Alina Habba Mildon Faces NJ Bar Complaint Over Settlement Ethics

Alina Habba Mildon Faces NJ Bar Complaint Over Settlement Ethics

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Alina Habba Mildon faces potential bar discipline in New Jersey following a formal complaint from the state’s attorney ethics office.

The ethics complaint, reported by MS NOW, centers on Mildon’s involvement in settling a 2021 sexual harassment employment dispute involving a server at one of Donald Trump’s golf clubs. While Mildon is widely recognized for her legal work representing the former president, the allegations involve a period before she was formally retained by him and concern a role that investigators suggest may have bypassed standard legal boundaries.

The dispute involved Alice Bianco, who worked as a server at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, in the spring of 2021. According to the filing, Bianco alleged that a manager began harassing her shortly after she was hired. While Bianco had originally retained a lawyer to pursue the claim against the club, the complaint alleges that Mildon, a member of the club, intervened.

Alina Habba Faces Possible Disbarment After NJ Ethics Probe Into Trump Golf Club Settlement — US Scope TV

“Left without counsel,” the filing said, “Bianco then relied entirely on Respondent [Mildon], who convinced her that she should settle the dispute because Bianco’s perceived past indiscretions might be made public.”

The ethics office is investigating whether Mildon violated specific rules regarding conflicts of interest and the requirement to act as a neutral third party. The complaint further alleges that Mildon failed to maintain proper records and orchestrated a $15,000 settlement for Bianco. This figure was $5,000 higher than what the server had initially sought, but the agreement included a nondisclosure agreement, which the complaint notes is illegal under New Jersey law.

The fallout from this settlement led to further litigation. Bianco eventually hired attorney Nancy Erika Smith and filed a lawsuit alleging that Mildon had fraudulently induced her to sign the agreement. To resolve that specific suit, the club and Mildon paid Bianco $400,000. Smith subsequently filed the bar grievance that triggered the current investigation.

The allegations describe an unequal distribution of power. The complaint described Bianco as “unfamiliar with the law” and lacking “meaningful support and sophistication in matters of work, education and life experience.”

Ex-Trump Lawyer Alina Habba Faces Ethics Charges Over Trump Golf Club Sexual Harassment Settlement — Forbes Breaking News

However, the current matter in New Jersey is distinct from the high-stakes political litigation involving the 2020 election. This case stems from a provincial employment matter at a private club rather than the events surrounding the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

The investigation is currently only one stage in a broader regulatory framework. The disciplinary process is overseen by the state’s highest court, and the final outcome remains undetermined. Mildon is not guaranteed to face sanctions, but if the allegations are substantiated, the disciplinary board has a wide range of options available.

Alina habba turhan mildon wedding screengrab sep mee

Potential outcomes for an attorney facing such complaints include:

  • A formal warning or reprimand
  • Suspension of the license to practice law
  • Disbarment, which would prevent the individual from practicing law entirely

The timing of Mildon’s relationship with Donald Trump is also a point of interest in the timeline of these events. While the Bedminster dispute occurred in 2021, Trump formally retained Mildon less than a month after the $15,000 settlement was reached.

Whether these actions constitute a breach of professional ethics or were simply the actions of a club member attempting to mediate a dispute will be the central question for the New Jersey disciplinary authorities.

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