Recently, I was sent this really interesting interview by The Business of Film (TBOF) with Richard Rionda Del Castro (RRDC), Chairman of LA based Hannibal Pictures and his wife Patricia Rionda Del Castro (PRDC). This is the production company that Sonja Morgan frauded who won their suit against her with a judgment of over $7 million.
You will want to read the whole article if you have the time but these are the most interesting excerpts.
RRDC: In 2005 Hannibal controlled a project in which a very big name actor had a strong interest in the leading role. While we were finalizing the acting contract, the actor gave us a short window to go into production because of other film commitments. We began presales and had procured a commitment letter from our regular production lender. During the same period, our lawyer at the time introduced us to his new client who was now in the business and representing to have $250million in cash to invest into film production. They were starting with a slate of 5 pictures and were looking for high profile pictures to finance and co- produce. They took an ad in Variety at AFM in 2005 announcing their intentions, and in January 2006 they signed an agreement with my company, in which they agreed and committed to finance 100% of the film. At that time, they were fully aware that if we agreed to their financing terms, we would be solely relying on them to completely finance the film, and they repeatedly assured us that would not be an issue. This person was Sonja Tremont Morgan, a New York socialite. The production company was Sonja Productions. Her company took an advertisement in the trades, and she used her husband’s name John Adams Morgan, the great-great grandson of J.P. Morgan, and a direct descendant of U.S. President John Adams, who was the Vice President in charge of Financing for the company. Sonja Morgan and her director were representing to everyone they had the cash sitting at a bank in Beverly Hills ready to fund as soon as they had chosen their projects.
We placed our trust in them, our lawyer trusted them, and so did the bankers and agents. We performed due diligence and asked for references from the bankers and lawyers. Sonja Productions had recently financed another film just before us, a decision they had made in a few weeks and had funded two and a half million dollars in cash, so we had proof that they were serious and legitimate, as did our attorney considering he had handled the legal of the first investment they made. They liked our project and repeatedly told us this was exactly what they were looking for. Everything was in order on our side – the chain of title, director, location, crew, bond, insurance were in place and the acting service agreements with the actor was ready to be executed. Everything was ready. At this point the investor and co-producer, Sonja Morgan, was expected to put the money in place with the actor’s agency, which she had agreed to do. The day before she was to transfer the money, she told us in front of her CEO and our lawyer, that it would not be a problem, that she would instruct her bank to move the money. The following day she returned to New York and basically didn’t call us back. She left us dry!! We called her repeatedly asking for the money to be put in escrow, and when we finally spoke with her, her response was that “Deals fall apart in Hollywood all the time” and laughed. She went back to New York, was in breach, and in the end laughed at us. So we initiated legal action and filed a lawsuit, which is a painstaking process, emotionally and financially. We sued her for breach of contract and fraud. The fraud was based on the fact that we found out she never had the money she said she had to finance our film, much less anyone else’s.
Our case has been making its way through the Federal Court system for the last three and a half years. The trial in front of an eight person jury that should have lasted four days turned into 9 days. We are represented by the law firm of Hamrick & Evans, LLP by Ray Hamrick and Marty Barab. They have provided us with tremendous support over this long ordeal, and they performed. On the ninth day, the Jury voted unanimously in our favor. They awarded Patricia, myself and Hannibal Pictures a seven-figure award and also awarded us $250.000.00 in punitive damages against Sonja Morgan personally. Sonja Morgan was found personally liable for breach of contract and fraud. The judgment was signed on September 1, 2009. Now we have the law on our side and we fully intend to collect every dime the jury awarded us.
TBOF: What is puzzling is – what is the motive for carrying the charade on for so long if the money wasn’t there. We are all familiar with the individual who comes into our business and within a couple of months is discovered to not have the money and disappears and another comes along. But this person seems to have taken it right to the eleventh hour.
RRDC: People come into this business and other businesses who are the wife, son, daughter, or cousin of a high net worth individual. People like this want to be in the limelight, so they make up fabricated stories, and in actuality commit fraud by signing binding documents guaranteeing financing while in reality they cannot deliver what they are guaranteeing. The fact is, when you sign such a document in the State of California and you don’t have the capacity at time of signing to deliver what you are committing to, it is considered fraud. This is the law. In the case of Sonja Morgan, for whatever her reasons, she completely disregarded that fact. I would hope that any potential individuals who would have the same idea as Sonia Morgan will see that it can’t be easily done, without there being grave consequences.
PRDC: It is interesting, at the end when you come out the other side, people will say to you “how could you not know?’ You simply don’t. It’s not that producers like us are inexperienced and don’t perform the due diligence. When you have someone with this highly regarded reputation and they are using their husband’s name and financial background and reassuring you they are actually going to provide financing film, and you know that they have recently financed a movie, you have no reason not to believe them. If you were to count the number of people every day in this business who say they have financing for a film, they are a dime a dozen. In our case, we were relying on her and her husband’s financial background. She was the wife of John Adams Morgan, who is obviously a well-regarded expert in the banking business. She was also representing that he was a part of her production company and also served as a board member. Obviously his credentials could not be questioned.
RRDC: The point is that people come into the film business and get away with doing this all the time. We now know of other producers Sonja misled that were in our same situation, and they too wasted time, energy and lost credibility not to mention hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the end when she had to back up her commitments she had no intention of the means to finance any films and simply walked away.
TBOF: Having done this ten times, my question is does she own the assets? Is there any chance of her claiming that she has no assets?
RRDC: Mrs. Morgan testified under oath in court regarding her assets, and we have been advised that if she starts to move her assets or tries to hide them, she will be facing larger problems. We encountered a similar situation this summer with someone representing they were an investor who served on the Board of one of the top U.S. banks. This person supposedly had the backing of high net worth individuals from the baseball and music industries and was ready to invest. There were demands made of course: the person would receive a fee and credit, and his girl friend would have to be in the film. What is disturbing is the fact that they were represented by a very reputable talent agency. Together we all went through the negotiation process and in the end nothing ever materialized. Why do producers like us who are seeking money for films entertain meetings with these people? Because they are represented by top agencies in town. Yet in more cases than not these so-called investors don’t have the financing they are representing.
RRDC: I had to go with my hat in hand and explain to the parties involved and apologize, and show the paper trail of what had happened. I jumped on a plane and went to the State where the actor lives and personally apologized. This is what I needed to do, and thankfully he understood, and through his lawyer we were told that if the opportunity and right project comes along they would certainly consider working with us. Mind you, throughout these three years we have continued working while going through this process. It has not been easy.
PRDC: On top of everything, Sonja went even further in trying to stop the litigation by using her connections. She had a high profile financier in the industry call us to make us aware of how very powerful they were, and that if we didn’t stop the litigation, they would make sure no one in Hollywood would work with us. It took us a long time to rebound, and you really don’t know if that had any effect at all.
RRDC: What you just said is how I reacted. We received a phone call from a very well known financier in our industry. A representative of the company called and said: “My boss is a friend of Sonja Morgan, and it would be in your best interest to drop your lawsuit, or you will never work in this town again.” I told him: “You know, I am working an hour a week on the case, and after what you have just told me, I am making it my mission to work two hours a day, so tell her I will follow this to the end.” We immediately sent them a legal notice to cease and desist. In reality we should have also attached them to the lawsuit. After all, it was a phone call that lasted perhaps less than 15 minutes and it was my word against theirs. This demonstrates the perceived power these people think they wield. Instead of doing the right thing, they try to strangle you, try to make you give up your rights, and try to intimidate you.
In other Sonja Morgan news…
Her website shows very low traffic activity. She is also having problems with her “Sonja Morgan New York” trademark. Apparently, someone on he team dropped the ball when it came to the paperwork.
My husband sells high end real estate. You would not believe the amount of fake BS “clients” he has dealt with over the course of 20 years. He had one deal where it was a cash buyer for his listing. He had done due diligence, requested bank statements, etc due to a strong feeling something was off. They literally made it to the closing table, waiting for the money to be wired, and it never came. The buyer disappeared. The whole thing was a fake offer. I’m not sure about the psychology behind this kind of thing, whether it’s delusions of grandeur and power, or if it’s some kind of thrill, like an adrenaline rush, to see how far one can take it. Maybe it’s both. After all of these years, he can usually smell them a mile away. She must have really put on a top notch show to convince these experienced producers. Obviously the Morgan name helped, as they freely admit. It’s no wonder her ex won’t help her out, if she’s pulled stunts like this using his name.
Your post reminded me of the White House crashers on RHODC. Didn’t they have one of the HW show them real estate when they didn’t have a pot to piss in ? She didn’t feel like wasting her time without seeing proof they could actually afford to buy.
At one time my husband, myself and a partner were writing scripts for films and got involved with more than one so-called production company that promised to put up seed money for our film(s). We were also left high and dry because these people represented who they were and what they had. We never sued because we were not sophisticated enough to know what to do with these Hollywood frauds. I sympathize with these people and believe me, Sonja is only one of many pretenders in the film business. She is a disgrace and a fraud and I expect her other business endeavors to end up the same way as her film investment attempts. She is no better than any other conman (woman) and I hope that people see through her after watching her on television and reading information like what you posted. Everything that she does is based on smoke and mirrors and why anyone would would ever trust her is beyond me. Sonja Morgan and others like her are morally corrupt. Bravo should take a closer look at who they have representing their brand. Obviously, felons and frauds are not excluded from their vision of what is supposedly entertaining. I doubt if the producers who wrote to you will collect any money from Sonja Morgan because I doubt that she ever had any to begin with. She is not only morally bankrupt but mentally delusional.
Sonja’s “clothing line” website appears to be selling products that do not yet exist and then using the money collected to produce the product. Allegedly. Based on what I see at the website.
On Mon, Jun 29, 2015 at 11:02 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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But what about all of those secret deals they couldn’t tell Bethany about? >
So basically it’s a ponzi scheme.
I think they are kind of like grifters and think they will be able to get over and actually take possession of the home. It’s a hard con to pull though.
That must have been so disappointing for your husband-only good thing is the best learned lessons are often hard won-or maybe that’s just for me and my hard head..
This is further proof that Sonja is delusional. Such a familiar tune with her…start something and never finish (toaster oven). It’s kind of sad. Hope her daughter is able to be a healthy adult after growing up with momma cuckoo pants.
Yes I can see Sonja laughing. At one time she did have the power.
Thank you for sharing this.
I doubt if Sonja ever had anything that didn’t belong to her ex-husband.He must be horribly embarrassed by her actions and representations and I feel truly sorry for her daughter. Whether Sonja willingly committed fraud, she knows that she has no money to invest no matter what she claims and therefore, she did perpetrate a fraud upon those people. I don’t believe her ditzy demeanor and think it’s a n act.
It’s difficult to believe that Sonja would commit outright fraud like this. She is ditzy, of course, but she still seems to have no remorse. If you listen to her podcast you will hear a study in pretension hubris and delusion. She is lucky that she didn’t face criminal charges. The whole affair is sad.
I don’t think it was malicious.. I think Sonja does have delusions of grandeur & is mentally unstable. The pressures of that lifestyle are pressures I would never want to deal with, life is hard enough.
How do you explain advertising in trades that you plan to fund 10 films and run out of cars after the first $2.5 million?
What i don’t get, and I read the whole thing, is: Why stunt like this? Didn’t she know she’d be found out? How and why did she think that this was a good idea? She sounds like a loon.
It’s like that Kidd Cole kid from Catfish. He went far on that show. He pretended to be a celebrity and booked a speaking engagement at a University. Then he actually showed up in a limo with a fake accent explaining the real celebrity wasn’t coming. Like why. People are just crazy!
Didn’t know Sonja was in the same boat as that guy.
Well she got what she deserved.
Sonja lives in some alternative universe. You can tell by the things she says that she has high regard for herself! When Bethenny was telling her to,STFU at the top of her lungs Sonja had this look on her face as if she didn’t understand a word Bethenny was saying! Bottom line is she married John for the $ thought she was taking charge of the $ but was sadly mistaken….her child with him is still a minor I’d be willing to bet she calls asking him for $ above what he pays in support ! Sonja is just in denial big time about who and what she is…
To me it sounds like she can’t get through to her ex. I think there is a wall of people around him and Sonja talks to a secretary. It’s sad how far she has come and fallen.
Further proof that Sonja is not just acting like she is a couple of screws off…she really is. Bravo must have some kind of special radar to find these women who are looney.
I was thinking the same thing! It’s a given you’ve got to be a narcissist but apparently delusional is also a must have. We’ve all got skeletons I suppose ( except for Theresa G, remember seasons 1&2 with her proclaiming that to the world?) but most of us are self aware enough to either learn from those or keep your head low. Geez after the salary post a few days ago I’m convinced they’re all looney!
Lisa m, I must have missed sharing a cup of delicious tea. Help me find the “salary post” you mention. Please and thank you!
It’s called three tiny cups of tea or something. It’s on the latest post list to the right.
On Mon, Jun 29, 2015 at 10:07 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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The laugh, instead of a reasoned apology, may have cost Sonya $7,000,000.00
Yeah, hubris led to her downfall. I still don’t get it though. She knew she was lying the whole time. How did she expect the money to materialize?
This is soooo true. They may have been able to work something out that was less time consuming and financially devastating if she wasn’t so cavalier about what she’d done. Taking legal action is a pain in the ass
This is the kind of tea that keeps me coming back to TT.
These poor individuals are very conscious this happens all the time and there are dozens of Sonja Morgan’s in their industry when looking for financing … That’s so crazy to me.
And to be called to pull the plug on the lawsuit or else? Wow
Good thing these people didn not give up on their legal pursuits of justice. They persevered!
I don’t really think Sonja was trying to delude anyone. I honestly believe she is so delusional that she believed someone would come through with the cash for the project. When it didn’t happen, she thought the problem would just go away or someone else would handle it.
Nope, still crazy. I know she has rich friends, but you can’t expect people, no matter how close and dear they are to you, to get involved in your shit or pay your way out of trouble. This story is being told from the side of the folks she deceived, and I believe them, but we don’t know what she was thinking. Something doesn’t add up for me.
Except she signed paperwork that said SHE was financing the project through HER production company where she named Mr. Morgan as on the board. I love how there is always someone to say “she didn’t know she was committing fraud” when it comes to these fucknut HWs.
On Mon, Jun 29, 2015 at 1:26 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I thought she did the film deal after the divorce. Why would she say Mr Morgan was on the board? I thought he cut all ties as soon as he left.
I remember Sonja saying on the show, that Morgan left her right when she sign the contract. It was unexpected and that caused her not to be able to follow through.
However, in Sonjaville, who really knows what is real and what is a delusion.
@ Angel(?) Maybe he left her because she signed those contracts.
Sonja truly is off her rocker.
As I had mentioned long before in posts, I knew a guy Sonja dated (also on TV). What strikes me as so funny is that he is the absolute mirror image of here… someone else’s money within proximity, but out of their reach, enough for them to stretch their credibility.
In his case, it was family money as well. While I knew this guy, it was a constant charade of the illusion of money: having a maid full time, but only renting a Mercedes on days he absolutely needed to (no car otherwise – and this was in LA, where you kind of need a car – especially if you are “rich”, LOL); drinking rosé champagne in South Beach, then pretending his bank account was “compromised” so he needed to borrow money from me to pay the check. The list goes on and on. Everything that he pretended was real was not… And it didn’t matter to me, as the money wasn’t why I hung out, but the sheer delusions of grandeur were disturbing.
He was the mirror image of Sonja — this trait completely boggled my mind as the pieces all fell into place. Even when it came to business — the delusions of having a large company or project that, in reality, was nothing more than an attempted start-up.
I can only guess that the insecurity runs SO deep that every other priority is far below the need to pretend they are of importance (and in their mind that equates money, for one). In Sonja’s case, she’s so thirsty for attention as well… Every time I see her preening in front of a guy, she looks absurd and needy; speaking about her “international lifestyle brand”, which is nothing more than products in an online store (and dresses, which aren’t shipping yet). Her insecurities are off the charts; and for some reason, the need to prove that she is very important surpasses any ramifications.
Sorry so long – but they were truly each other’s counterparts!
I agree. She signed the papers misrepresenting herself and KNEW it. That is fraud.
Stephen, absolutely agree with your thought process. That was how she lived.
@alexa2626 what an interesting post. Did you ever feel compelled to do a Bethanny with your friend as in #ShutUpYouAreBroke?
I also agree with you Stephen. She is delusional. People have been trying to advise her, but she doesn’t get it. I am fearful regarding the eventual outcome.
Stephen,
This boils down to a lack of integrity. She takes it to a higher level and a lot of people make excuses for her. But I just hate liars, small lies lead to big ones and some people believe their own lies after telling them so often. How many times have we watched these housewives lie when we just watched the scene, even at the reunion and Andy is too complicit to call them on it?
Well, this certainly paints a different picture than the “poor me, evil Hollywood filmmakers took advantage of me” line she’s been pushing on rhony. De-lusional!
Sonja drives me nuts. I would never be able to deal with someone like her in my life. Just watching her on tv makes me want to pop xanax. I’m glad these people got what they deserved (and Sonja too).
I swear, I just don’t understand why people insist on living a devious life by giving the impression they are somebody they’re not. I mean, it’s got to be exhausting as a full time job keeping the ruse up 24/7/365!
it just shocks me how some of these professionals mis handle tens of millions of dollars from supposed investors by half assing the qualification process and due dil. As a money manager and investment banker for a large institution, never ever ever ever accept someone’s statement and/or proof of monies that don’t come from an FDIC or SIPC insured financial institution. And even if you have such a document like this in your hand, contact the regional headquarters so they may reconfirm what you’ve been presented. I just don’t get why these attorneys aren’t doing this! It’s not rocket science to get it done if you know how to decipher between legit statements and fraudulent ones!!!
Fucking blatant incompetence! If I were these people I’d be suing my attorney too.
I really think she’s got a Case of the Guidices and needs to go. Bravo is part of the problem-continually rewarding fraudulent behavior, and thus breeding it.
Becoming famous via fraud is Bravo’s version of the sextape.
lol. That’s so true!
I always thought Sonja was a nut, now I think she’s a bitch as well!
Well Sonja really is a special little snowflake isn’t she. How in the name of all that is Hollywood did she think she could pull that off and not expect to pay the legal consequences? Did she think that because she used to be Mrs John Adams Morgan that she could do this and say oopsi just kidding and all would be forgiven? When she became divorced her mind snapped into the delusional world she also lives in today. She wants to run in the same circle as before but hubby got all the friends in the divorce even though Sonja continues to name drop as if she’s still married.
I neglected to say I believe she was well aware of what she was doing when she signed the contract. I just think she thought she could get away with it as she had before because of her last name. She just likes pretending she is someone is isn’t anymore.
Yes Hannah, that’s what I think too.
Someone she never was. She was simply a rich man’s wife; somewhat pleasant when she thought someone was wealthy or famous enough to deserve it, and dismissive and condescending to others. I don’t see her to be the sweet person Bethenny sees. I think she is an alcoholic, over-the-hill golddigger and scam artist. Still a sad situation, and I’d love to see her change for her child.
I agree Hannah. My take on this is Sonja is a thrill seeker. She loves to play people for the shock value.
Like the time she had a party, dressed as a French maid and “forgot” to wear underwear. When she bent over and exposed herself to her guests who were appalled (and if I remember correctly there was bruising from rough sex) she was all “whoops, I forgot to put panties on” then exposed herself again. How many times has a husband of another cast member seen her partially clad or completely naked? I recall Mario, Aviva’s husband and this season look at how she greeted the dry cleaner boyfriend.
Sonja has probably pulled other financial stunts but I suspect people have not persued retribution being that she is indirectly connected to the Morgans. Other than Aviva, no other cast member has called her out for her uncouth behavior.
She knew exactly what she was doing when she scammed the producers. Sonja is a master of manipulation and has honed financial deception to a fine art and that is why due diligence failed.
Just think. She went from a hostess in a restaurant to the wife of J. Morgan. Sonja messed up. I understand why he hasn’t offered to bail her out. She’s a nut case.
How hard is it to register a TM in the US? It is pretty simple here – just time consuming and at times expensive.
It’s simple. She registered “Sonja Morgan” but I think the problem with “Sonja Morgan New York” is they are questioning what she is selling with that name. Is it clothes? Toaster Ovens? I’m guessing whoever filled out the form said something stupid like “lifestyle brand” or whatever Sonja calls it. She just needs to redo the form and call it retail clothing or whatever it is she is trying to sell.
On Mon, Jun 29, 2015 at 5:46 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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She deserved to lose every penny of the $7 million. What I don’t understand is the facade of advertising in the trades that they had $250 million to investmwhen she had enough to fund the first movie and no more?
Oh well, I’m sure she’ll recoup the $7 million and more when the International Lifestyle bla, bla, bla brand takes off.
” Announcing Flight 000, destination Alternate Universe is now departing.”
I really think that flight left the gate years ago !!
Lol!
Amazing, is this a game for her? Does she think it’s
funny? Very interesting read. Thank you
Question for our Resident Legal Eagles:
“our lawyer at the time introduced us to his new client who was now in the business and representing to have $250million in cash”
Was this a conflict of interest, with the same lawyer representing both parties? It was definitely a bad business decision.
The lawyer can make the introduction. Nothing wrong with that. Just can’t represent both sides in the matter.
Thanks, TT! So interesting to read about the background of the movie lawsuit. The fact that Sonja laughed when she let them know there was no money coming just blows me away.
“THE SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR CHUCKLE”
It will make a great movie, I tell ya! I’ll try to get Laura Linney lined up as Sonja, Minnie Driver as Bethenny……
All I need is the financing. Anyone?
Put it on your resume and Bravo will happily cast you☺️
That’s a movie I’d like to see. I’d also be interested in a Guidice re-enactment/lifetime biopic/special something….. Danny Devito as Joe Guidice?
I can’t get the psychology behind long-drawn-out deception. Cui bono? Just this summer a close friend invited someone to holiday with him – she appeared delighted, and they planned the trip, hotels, excursions together. When my friend called to take her to the ship, she called it off, having given no indication whatsoever during the intervening 8 weeks. My friend is in shock, and down several thousands. The player is reluctant to even remunerate him, let alone compensate him for a ruined holiday, the embarrassment of having to let people expecting them know, at the last moment, the distress, inconvenience, and insult, of gaming everybody from start to finish. She’s tried to sell ” he was forcing me to go” gambit, but nobody’s buying. He is a gentleman, and regrettably, she is a known manipulator, who craves drama and attention. Are we looking at hysteria?
Super interesting read. Thanks for sharing.
Not faulting the production company at all, really faulting industry practices IF this sort of fraud is as common as portrayed, but if any party had used an escrow account, this could have been avoided. Rush deal, whatever, I’d never overextend myself financially for a client that I had no established relationship.
Now, Sonya, what a piece of work. She knew she didn’t have that money, but she probably figured someone would save her ass or she’d just giggle and look cute and all would be forgiven. Glad they nailed her. I’d say that I doubt she’d make that mistake twice, but I’ve learned never to say that with these housewives.
It’s not a “mistake.” and Sonja was not in delusion land thinking “someone would rescue her with the money.” Sonja was THE FINANCER. She took out an ad saying SHE HAD $250 million in CASH to put toward a movie. Not that she could secure the money from some rich person. THAT SHE WAS THE RICH PERSON. Even if she “thought” her husband would cover it, when it comes to MILLIONS OF DOLLARS and signed contracts, you need to have a little conversation with your husband before you take out ads and solicit production companies. It’s not like buying a Chanel bag without telling your husband. It was not an accident or a mistake, Sonja knew damn well what she was doing.
On Mon, Jun 29, 2015 at 9:18 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I’m sorry. I should have been more clear. I don’t think it was a “mistake” and she thought she had the money. In fact, like I said, “she knew she didn’t have the money”. The mistake was thinking that they wouldn’t come after her and hold her accountable.
I think Sonja just wanted to be a part of the Hollywood scene for as long as she could get away with it. Then later when extolling all the wonders that are Sonja Morgan she can say, ” I partied with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie” or “I had sex with Channing Tatum”. Of course it would be a lie, but just having been in that world in any capacity would make it seem plausible to her whacked out delusional self, therefore she’d claim it happened! Lol.
FYI Sonya was the one who was screwed! Her ex husband led her to believe he would give her the money to start her production company and then when she needed the money for the second film HE screwed her and these people. He is a sick, mean, vengeful bastard and even tried to stop her from selling their home in Colorado to pay the $7,000,000. Ask yourself why would she go that far and walk away? She may be a little goofy but that sicko ex-husband is the real bastard and she unfortunately is delusional and believed him! He’s the one laughing at everyone ~ especially Sonya!
I wondered about this, too, in terms of timing. Was she still married when this happened?
Anyway, regardless, I still like Sonja. Our own little Holly Golightly.
I double checked, they divorced in 2008, so in 2005 the were still married. Obviously the Titanic was already hitting the iceberg…
This sounds plausible.
lol We are going to need a name for the Sonja apologists.
On Mon, Jun 29, 2015 at 9:49 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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;). I agree
ha. Not an apologist. Just an admirer. 🙂
apologist: : a person who defends or supports something (such as a religion, cause, or organization) that is being criticized or attacked by other people
In this case, you are defending someone who committed fraud costing innocent people to be out millions of dollars and damaging their business because you admire her.
It’s kind of sad commentary on the plight of the country.
On Mon, Jun 29, 2015 at 3:49 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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FraudBroads.
Morganites.
SonjaSuckers
Lmao! Fraud Broads!
I didn’t know this, do I have to apologize?
Very good possibility. He has the power and I doubt he had her best interest in mind.
How dare she try to have a life without him.
Sonja probably has a order if speaks about him there will be further financial sanctions against her. She has been very silent about her ex.
He has help to make her nuts.
MOO
I want to believe what you are saying because I have always liked Sonya. I can now reserve judgment. It’s her bastard of a husband who is at fault! Thanks for another way of looking at this situation. Do you know the Morgans personally?
MOO means my opinion only!
I never said Sonja did not commit fraud or she was blameless.
I never called her ex a name.
I know a wee bit about powerful intelligent men, they win. The contract appears (moo) to have taken place as the separation happened. That leads me to GUESS that privately J.P. implied he would fund the project but when the marriage fell apart he was no longer was interested. A smart move in his part.
Of course there is a very detailed contract on what Sonja can divulge with stiff penalties.
That would be normal.
Calipatti: I was responding to Kia’s comment.
bullshit. I do not believe that for one second. Look at Sonja’s track record. She is on repeat.
I mistook the meaning of apologist! Feeling kind of dumb right now!
Do you have any TT Tokens I can take? :)
On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 2:20 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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No! I only have 3 and I covet them dearly. But if it’s between the tokens or the WLS, then I guess I’ll have to forfeit my 3 tokens. How about I hand them over next week?
Hi Sonja is that you or one of your unpaid interns?
@Kia
One thing I’ve learned about myself from watching these shows is that I’m a bad initial judge of character. They were re-running episodes this weekend from the Scary Island season and I watched a few. When Kelly was losing her marbles and picking fights with everyone, Sonja was the most level-headed person in the group. She seemed so kind, wise, and mature then…now I feel the opposite way about her. I’m just baffled by her behavior, she really is quite creative in finding interesting ways to be self-destructive. I don’t understand what she got out of this film mess…
That’s the THING she got nothing out of pulling this on these people. She is so afraid of her ex and what he will do her if she even mentions his name! The only reason he hasn’t thrown her out of the town house is because the daughter needs a place to live. He doesn’t even want the child around and sends her off to boarding school and makes her Mother BEG for any money he gives her! He is a mean old bastard and Sonja lives in fear of him. She is so afraid of losing her only income from Bravo she does all the crazy things just to keep herself on the show. Doesn’t anyone else see the fear and sadness in her eyes? The women lost everything and is fighting tooth & nail for her daughter and all everyone does is mock her and call her stupid! very very sad! It’s no wonder she sometimes drinks but I think BRANDI is a bigger lush then Sonya will ever be!
Aw, poor thing. Married a rich old man for money and he eventually tired of her. TRAGIC!
On Mon, Jun 29, 2015 at 4:55 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Lol… Yeah, I know that marrying a jerk is a terrible position to be in, but if you look at the grand scheme of things, I find it VERY hard to have sympathy for her.
Many women are in bad marriages / divorces and don’t go representing themselves as loaded financiers. Even if he gave her pennies compared to what money he actually has, I’m betting it would still be more money than the average woman divorcing and not working full time, with a child, receives. She is a narcissist with delusions of grandeur.
Hey, Sonja parties with John John Kennedy! Have some respect. >
Then maybe she should have listened to Bethenney (or anyone else who tried to help her!) so one of these ideas of hers would take off. With the Housewives show, had she picked one thing and stuck with it, she could be her own success and not need a rich husband.
When she does mention her ex, she is very careful to be “positive.” I think she is afraid of retaliation from the old goat.
‘Deals fall apart in Hollywood all the time’… and then laughter ensues.
She really stepped in it this time and probably didnt even remember that conversation.
I am so embarrassed for Sonja with a j when she says stupid things like, “Diddy is on my yacht with me.” What yacht? What toaster oven? What clothing line. I hate that she had to pay the judgement for her sake.Just a word about the Scary Island episode. That was over 4 years ago. That’s a long time if you are pounding the bottle as Sonja appears to do. Just compare how Bethenny has spent those years to how Sonja has.
My favorite was “I party with John John!” He’s been dead a long time. >
lol, Diddy would like to be on a yacht right now. # delusional coaching
Bravo’s Felons and Kooks. How do they find these people?
Good for Hannibal, and good luck collecting the $$.
Sonja CLAIMS she paid it. I think she sold a property in France or something. What a shame. We need to start teaching financial responsibility in public schools starting in elementary.
On Mon, Jun 29, 2015 at 1:20 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Interesting….I may not be reading this correctly but digging around, Sonja claims she’s already paid it and that’s why she declared bankruptcy and sold 2 houses to pay Hannibal. However, now she states Hannibal was only formed 2 months after the judgment was entered so now her position is the that entity was not entitled to receive the money. It sounds like maybe the company reformed itself while this matter was in process? I’m not clear when she hopes to gain here, either to regain $ she already paid (allegedly) or avoid paying because the entity she originally made the deal with no longer exists?
In any event, Sonja’s side’s reasoning seems sketchy and desperate.
They forced her to sell the France home. The Colorado home they owed 7 million and its not worth that so she was able to file Chapter 7 on that. The trustee hired someone in France to sell her house because 2 yrs went by with no action bcus Sonja fought the judgement, then tried to sue her attorneys who lost the case, then tried to get it thrown out on a technicality over Hannibals namem The trustee and judge were ready to auction off the townhouse when she got a loan for 3.3 million dollar loan out against the townhouse to pay the rest and still has to make yrly payments to others she owed. For anyone feeling sympathy…during the tine of what 4-5 yrs that she was in bankruptcy protection she was spending on average 32,000 a month while creditors sat without payment. The France n Townhouse was given to her free and clear in divorce and she had a few million in the bank. As I followed the case, the trustee really went to bat for her but after him reporting that and so much time had passed he realized she was not getting anything done to pay them. Now she’s still fighting her ex in court for 3 million as he claims he had a prenup and he took care of the Colorado and France upkeep ( lawns not sure about anything else like electric or taxes) and the bankruptcy court discharged his charges saying they could fight that out in the other court. I can’t even imagine how much it cost these people to fight that long haul. I’m not sure of the bankruptcy dates but it was somewhere around 4 yrs. I don’t wanna say anything wrong. It boils down to she fought it till they forced her to sell and knew her spending so they sped it up. She owes 3.3 mil to a bank and lil 4-5 yrs in payments of lil 100,000 a yr. If they were having marriage problems I doubt her husband was throwing numbers like that for her to invest when they owed 7 million on a Colorado vacation home.
Ha! Read the terms and conditions on the Sonja Morgan New York web site. There is a line in there about being able to lawfully enter into and form contracts before you can buy anything of hers.
Goose? Gander?
I thought she filed Bankruptcy??????
Me too! 🙂
Motive? Delusional. Sounds like in her head, she follows through and is successful. For her, the fantasy is probably real.
Sonja is a modern day Cleopatra: Queen of denial. A legend in her own mind.
Wow that’s pretty friggin ridiculous of Sonja. I don’t blame her for drinking so much, I just wish she wouldn’t do it on tv or when her kid is around. Otherwise, she fucked up big time, so have at it!
I just don’t get why anyone would do this. WHY? I keep trying to find a rational explanation like Sonja just doesn’t get it and people around her misled her (like the people running her so called clothing company and the answers they give to people like Heather & Bethenny while Sonja sits there with a vacant look). Maybe her husband told her he would give her the money. Maybe she ASSUMED she would get that money in her divorce settlement, and when it didn’t happen, she had to breach the deal. Or probably, she’s just a pathological liar and truly delusional. I can only assume she boozed, drugged, and pilled while married to her ex, and that destroyed a lot of her brain cells. Sonja doesn’t seem to be lucid 97% of the time. She never seems to HEAR what a person is saying. It’s always all about what she has to say and her experiences.
Because she is above most. Like she said about Lus affordable clothing line. Its for the masses, not the classiest. Remember there is a pecking order Lol I think when she married her ex it went to her head and she still thinks she in a higher social class than the average Jane. Its like hitting the lotto and losing your ticket. Not to get off subject but was watching tonight show and Bethany said all the women said she has hit on their husbands/boyfriends and Heather mumbled something about Sonja said something about a threesome. I get why they are upset. They are tired of looking forward to a good time while filming and feel like they have to babysit her. Not to mention hitting on their men. She denied it so maybe its not true. It just shocked me as didn’t think she would do that.
I don’t feel sorry for Sonja at all. She was married to a very wealthy man for a relatively short time and came out of it with a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio and a nice monthly paycheck for child support and alimony. If she had lived within her means (not pretending to still have Morgan wealth) she would have been set for life instead of crying poverty.
morganite, n., [ after J.P. Morgan]…Websters Unabridged Second Edition.
Ramona would get my cunt sachelessence as a gemologist, sigh.
Regarding the post saying that Sonja’s husband led her to believe he’d provide the money and then screwed her over, it doesn’t make sense. Sonja’s production company was sued. If Old Man Morgan was really on the Board of Directors (which has fiduciary responsiblities to the company) or if there even was a Board of Directors, I believe the Board would have been named as part of the suit. Old Man Morgan would have been forced to have his lawyers address the issue.
He was not on the board of her production company but HE WAS financing her deals (where the hell do you think she got that kind of money) these people checked out her bank and saw she was financially strong as long as the “old ding bat” aka Mr. Morgan was behind her but then HE decided to screw them and Sonja over and the only one they could go after was her!!! And TT for your information, I am not an apologist I am just trying to explain what happened, I’m not apologizing for Sonja’s actions but just remember there are two and sometimes three sides to every story!
Since I was neck deep in Trademark stuff today, I checked in on Sonja Morgan’s trademark applications. Of the four I saw applications for, one was dead due to lack of activity, one was being opposed by some unnamed party (from long ago) and two have had to file for extensions to show proof that she is actually selling something. Because, not a real business. Allegedly. Perhaps. That is what I glean from “Failed to produce proof of commerce.” IJS. Not going to happen. Chateau Sheree has a better shot.