LEGAL/PAUL MANAFORT/RUSSIA: “A Russian metals billionaire sued President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman on Wednesday [1-10-18], alleging he and a partner misappropriated at least $18.9 million of funds the Russian had invested.
Oleg Deripaska alleged in a lawsuit filed in the New York state court Wednesday that Paul Manafort, the former campaign manager, and his long-time partner Richard Gates ‘vanished’ the money invested by the Russian businessman in the late 2000s. The suit, filed by Mr. Deripaska’s Cyprus-based Surf Horizon Ltd., seeks $25 million in punitive damages and other compensatory damages…
Mr. Gates didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Jason Maloni, Mr. Manafort’s spokesman, said the filing was a surprise. ‘This is a commercial matter which we thought had been addressed and resolved years ago,’ he said. ‘We will respond, if we must do so, in the appropriate manner.’
The lawsuit provides another twist in a story that has dominated news in Washington: allegations of links between Mr. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and the Russian government. Mr. Manafort’s ties to Russian officials and businessmen, including Mr. Deripaska, have fueled those allegations.”
-Scott Patterson, “Russian Tycoon Sues Trump’s Ex-Campaign Chairman for Fraud,” The Wall Street Journal online, Jan. 10, 2018 03:43pm