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In the ongoing Wigdor Leon Black rape trial, a compelling twist unfolds as a defendant, Guzel Ganieva, alongside Wigdor LLP, endeavors to dismiss the malicious prosecution lawsuit brought by the former Apollo Global Management CEO, Leon Black. Ganieva's motion, filed on October 13, contends that Black's claims lack the necessary grounds due to a failure to establish "special injury."

The motion highlights that Black's alleged injuries do not extend beyond the inherent challenges of being a civil defendant. Citing precedent rulings in New York state, Ganieva argues that malicious prosecution claims necessitate damages considerably more burdensome than the ordinary facets of defending a lawsuit.

Ganieva articulates, "Applying these standards, Black has failed to allege a special injury caused by Ganieva's lawsuit. To begin, Black does not — and cannot — allege that he was subject to any provisional remedy in Ganieva's suit. Nor does he plead that the lawsuit resulted in anything 'substantially equivalent' to a provisional remedy."

The Background: A pivotal moment in this legal saga came in May when a New York judge dismissed Ganieva's suit against Black, asserting that she had failed to demonstrate duress while signing a nondisclosure agreement that entitled her to approximately $9.5 million. This dismissal marked a significant development in the intricate legal battle.

Ganieva initially filed a lawsuit in June 2021, alleging defamation, emotional distress, and gender-motivated violence under New York City's Gender-Motivated Violence Act. In her complaint, she accused Black of sexual and emotional abuse, referring to him as a "sadist." Black, in response, asserted that their relationship was consensual and that Ganieva had extorted him over an extended period. He filed counterclaims for defamation, defamation per se, and breach of contract.

The Legal Controversy Continues: Black's amended complaint for malicious prosecution has evolved into the third lawsuit and ninth version based on the same set of allegations against Ganieva. The legal intricacies have spiraled, involving both state and federal courts, alongside various claims against Ganieva.

In her motion, Ganieva contends that for a malicious prosecution claim to succeed, a plaintiff must pinpoint "specific and meaningful" damages arising from the allegedly malicious lawsuit. Generalized assertions of lost business, damage to reputation, and defense expenses are insufficient. The motion underscores the absence of evidence connecting the damage to Ganieva's lawsuit.