Reality star Julia Haart is being sued by her former divorce lawyer for almost $500,000, Page Six can exclusively reveal.
In papers filed in the New York State Supreme Court on Dec. 1, lawyer Adria Hillman accuses the “My Unorthodox Life” star of stiffing her out of $413,110.70.
But Haart’s new lawyer commented that the reality star exec has the “right to dispute charges.”
According to the papers, Haart — who is currently embroiled in an ongoing and highly acrimonious legal battle with her ex, Silvio Scaglia — retained Hillman back in February.
Haart filed for divorce the same month just hours after she was fired from Elite World Group, the fashion and talent agency that Scaglia purchased in 2011. He named Haart the company’s co-owner and CEO in 2019.
Court papers seen by Page Six state that Hillman — who is being represented by Richard A. Klass — rendered legal services “in connection with negotiating a separation agreement and/or representation in a matrimonial action.”
According to her site, Hillman focuses on “hands-on assistance with legal separation, divorce, prenuptial/postnuptial agreements, all complex financial and multifaceted custody aspects of family law.”
She is seeking the amount owed, plus interest, starting from June.
Haart’s new lawyer, Nancy Chemtob, told us: “Julia Haart has a tremendous amount of integrity. She would not stiff any lawyer or person and not pay them unless there was good reason. She has the right to dispute charges and work product.”
Haart’s divorce, which is currently playing out on the second season of her reality show, has been extremely messy.
Scaglia has alleged that Haart stole from Elite World Group to fund her lavish personal lifestyle, buying designer clothes and getting a boob job on the “company dime.”
Haart has called the accusations “ludicrous,” and said, “I’ve never taken a penny that doesn’t belong to me.”
They have also battled over a $132,000 company Bentley.
In May, she lost her bid to prove that she owns half of Scaglia’s multimillion-dollar fashion company, Elite World.
Haart’s spokesperson told Page Six at the time, “[Scaglia] told everyone that Julia was a 50-50 partner, including bankers, investors, employees and Julia herself. Today’s order is only preliminary and not final. We will have further comment once the judge’s final decision is issued.”
In August, Haart lost her bid to prove that Scaglia abused her in an effort to get a restraining order. “There was no fear exhibited by either party and no intimidation, certainly not of Wife,” the judge ruled.
She did however win the right to use and occupy their marital home, a $65 million triplex in Tribeca.
Haart has been dating — and was spotted smooching a mystery man in the Hamptons over the summer.
Scaglia is already engaged to socialite Michelle-Marie Heinemann, whom he met two months after his split from Haart.