Woman suing Kildare businessman Paul Wright seeks $730k judgment in US

Irish Independent

11 hours ago

Cherish Thompson has accused Mr Wright of using client money to fund a lavish lifestyle and to buy a house for his son.
The first law firm that was representing Mr Wright and his two Irish companies – Eterna Private Clients Europe and Wright Private Office – ceased doing so in April, citing irreconcilable differences with its clients.
Just two weeks after new lawyers began representing him and his firms, they too secured permission from the court to come off record for their clients, also citing irreconcilable differences.
Mr Wright and his two companies were then given until May 30 by the court to secure new representation.
The court order at the time stated that a failure by Mr Wright and his firms to comply with that order would result in an automatic default being secured against him without further notice.
'The time for defendants to comply with the order, by May 30, 2025, has expired, and as such, plaintiff respectfully requests the entry of a default and default final judgment against the defendants including sanctions imposed against defendants,' notes an ex-parte motion filed by Ms Thompson's own law firm with the court.
That motion wants the court to rule that a damages claim of $221,000 be trebled to just under $664,000 and that Ms Thompson also be awarded almost $65,000 in legal fees.
It also requests that the award should bear an interest rate of 9.15pc per annum until paid.
Ms Thompson has claimed she was introduced to Mr Wright in London in 2020 and that her business is now owed at least $221,000 by the defendants.
Mr Wright, a UK national of Carton Demesne, Maynooth, Co Kildare, has been accused of using money raised from clients to fund a lavish lifestyle, including the use of a private jet and stays at luxury hotels.
He and his firms have vigorously denied the claims, describing them as 'outlandish'.
'These proceedings have been instituted by an aggrieved former independent contractor to a UK company Mr Wright was involved with and which is currently in administration, and have absolutely nothing to do with Eterna Private Clients Europe DAC or Wright Private Office DAC,' Mr Wright's solicitor in Ireland said when the lawsuit was initiated last year.