Lawyers for Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli say their clients are “eager to clear their names” against what they are calling “baseless accusations” in their now infamous college bribery case.
According to court docs obtained by the Blast, Loughlin’s legal team at the firm of Latham & Watkins are now pushing to stay on the case after the government filed a motion to have them removed because of a conflict of interest. The firm also represents The University of Southern California in several different unrelated cases.
The couple, who are facing serious accusations in the cheating scandal, including allegedly paying $500,000 in bribes to get their daughter Olivia Jade admitted into USC, want to keep the firm on this case because the firm has represented Mossimo for 20 years. The firm says they take their “ethical obligations seriously” and believe there is “no material risk of a potential conflict as a result of its joint representation of Giannulli and Loughlin.”
The firm is arguing that “USC is not a party to Loughlin’s case and its status as an alleged victim does not automatically trigger a conflict of interest requiring Latham’s withdrawal. Latham will avoid any direct adversity with USC by relying on co-counsel to handle any cross-examination of USC witnesses and any restitution proceeding in which USC’s financial interests are directly at stake.”
Both Loughlin and Giannulli have filed declarations saying they are aware of Latham’s ties to USC, but they say it does not affect their decision to have the firm represent them in the case.
“Giannulli and Loughlin are innocent of the charges brought against them and eager to clear their names,” the documents state. “And they believe their interests will be advanced most effectively by presenting a united front against the Government’s baseless accusations.”
Loughlin and her husband have entered pleas of not guilty back in April, but sources recently told Entertainment Tonight that the actress is second-guessing her decision to plead not guilty and feels “very alone” in amid the grueling process.
“While a few friends have stuck by her side, many others have cut her off,” the source claimed. “She still feels it’s a huge misunderstanding, but seeing others be sentenced has scared her.”
The source told ET, “She is watching the reduced sentences of those who have taken plea deals, and wondering each day if she’s made the wrong decision.”
The couple is now awaiting a judge’s ruling.
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