THE FORMER chairman and CEO of the William Morris Agency sued Winston & Strawn on Monday, claiming a former partner indicted last week for allegedly laundering millions of dollars for Ponzi scheme operator Kenneth Starr inappropriately offered to represent the ex-CEO and his wife in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s investigation into the matter.
The lawsuit, filed by former talent agency executive James Wiatt and his wife Elizabeth in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, also named Mr. Starr, a former financial advisor to celebrities, and ex-Winston partner Jonathan S. Bristol as defendants. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages from Winston & Strawn that could reach more than $10 million, said David S. Stone, the Wiatts’ lawyer.
