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Attorney Michael Avenatti Faces November Trial in New York

Associated Press

   NEW YORK - California attorney Michael Avenatti faces a November trial
   date on charges he tried to extort millions of dollars from Nike.

   The Nov. 12 trial date was set Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Paul
   Gardephe at a pretrial hearing in Manhattan.

   Avenatti participated by telephone, answering only that he could hear
   when the judge asked.

   A hearing originally scheduled for Tuesday before another judge over
   allegations that he defrauded porn star Stormy Daniels was postponed.

   Avenatti was charged in March with trying to extort up to $25 million
   from Nike, the sportswear company. He has pleaded not guilty.

   Avenatti gained fame representing Daniels in her fight to be freed from
   a nondisclosure deal regarding an alleged affair with President Donald
   Trump.

   He also faces federal fraud charges in California.

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