Porn Valley- The wheels of justice sometime spin without hubcaps. Saturday I spoke to Craig Valentine who gave me his version of a lawsuit involving him and Rebecca Hilton. https://www.adultfyi.com/read.aspx?ID=15723. Today I spoke to Hilton’s attorney Mike Fattorosi who gives me a slightly different account of events regarding the case. Hilton is basically suing Valentine over three movies he shot for her.
“The case never was heard on its merits,” Fattorosi explains. “The only issue that was heard was called jurisdiction. In terms of court cases you choose a venue to file the case.” Fattorosi explains that California was chosen based on sufficient contacts, that respective business by the two parties is done in the state.
“The contract that was entered into was inside the state,” he says. “And checks were cashed at a bank in the state.” “Besides that,” Fattorosi continues, “Everything is mostly shot here. This is really the only legal place to film adult content based on the Freeman decision. We were trying to bring the case here because people are more used to the adult industry being in the Valley.”
According to Fattorosi, the judge, however ruled that there was insufficient evidence to show sufficient contacts.
“And Craig Valentine talks about a 3-page ruling, that the judge threw out the case completely,” Fattorosi goes on to say. “The judge hasn’t thrown out the case completely. We can appeal the case here in California and go to the next level. Or we’re also looking at re-filing the case in New Mexico or even in Florida. This case will be filed. It’s a matter of where. As far as a decision on the merits, it’s just not true. No judge has ever looked at the actual case itself. The only thing the judge decided on is where it should be filed. Because one defendant lives in New Mexico and the other defendant lives in Florida, the judge basically indicated that I don’t know if I want California the place to be where it’s filed. Either we can appeal it and get someone else to take a look at it here. Or we can go file in New Mexico or in Florida.”
According to Fattorosi, the judge, likewise, never commented that the case was the most absurd thing he ever saw in his life, which was Valentine’s contention.
“It’s a contract dispute,” said Fattorosi. “It’s not absurd. The judge doesn’t discuss anything about the case being absurd. There was no discussion about the merits of the case. There was no discussion as to the ultimate resolution of the matter. That was never discussed.”
Fattorosi says there were two hearings involved. The judge wanted to look at the filings and wanted to see additional evidence and called for that: “Send me what you have to show that California has jurisdiction.”
“Quite honestly we do believe that there’s strong California things,” says Fattorosi. “Rebecca Hilton and her husband are making a decision if they want us to appeal it here. Basically we do not agree with the judge’s decision as far as jurisdiction. We were basically trying to bring a case where it had the best chance to be heard fairly.”
And there’s been no filing against Rebecca Hilton in Florida as Valentine contends, says Fattorosi. “Not that we’re aware of.” Fattorosi wonders if what Valentine might be talking about is the fact that he [Valentine] filed bankruptcy last October.
“He filed Chapter 7 in the Southern district, United Bankruptcy Court,” states Fattorosi. “It was filed October 6, 2005. The attorney for that is Daniel Gass. There has been a bankruptcy trustee already appointed.”.