NEW YORK, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Just days after a high-profile $400 million defamation lawsuit was publicly and decisively thrown out against a sexual harassment accuser, Gina Strum is drawing attention to a strikingly similar abuse of the courts—this time by billionaire and former Milwaukee Bucks Owner Marc Lasry. In court papers filed, Strum moves to dismiss Lasry's lawsuit as a "retaliatory and abusive" attempt to silence her after she came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and coercion spanning over fifteen years.
"As the recently filed motion papers allege, Marc Lasry attempted to force Strum into an internal role at Avenue Capital—one that required extensive travel alone with him," said Richard Roth, managing partner of Roth Law and counsel to Ms. Strum, explaining the basis of her pleading. "At the time, the papers explain, she was already enduring unwanted physical contact and feared it would escalate—just as it had during her prior stint as an Avenue employee. The abuse became so severe it left her physically ill—internally bleeding, requiring emergency medical care and long-term treatment. She refused to be bullied and raised concerns of sexual harassment and abuse. He retaliated with a fabricated defamation lawsuit."
Ms. Strum has filed court papers directly refuting Marc Lasry's defamation and extortion claims. Lasry alleged that he never told Strum about Ms. Gardner's struggle with illness, however the motion includes evidence that, in January 2024, both Lasry and Gardner informed her that Gardner could no longer meet the demands of her role due to the lasting effects of cancer and surgery. Lasry further falsely accuses Strum of defaming Gardner's health in May 2024 during a conversation with David Jeffery of StepStone—a person she has not spoken to in over two years.
Additionally, in her filing, Ms. Strum includes a string of July 16, 2024 text messages from Mr. Lasry that directly contradict his May 2024 defamation and extortion claims. These messages show Mr. Lasry pleading with Ms. Strum to continue working with him—two months after he claims she defamed him and demanded $50 million:
Marc Lasry: "I understand the business but it's clear to me that without you, there is no business. You know it better than anyone."
Gina Strum: "We cannot work together. That is an absurd statement. I don't even want to consult. You have no idea how abusive I find you. I'm done… I want nothing to do with Avenue."
Marc Lasry: "No one here at Avenue knows how to do this. If you aren't involved then this idea doesn't work."
Gina Strum: "No. I'm not raising any money. I said you will assume distribution contracts."
Marc Lasry: "I've spoken to everyone. The only way this works is if you help me raise the money… I have a proposal if you want to hear it."
Gina Strum: "No. I am not interested in working with you any further… Even suggesting this is manipulative and abusive."
"These messages destroy Plaintiffs' narrative," said Strum's attorney. "If Lasry genuinely believed Ms. Strum had defamed him and tried to extort him in May, he wouldn't be begging her to work with him in July."
The motion also details Lasry's deeply troubling history of enabling misconduct. For years, Lasry maintained a personal and professional relationship with Harvey Weinstein—serving on the board of The Weinstein Company and allegedly standing by as assertions of widespread sexual abuse mounted. In 2017, Lasry was named as a defendant in a federal class action brought by Weinstein's victims. The complaint accused Weinstein's board members of enabling a systemic cover-up of sexual violence—"Weinstein Sexual Enterprise"—a network of insiders who concealed, protected, and financially empowered serial abuse.
Ms. Strum is seeking to dismiss the defamation lawsuit under New York's anti-SLAPP law, which protects people from retaliatory litigation arising from speech on matters of public interest. The law allows for recovery of attorney fees and damages when lawsuits are brought to chill protected speech.
"Hopefully, this lawsuit sends a clear message," said Strum. "Powerful men can't use the courts to bully, silence, or punish women for speaking the truth. False litigation is just another form of abuse—and the courts are recognizing it. As we've already seen with the collapse of another recent $400 million defamation suit, this tactic is losing power."
Victims of sexual harassment or abuse are encouraged to contact local law enforcement to report any crimes. To speak with someone who is trained to help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat online at [https://rainn.org](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4447527-1&h=4223584630&u=https%3A%2F%2Frainn.org%2F&a=https%3A%2F%2Frainn.org).
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SOURCE Roth Law Firm
