Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Ex-American Apparel CEO Dov Charney Says He Can't Afford A Lawyer
Dov Charney in 2009 (Photo via Getty Images)
()
This has not been a good year for Dov Charney, and things appear to be getting even worse. Bloomberg reports that Charney is representing himself in the lawsuit he's embroiled in with the hedge fund Standard General, a backer of American Apparel. Charney, who was fired from the board of American Apparel in 2014 amid charges of sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement, has been attempting to regain control of the company that he founded, a legal battle that has not been cheap.
Charney wrote a letter, dated Wednesday, to the judge presiding over the case in Delaware that said, "As you may know, I was fired by American Apparel, the company I founded in Montreal over three decades ago, with no severance or otherwise...All of my shareholder interests have been wiped out, and I have depleted my savings on defending my life's work and legal rights."
The law firm Cross & Simon LLC, which had been representing Charney in the case against Standard General, withdrew on Wednesday, saying that "continued representation would be unreasonably burdensome" because of Charney's current financial situation, and other legal fees he's been accruing in several other cases, according to court filings. Yeah, a few of those cases come to mind.
When American Apparel filed for bankruptcy in October, it destroyed the value of Charney's remaining stock, which accounted for much of his net worth. But this isn't the first time Charney has said that he's broke: he told Bloomberg last year that he was down to his last $100,000, and was sleeping on a friend's couch on the Lower East Side of Manhattan Despite this, Charney still owns his 11,000 square foot, 8-bedroom this mansion atop a hill in Silver Lake. Sorry we're not sorry, Dov.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Wasteland Weekend is all about souped-up rust buckets, spikey costumes and an ‘ideal apocalypse.’ -
The Shadow the Scientists initiative at UC Santa Cruz strives to demystify astronomical research. -
Some submissions to the Pasadena Humane Society were made by extremely talented artists. The others … tried their best. -
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning.
Best of LAist