Attorney Michael Avenatti has agreed to give up financial control of his former firm's accounts after another lawyer accused him of hiding millions of dollars from a federal bankruptcy court.
Avenatti, the lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels, agreed to have a receiver appointed to take possession of the bank accounts, case files and other assets of his former firm, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.
The deal came after Avenatti's former law partner Jason Frank made the request Tuesday to block the firm Eagan Avenatti from draining its assets.
Frank, who has been seeking to collect on a $10 million judgment against the firm, alleged that Avenatti moved money around when the firm was under federal bankruptcy protection to hide millions from its creditors.
"This includes brazen acts of bankruptcy fraud," Scott H. Sims, Frank's lawyer, wrote in court papers.
Avenatti is best known for representing Daniels in her lawsuit against President Donald Trump over an alleged affair that he denies.
Avenatti has denied any wrongdoing in the bankruptcy and said there was no fraud.
"Every dollar has been properly accounted for and reported as required and as previously set forth in numerous accountings," Avenatti said. "This is much to-do about nothing."
Frank on Wednesday agreed to withdraw court papers alleging bankruptcy fraud and Avenatti and his firm accepted the receivership.
In court filings, Frank had alleged that Avenatti opened six bank accounts during the bankruptcy proceedings that were not included in required monthly reports on the firm's income and spending.