Lawyers mocked Jen Abel, one of the warring publicists in the “It Ends With Us” saga, for trying to get her former boss — who accused her of sabotage — to pay for her legal defense.
After Hollywood p.r. firm Jonesworks sued Abel for allegedly stealing confidential documents, plotting to poach clients and running a smear campaign against the company, Abel claimed in court that Jonesworks should pay for her attorney fees — because she was working for Jonesworks when she did it.
Now Jonesworks’ attorneys are scoffing at the “audacious” attempt.
Abel started working for the company — which reps Tom Brady, Serena Williams, Scooter Braun and others — in 2020, and handled the account of Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.
She was later accused in a blockbuster New York Times article of helping to run a smear campaign against his “It Ends With Us” co-star Blake Lively, allegedly in an attempt to undermine her claims that he mistreated her on set. (Abel has denied wrongdoing).
Meanwhile, Jonesworks filed suit against Abel in December for her alleged subterfuge.
Abel countersued, claiming among other things that Jonesworks boss Stephanie Jones leaked her private texts as part of a revenge plot.
In March, Abel filed papers claiming that Jonesworks should pay for her defense because the alleged hatchet job was “part of the scope” of her job.
Jonesworks’ lawyer Kristin Tahler told Page Six “almost comically, Abel wants the same boss she sought to take down to literally pay to defend her devastating choices.”
She called Abel “delusional,” and said one needs to do “mental gymnastics” to understand the claim.
These cases are part of a web of suits and countersuits, some of which are expected to reach the courtroom next year.
The post Lawyers mock Justin Baldoni publicist for asking former boss, who she’s accused of cheating, to pay for her legal costs appeared first on Page Six.
