Former Mariah Carey Assistant Appeals Sanctions For Destroying Evidence In $3M Extortion Case
Former Mariah Carey assistant Lianna “Azarian” Shakhnazarian is appealing a judge’s sanctions for destroying evidence in the legendary songstress’ $3 million extortion case against her.
Earlier this month, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Andrew Borrok granted Carey’s request to penalize Shakhnazarian for deleting two videos, WhatsApp messages and trading in her cell phone; all evidence which may have proved Carey’s claims that Shakhnazarian secretly recorded her and violated a non-disclosure agreement.
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Coupled with the argument that sanctions were too harsh and unfair, Shakhnazarian’s court papers reads that she “appeals from each and every part of the Order by which she was aggrieved. [The] Court erred when it granted plaintiff’s motion for sanctions.” The former assistant says Carey cannot prove that the evidence was “intentionally or recklessly destroyed,” or that it’d hurt her case if disposed of.
In addition, after learning of the mounting case against, the ex-helper also poured water on the old phone then gave it away. Judge Borrok wrote, “Trading in her cellphone without taking any measures to save the videos, messages, and other data after this lawsuit was filed, when Ms. Shakhnazarian had an undeniable duty to preserve evidence, was grossly negligent, if not intentional.”
Lawyers and representatives for both parties have declined to comment in this ongoing case.