Hunter Biden, the former eldest son, asked a federal judge Thursday to preserve a $1.7 million defamation judgment he won against Overstock.com founder Patrick Byrne instead of using it to pay off money he owes others.
The law firm Winston & Taylor filed a notice of lien against Biden, saying the firm had previously represented him in the Byrne case, congressional investigations and his felony cases but had not yet received payment. A lien means any payment is subject to the creditor’s demand first.
Brian Sullivan, Biden’s current attorney who filed papers to “dismiss” the lien, argued that, among other legal flaws, the contract Biden signed did not properly explain to him, an attorney himself, the negative consequences of the lien.
Winston Taylor is suing Biden in a Washington, D.C. court, seeking millions of dollars in fees. Biden said he couldn’t pay because he was broke, testifying that “I don’t have any assets. I don’t have a car. I don’t have a cell phone.”
In court filings this year, the law firm claimed Biden destroyed evidence, has been “evasive” and “continues to find ineffective excuses.”
That would change when Biden won a $1.7 million defamation judgment for breach of contract when Byrne didn’t appear in court to defend himself — but he still doesn’t appear to be planning to pay. Byrne is appealing the verdict but has posted a $2.1 million bond to cover costs if his appeal fails.
Sullivan told The Daily Telegraph that Winston Taylor knew the risks they faced when they agreed to represent Biden.
“They took the case because they knew he couldn’t pay them. They knew that was the case. If he made a lot of money, he always said he would pay, but they took the risk,” he said.
“He was hoping they would set up a legal defense fund and raise money, but things haven’t gone the way anyone hoped,” he added, saying that like demand for the Biden paintings, the number of donors wanting to write checks for Hunter Biden has dried up now that his father is not in the Oval Office.
Sullivan said the lien serves both his and Biden’s interests: The entire defamation verdict could be eaten up by the old attorney’s fees, leaving Sullivan unpaid for his recent work on the case.
Biden’s attorney at Winston & Taylor is Abbe Lowell, a politically well-connected Democrat who has represented former Sen. Biden, among other figures. Bob Menendez and Jack Abramoff. He has since left Winston Taylor, which may give Biden more freedom to take on corporations.
“This is not Abe Lowell’s lien. Abe hasn’t been here in a year and a half. We have a great relationship with Abe,” Sullivan said.
Law firm Lowell & Winston Taylor did not respond to a request for comment.
Information on Biden’s infamous laptop shows that he often appeared to be planning to cut other people’s money while spending lavishly on himself. But Biden said he’s been sober for several years now and is on a media tour trying to reinvent himself as a new man.