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In a resounding defeat for Michael Avenatti, the Second Circuit on Wednesday pronounced his appeal against a conviction, where he aimed to squeeze over $20 million out of sportswear titan Nike, as "baseless."

 Appeal Of Nike Conviction : Second Circuit Stands Firm: The Nitty-Gritty of the Appeal

Assembling under the judgment hammer, a trio of judges stated that the Manhattan federal jury was spot-on in its verdict.

The evidence was unmistakable: Avenatti had not only played foul in the Nike case but had also committed crimes in two separate cases, dipping into the pockets of his own clients.

One notable victim? Stormy Daniels, the adult film star embroiled in a contentious suit against ex-President Donald Trump.

Avenatti took the daring step of challenging the evidence stacked against him and squabbled over the court's refusal to heed his defense strategy tied to California's attorney-client laws.

But his protest over a $260,000 restitution payout to Nike was the final straw.

Yet, the unanimous panel stood their ground. Their message? The challenges were all smoke and no fire.

The Disturbing Underbelly

White-collar crime expert Nina Marino pointed to Avenatti's actions as a stark departure from the path of ethics, one that was more a "classic shakedown" than a legal maneuver.

The Alleged Nike Shakedown

Journey back to 2020, and a jury flagged Avenatti for fraud and extortion.

At the heart of it was a demand for Nike to spill millions or face a PR nightmare, with corruption claims from his client Gary Franklin Sr., a notable figure in the basketball world, hanging over their heads like the sword of Damocles.

Franklin painted a story of betrayal by two Nike representatives, who allegedly nudged him to fund young basketball talents and later abandoned their sponsorship ties.

Desperate, he sought Avenatti's expertise to mend bridges with Nike. However, Franklin got more than he bargained for when he discovered Avenatti's plan to blow the whistle publicly unless Nike coughed up the cash.

But Avenatti’s audacity didn't stop there.

He presented Nike with a dual ultimatum: a $1.5 million settlement for Franklin and an eyebrow-raising $15 to $25 million for Avenatti’s “services” to investigate Nike internally.

The Circuit's take? Avenatti's demand wasn't in the spirit of justice; it was a cunning play for self-gain.

With recordings revealing Avenatti's threats to drain billions from Nike's market value and launch a media assault, the picture became clear: Avenatti's goals were misaligned with his client's.

Appeal Of Nike Conviction : The Fallout

While observers, like Marc Scholl, viewed Avenatti's actions as a perilous game to tarnish Nike's reputation for his own enrichment, the court's final gavel was on Avenatti's deception. He not only pushed Franklin's claims for his gain but held Franklin's possible settlement hostage for a heftier personal payout.