Paul v. Clinton

Paul v. Clinton was a civil suit filed in 2004 held in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The plaintiff, Peter F. Paul, alleged that President Bill Clinton and his wife, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, deceived him into paying for the Gala Hollywood Farewell Salute to President Clinton, during Hillary Clinton's first Senate race in 2000, by making a promise that the President would work for Paul's company, Stan Lee Media, after his presidential term was over. Paul alleged that the President broke his promise and stole his business partner, causing his business to crumble and, further, that his contributions to Hillary Clinton's campaign were falsely reported to the Federal Election Commission. Besides the Clintons, three other individuals who were involved in fundraising for the gala, were named as defendants in the suit.

In April 2006, the judge in the case dismissed all causes of action as to Hillary Clinton for lack of evidence and due to a California law that broadly protects political activities. Paul then filed an appeal of the decision. A hearing was held on September 7, 2007, and on October 16, 2007, the appeal was denied by California's Second District Court of Appeal, which upheld the lower court's opinion and said that Hillary Clinton could recoup her legal costs. After the ruling, Paul said he would consider a further appeal to the Supreme Court of California. Most but not all of the causes of action against President Clinton had been dismissed on procedural grounds.