RETRIBUTION

Melania Trump Lost Chance to Make Millions, Libel Suit Claims

Seeks $150M in damages for retracted escort report.

A re-filed libel lawsuit by Melania Trump claims that retracted articles that alleged she once worked as a high-end escort have damaged her ability to profit from her unusually high profile. The suit, filed Monday in New York State Supreme Court against the Daily Mail’s site publisher, Mail Media Inc., claims the new first lady “had the unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as an extremely famous and well-known person, as well as a former professional model, brand spokesperson, and successful businesswoman, to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multimillion-dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which Plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world.” The suit was previously filed in Maryland, but a judge dismissed the case this month on the grounds that it shouldn’t be filed in that state. Trump is seeking compensatory and punitive damages of at least $150 million. Her suit against blogger Webster Tarpley, who made the claims in a blog post, has been allowed to move forward in Maryland. Both Tarpley and the Daily Mail issued retractions.