Jussie Smollett’s alleged accomplices sue his lawyers for damages
Jussie Smollett, Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo (Getty)
The two brothers who were accused of staging a hate crime attack against Jussie Smollett are suing the actor’s legal representatives for defamation.
Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo have launched legal action against Smollett’s lawyers, Mark Geragos and Tina Glandian, over public statements about their alleged role in the January 22 incident in Chicago.
In a lawsuit, the Osundairo brothers claimed they had suffered “irreparable financial damage” and “emotional stress” as a result of being accused of attacking Smollett, even after Chicago police determined Smollett had staged the ordeal.
Osundairo brothers: These lies are destroying our character
The Osundairo brothers testified before a grand jury in February, claiming that Smollett paid them $3,500 to fake the homophobic and racist attack.
Smollett’s lawyers responded with documents suggesting the money was, in fact, a personal training fee, denying the actor’s involvement and calling for the city to file charges against the Osundairo brothers if there was proof they had perpetrated the attack.
Jussie Smollett was accused of staging a homophobic and racist attack on himself with the Osundario brothers
The Osundairos are now seeking damages over the claims.
In a statement on Tuesday (April 23), the brothers said: “We have sat back and watched lie after lie being fabricated about us in the media only so one big lie can continue to have life.
“These lies are destroying our character and reputation in our personal and professional lives.”
Jussie Smollett lawyers say Osundairo lawsuit is ‘comical’
In a statement, Smollett’s lawyers Geragos and Glandian described the lawsuit as “ridiculous.”
They said: “At first we thought this comical legal document was a parody.
“Instead this so-called lawsuit by the brothers is more of their lawyer-driven nonsense, and a desperate attempt for them to stay relevant and further profit from an attack they admit they perpetrated.
“While we know this ridiculous lawsuit will soon be dismissed because it lacks any legal footing, we look forward to exposing the fraud the Osundairo brothers and their attorneys have committed on the public.”
Criminal charges against Smollett, who maintains his innocence, were dropped in March.
However, the city of Chicago has launched civil action against him to reclaim the cost of police investigations.
Chicago officials demanded he pay a large bill to cover the costs of the police investigation, doubling down on claims he invented the attack.
