PARIS — Troubled designer John Galliano sued his former lawyer for abuse of trust, accusing him of stealing €2.8 million ($4.1 million), Europe 1 radio reported Friday.
Galliano fired his longtime lawyer, Stephane Zerbib, this week in mysterious circumstances, just a week before the May 12 decision on the date for his French trial on anti-Semitic abuse charges.
But Zerbib planned to countersue Galliano for defamation over the allegation, AFP reported Friday, citing Zerbib’s own lawyer, Emma Lapijower.
Court documents filed April 13 showed that money was at the heart of the dispute between the two men, according to the Europe 1 report.
The British-born Galliano owned a company that managed revenue from image rights and his work for the Dior fashion house, which dropped him earlier this year after revelations of his anti-Semitic rants.
Galliano entrusted Zerbib with the management of the company throughout 2010 but retook control in February. The lawsuit alleges that Galliano discovered multiple payments to the lawyer, including cash withdrawals near Zerbib’s office using the company’s card, on one occasion up to seven times a day.
Zerbib denied the allegations, saying that Galliano would be better off saving his fire for his trial.
The 50 year old faces charges of “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity,” following two drunken rants in a Paris cafe. If found guilty, he could face up to six months in prison.
Following his arrest, the superstar fashion designer apologized for his behavior but denied being anti-Semitic.