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Donald Trump, center, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump during filming of the final live television episode of The Celebrity Apprentice on May 10, 2009 in New York City.
CNN –
A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit alleging that Donald Trump was involved with a fraudulent marketing company, several weeks before the trial.
The lawsuit, filed in 2018, alleges that in exchange for “secret” payments totaling millions of dollars, Trump used his reality TV show “The Celebrity Apprentice” and other promotional events as a vehicle to sell ACN Opportunity, a company affiliated with him Telecommunications marketing company to boost a nonprofit that used Trump's brand to appeal to youth.
The lawsuit alleges that the program took advantage of investors, including by recruiting teenagers who promised them success as “tomorrow's trump cards.”
District Judge Lorna Schofield said the case, which was previously denied class-action status, would be better heard in state court rather than federal court, and said plaintiffs would be allowed to file their claims there.
“Because this case only involves three individual plaintiffs asserting claims under the laws of their respective states, it is no more appropriate for adjudication in this court than in state courts, particularly those of California, Maryland and Pennsylvania.” , the judge wrote. “Even if the investigation has been completed and certain applications have been decided, maintaining jurisdiction would serve neither economic efficiency nor expediency,” the order states.
Clifford Robert, an attorney for the former president, said in a statement Friday evening: “Having already rejected class certification, we are pleased that the court has dismissed the nominal claims of the three remaining plaintiffs.”
Trump and his adult sons, who were originally named in the lawsuit, were deposed as part of the lawsuit. The parties later agreed to drop the claims against the sons. The case was scheduled to be heard on January 29.
“Today’s decision addresses only where – not whether – plaintiffs’ claims should go to trial. “We intend to continue the fight and our courageous clients look forward to their day in court,” said Roberta Kaplan, an attorney representing the plaintiffs.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN's Piper Hudspeth Blackburn contributed to this report.