Kevin Hunter says he’s fighting on Wendy Williams‘ behalf to end her long-standing guardianship. On Wednesday, June 17, Hunter filed a $250 million federal lawsuit in New York to free Williams from her guardianship, calling it a “civil death.” With over 30 defendants named, including Williams’ guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, and a publicist who worked alongside her, Shawn Zanotti, Hunter is seeking a trial. Additionally, he demands the immediate termination of the court arrangement. His lawsuit provides supporting evidence for why the guardianship should end, including some explosive allegations.
However, in a turn of events, Wendy has reportedly spoken to TMZ and claimed she has nothing to do with the lawsuit. Here’s the lowdown…
Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Is Based On Exploitation, The Lawsuit Claims
The court-ordered arrangement came shortly after Wells Fargo froze Williams’ accounts in 2022, the suit states. Before Williams was placed in the guardianship, she was deemed an “incapacitated person” and a victim of “undue influence and financial exploitation.”
William’s former financial advisor, Lori Schiller, who worked at Wells Fargo, allegedly authorized six $10,000 payments to Dr. Rami Kaminski. This allegedly took place without her consent between November 7, 2021, and January 14, 2022. The total came to $60,000. Days later, on January 20, 2022, Dr. Kaminski penned a two-sentence letter claiming Williams had “impaired judgment” and couldn’t make decisions.
Furthermore, the sum paid to Dr. Rami Kaminski represented a significant disparity in Ms. Hunter’s routine medical expenses. This was based on Williams’ previous licensed specialists, where she only paid approximately $200 per visit.
There Were No Concerns About Wendy’s Mental Capacity From Healthcare Providers Before The Guardianship
The lawsuit alleges that Wells Fargo and Schiller conspired with Kaminski to use this letter to justify the guardianship.
“Wells Fargo, acting through Lori Schiller, froze Ms. Hunter’s bank accounts on or about January 18, 2022, without prior notice to Ms. Hunter,” the docs state.
This move allegedly disrupted Williams’ financial obligations, including her marital settlement with Hunter. The suit asserts that no other healthcare providers doubted Williams’ mental capacity. Yet, the guardianship was imposed via a “secret proceeding” without proper legal representation.
The lawsuit doesn’t stop at Morrissey and Wells Fargo, though. It’s also coming for Williams’ former publicist, Shawn Zanotti, and manager, William Selby. Zanotti and Selby allegedly exploited Williams’ name and story, profiting from her “unlawful confinement” through the Lifetime documentary, ‘Where Is Wendy Williams?’
Morrissey allegedly retained Zanotti to “monitor” Williams’ press interactions and allegedly shape a false narrative that she was “thriving.” The suit claims that this was all done to “insulate the guardianship from criticism” and conceal the truth about Williams’ situation. Zanotti and Selby allegedly even entered into contracts on Williams’ behalf without authority.
The Lawsuit Mentions Wendy Williams’ Demands As She Claim’s No Involvement
The lawsuit seeks Williams’ “immediate release” from the guardianship, the termination of Morrissey’s control over her finances, and the appointment of a new, impartial guardian. They’re also demanding a full forensic accounting of Williams’ assets since 2015, when Schiller became her financial advisor. This is in addition to returning all “misappropriated property.”
The suit doesn’t hold back on the damages, either. The former talk show executive states that Williams has lost access to her $80 million estate and has also missed out on her $20 million in annual earnings. Additionally, she no longer has access to her $4 million condo and suffered “severe reputational harm” due to the arrangement.
The lawsuit seeks $250 million in compensatory damages, punitive damages, and treble damages under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) for the alleged “criminal enterprise.” “Plaintiffs now turn to this Court—not just for relief, but for justice,” the docs declare. They also want Judge Lisa Sokoloff removed, citing her role in maintaining the guardianship despite Williams’ cries for help.
It’s worth noting that while Williams is listed as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, she told TMZ on Thursday, June 18, that she had no involvement in the filing. Additionally, Williams reportedly claimed that she feels Hunter’s move is a money grab.
Wendy Williams Previously Denied Her Frontotemporal Dementia Diagnosis
The lawsuit comes just months after Williams proved her mental capacity is as sharp as ever despite the guardianship. In March, Williams reportedly took a psychiatric “capacity test” and scored a perfect 10/10.
Williams’ results were a stark contrast to previous allegations made by Morrissey, who had claimed that the New Yorker’s condition had been worsening. As The Shade Room previously reported, in February 2024, Williams received a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia, which includes memory loss as a symptom.
But the former radio personality denied her guardian’s claims when she appeared on ‘The Breakfast Club’ back in January. “I am not cognitively impaired,” she said. “But I do feel like I am in prison.”
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