why the jury would think the situation calls for punitive damages of that magnitude. Fair is fair.
RIGay
She’s on his short list to be a SCOTUS nominee.
Jim
“Habba frequently cashed with Judge Lewis A. Kaplan,”
Considering we are talking about Trump. cashed is the right word
bachy
I still can’t figure out what that sentence means…?
Diplomat
The punitive damages totalled approx 65M. That’s what Trump gets for being a guilty serial-lying thieving and dangerously out of control baboon in a judicial proceeding.
Mister P
Trump can no longer get good lawyers because he neither listens to them or pays them.
abfab
Baron just said he’d do him pro bono.
abfab
Baron is styping from his prison cell.
ZzBomb
Trump need’s to be 2A’d out of existence.
Baron Wiseman
@ZzBomb
Are you advocating that someone assassinate Donald Trump?
abfab
Failure. Hang it up Sharon.