Kris Jenner has broken her silence on her family’s “exhausting” legal battle with Rob Kardashian’s ex Blac Chyna.
The 33-year-old lost her $100 million defamation case against the famous family in May, following a week-long trial.
During the latest episode of Hulu’s The Kardashians, the momager spoke about the “looming” trial, and explained that Chyna was suing her and her daughters Kim, Khloe and Kylie for “defamation of character and interference of contract.”
The 66-year-old said she didn’t want to “add to the drama” by going into the specifics of their legal battle, but Kris confessed the whole situation was “really draining”.
“As a mom, I’m very protective of my kids,” she said in a confessional.
“And on top of that, it’s really draining. It’s emotionally, physically and spiritually exhausting to be going through this.”
Chyna, who shares a daughter with Rob Kardashian, sued members of the KarJenner clan on claims of defamation and illegal interference with her contracts and business dealings.
The model had claimed Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Kris Jenner “conspired” to cancel her E! reality show ‘Rob & Chyna’ in 2017 – which they strongly denied.
Following a week-long trial in May, the jury found the Kardashian-Jenners did not have to pay Chyna damages regarding her loss of income and future earnings.
However, the jury did find the family’s actions were not justified with respect to Chyna’s “contractual relationship” with the E! Network.
The 33-year-old later filed a peremptory challenge against Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gregory W. Alarcon, who oversaw the case.
In the documents, the model accused the judge of exhibiting an “undeniably hostile and extremely biased” attitude towards her and her attorney Ms. Lynne Ciani.
Chyna also said she believes his alleged bias impacted several parts of the case, including “the jury making ‘key liability verdicts in her favor’”.
In response, the Kardashian-Jenner family’s attorney Michael G. Rhode filed a 20-page opposition against Chyna’s challenge.
In the documents, Rhode questioned why Chyna and her attorney didn’t share their apparent issues with the judge sooner.
The papers state: “Plaintiff claims Judge Alarcon exhibited an ‘undeniably hostile and extremely biased’ attitude towards her and Ms Ciani since April 19 and April 20, 2022 – the day both sides presented opening statements to the jury – yet Plaintiff and her counsel nonetheless proceeded without complaint as Judge Alarcon presided over a 10-day trial.”
“Plaintiff’s statement and sworn declaration of disqualification is a baseless effort to save face after losing at trial and is devoid of any legal basis to disqualify Judge Alarcon from presiding over further matters in this action.”
“While Plaintiff and her counsel Lynne Ciani are understandably disappointed about the jury’s defence verdict following an emotionally charged trial, their effort to make a scapegoat of Judge Alarcon is frivolous, dishonest, and deserving of sanctions.”
Finally, the family’s legal team requested Chyna’s “statement of disqualification be stricken, that her request for disqualification be denied, and that Ms. Ciani be sanctioned in an amount to be determined in [the family’s] separately served noticed motion.”
A peremptory challenge to replace a judge can be filed just once by either side during a litigation under California law.
If Chyna’s challenge is successful, the judge will be removed from the case.
Speaking outside court in May, the 33-year-old’s lawyer Lynne Ciani told reporters that she and her client would appeal the verdict of the trial.
Lynne said: “Two things. Number one, the jury found that Chyna had not physically abused Rob Kardashian.”
“Number two, the jury found that all four defendants intentionally interfered with [Chyna’s] contracts with the E! Network. We will appeal the remainder of the verdict.”
The Kardashian-Jenner’s were not in court for the verdict in May, as they were attending the 2022 Met Gala.
However the family’s attorney, Michael Rhodes, revealed he spoke to the family after the verdict was announced.
He said: “I think the case was very clear cut. The jury got it. I appreciate their service. I think the judge did a wonderful job of making sure it was a fair trial.”
“They [the Kardashian-Jenners] were very pleased, very grateful. They were emphatic in their explicit expression of pleasure.”
“I got to know them quite well over the last few years, and as you know, they’re exuberant.”
