Paul v. Clinton
Encyclopedia
Paul v. Clinton is a civil suit filed in 2004 and currently being held in Los Angeles County Superior Court
. The plaintiff
Peter F. Paul
, alleges that President Bill Clinton
and his wife, First Lady
Hillary Rodham Clinton
, deceived him into paying for the Gala Hollywood Farewell Salute to President Clinton
, during Hillary Clinton's first Senate race in 2000
, by making a promise that the President would work for Paul's company, Stan Lee Media
, after his Presidential term was over. Paul alleges that the President broke his promise and stole his business partner, causing his business to crumble and, further, that his contributions to Hillary Clinton's campaign were falsely reported to the Federal Election Commission
. Besides the Clintons, three other individuals who were involved in fundraising for the gala, are named as defendants in the suit.
In April 2006 the judge in the case dismissed all charges against Hillary Clinton, for lack of evidence and due to a California law that broadly protects political activities. Paul filed an appeal of the decision to dismiss her from the case. A hearing was held on September 7, 2007; on October 16, 2007, the appeal was denied by California's Second District Court of Appeal, which upheld the lower court's opinion and said that Hillary Clinton could recoup her legal costs. After the ruling, Paul said he would consider a further appeal to the Supreme Court of California
. Most but not all of the charges against President Clinton have also been dismissed by the court, on procedural grounds.
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
. The plaintiff
Plaintiff
A plaintiff , also known as a claimant or complainant, is the term used in some jurisdictions for the party who initiates a lawsuit before a court...
Peter F. Paul
Peter F. Paul
Peter F. Paul is a former lawyer and entrepreneur who was convicted for conspiracy and drug dealing, and later for securities fraud in connection with his business dealings with Spider-Man creator Stan Lee...
, alleges that President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and his wife, First Lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
, deceived him into paying for the Gala Hollywood Farewell Salute to President Clinton
Gala Hollywood Farewell Salute to President Clinton
The Hollywood Gala Salute to President William Jefferson Clinton took place on August 12, 2000 at the private Brentwood, California estate of businessman Ken Roberts. It was produced and hosted by Peter F. Paul and Aaron Tonken, and was the largest Hollywood tribute ever produced for a sitting...
, during Hillary Clinton's first Senate race in 2000
New York United States Senate election, 2000
The United States Senate election in New York in 2000 was held on November 7, 2000. First Lady of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first First Lady to run for political office, defeated Congressman Rick Lazio. The general election coincided with the 2000 U.S...
, by making a promise that the President would work for Paul's company, Stan Lee Media
Stan Lee Media
Stan Lee Media was an Internet-based creation, production and marketing company that was founded in 1998, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2000, and ultimately dismissed from bankruptcy in November, 2006. In its early years, the company created Stan Lee branded super hero franchises...
, after his Presidential term was over. Paul alleges that the President broke his promise and stole his business partner, causing his business to crumble and, further, that his contributions to Hillary Clinton's campaign were falsely reported to the Federal Election Commission
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
. Besides the Clintons, three other individuals who were involved in fundraising for the gala, are named as defendants in the suit.
In April 2006 the judge in the case dismissed all charges against Hillary Clinton, for lack of evidence and due to a California law that broadly protects political activities. Paul filed an appeal of the decision to dismiss her from the case. A hearing was held on September 7, 2007; on October 16, 2007, the appeal was denied by California's Second District Court of Appeal, which upheld the lower court's opinion and said that Hillary Clinton could recoup her legal costs. After the ruling, Paul said he would consider a further appeal to the Supreme Court of California
Supreme Court of California
The Supreme Court of California is the highest state court in California. It is headquartered in San Francisco and regularly holds sessions in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Its decisions are binding on all other California state courts.-Composition:...
. Most but not all of the charges against President Clinton have also been dismissed by the court, on procedural grounds.