U.S. District Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke slapped sanctions on the law firm Wigdor, its attorney Jeanne Christensen, and an unnamed plaintiff in the sexual‑abuse case against billionaire investor Leon Black. The 76‑page opinion accused Christensen of repeatedly lying to the court and found the plaintiff had fabricated journal images intended to bolster claims involving Black and his late associate Jeffrey Epstein.

Judge Clarke ruled the fabricated journal cannot be used as evidence and ordered Wigdor to reimburse a portion of Black’s legal fees. She also mandated Christensen to file the ruling with any New York federal court she appears before for a year. Black, co‑founder of Apollo Global Management, paid $170 million for tax and estate services, a payment that sparked his 2021 exit from the firm.

The sanctions represent a recently legal victory for Black, whose attorneys argued the plaintiff’s allegations against him were unsubstantiated and eclipsed by misconduct in the supporting evidence. While the case remains pending on the core claim of sexual assault, the ruling limits the plaintiff’s evidentiary arsenal and reinforces the financial repercussions of filing frivolous claims.