New Trial Against Mitchelson Rejected
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A judge has denied a new trial or a damage award to a woman who claimed in a civil suit that famed palimony attorney Marvin Mitchelson botched her divorce and coerced her into having sex with him.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jack Ryburn denied the requests without comment Thursday.
An eight-man, four-woman jury ruled Aug. 3 that Mitchelson failed to provide proper care and skill in handling Felicia Gordon’s 1984 divorce from her former husband, Robert MacDonald.
But the panel also refused to award any damages to Gordon, saying it could not find any negligent or outrageous conduct by Mitchelson that caused her emotional distress. She had sought $6 million.
Gordon’s attorney Malcolm Ellis reiterated his argument Thursday that she suffered emotional distress from the divorce.
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