Former first son Hunter Biden’s so-called “sugar brother,” Kevin Morris, has abruptly moved to drop his lawsuit towards conservative analysis group Marco Polo founder Garrett Ziegler for alleged doxing and harassment.
Morris, a Hollywood energy dealer who helped bankroll Hunter’s authorized payments and varied ventures, sued over accusations Ziegler impersonated Democratic fundraiser Jon Cooper to get intel on Hunter out of him throughout a textual content alternate. Ziegler has denied doing so.
Ziegler’s legal professional, Jennifer Holliday, challenged the push to dismiss the go well with with out prejudice.
“Over two and a half years right into a meritless lawsuit, and with out producing any proof of the phone variety of the alleged impersonator … Plaintiff seeks voluntary dismissal with out prejudice, in full disregard of the phrases of the Remittitur and of Defendants’ rights,” Holliday contended in court docket paperwork.
“That is objectively improper.”
Morris’ workforce despatched a duplicate of a request to dismiss the go well with final Tuesday and Holliday filed a response later that very same day.
Ziegler’s workforce additionally demanded that Morris pony up $364,814 in authorized charges earlier than the lawsuit could be dismissed.
“Plaintiff, an skilled and well-resourced leisure legal professional, initiated litigation towards out-of-state defendants for partaking in constitutionally protected speech,” Holliday careworn.
“Defendants had been due to this fact required to retain specialised counsel and undertake intensive factual and authorized evaluation to vindicate their First Modification rights, ensuing within the charges incurred.”
It’s not absolutely clear why Morris is attempting to drop the go well with now. The Submit reached out to his legal professional for remark.
In March, Hunter gained his bid to drop his go well with towards Ziegler, a former aide to commerce adviser Peter Navarro through the first Trump administration, over accusations he hacked his laptop computer. A choose decided that Hunter couldn’t deliver that case once more sooner or later.
In court docket paperwork, Morris’ workforce alleged that Ziegler had goaded him into giving him essential insights into Hunter’s laptop computer whereas impersonating Cooper.
After getting what he wished, the impersonator allegedly texted Morris on Might 29, 2022 “a picture of a cartoon purple squid perched atop planet Earth, circled by the phrases ‘Marco Polo’ and ‘NOTHING IS BEYOND OUR REACH.’”
Morris shortly referred to as on Ziegler to stop and desist, whereas threatening aggressive authorized motion.
“You’re going to jail and we’re going to get the entire cash your loved ones has and you’ll work for us for the remainder of your life,” he allegedly wrote.
“You’ll come to my home on a regular basis and wash my automotive,” he later added within the fiery alternate that ensued. “We are going to observe you to the ends of the earth.”
In the course of the alleged alternate and in his subsequent lawsuit, Morris had concluded that the gadfly he was speaking with was Ziegler. However Holliday emphasised in court docket paperwork that it has not been confirmed.
“In his Criticism, Morris alleges, with out ever producing the phone quantity or any cellphone data or different dependable proof, that this ‘impersonator’ was Defendant Garrett Ziegler, who has provided an unrebutted sworn assertion that he didn’t message Morris,” Holliday chided in court docket paperwork.
Morris had confronted main setbacks in his lawsuit towards Ziegler. Over the summer time, for instance, the California Court docket of Appeals slapped down his claims that the Golden State’s legal doxing statute was damaged.
It additionally spurned his tort claims for civil harassment, however permitted his claims about impersonation to go forward.
Morris, who made his bones repping “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone earlier than constructing a consumer listing of A-listers resembling Matthew McConaughey, Scarlett Johansson and Will Ferrell, first met Hunter at a November 2019 fundraiser for his father.
Given his personal historical past of alcohol dependancy, Morris developed a bond with the troubled Biden scion and started lending him monetary assist to the tune of thousands and thousands in support and loans.
This consists of steps resembling footing his authorized payments, overdue tax charges, automotive funds, reported art work purchases, and extra. Morris had a front-row seat to Hunter’s trial for alleged gun crimes final 12 months.
A court docket listening to within the bid to drop the Morris v. Ziegler go well with might happen as early as Jan. 29, 2026.
