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Lawyers who are attempting to collect approximately $2.2 million in debts owed by “Girls Gone Wild” founder Joe Francis claim much of that money was spent on his palatial Puerto Vallarta, Mexico estate.
The 40,000-square-foot property rents for up to $17,000 a night—plus a required $15,000 security deposit—during tourist season.
From the Wall Street Journal:
The 47-page lawsuit filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles doesn’t directly ask for the Casa Aramara property to be turned over to Girls Gone Wild’s bankruptcy estate. But lawyers planted wording in the document that could force the property to be sold if their collection efforts don’t go well.
With the lawsuit, Girls Gone Wild’s lawyers are trying to recover money that was spent on the property’s landscaping, homeowner association dues and even the power bill. Mr. Francis was sued to return, at minimum, about $474,000. His bankruptcy lawyer did not return a request for comment on the lawsuit.
Those waiting in line for a potential recovery of debts include a woman who has sued claiming her bare breasts were filmed without permission and Las Vegas kingpin Steve Wynn, who won a defamation lawsuit against Francis last year.
Wynn has been attempting to recover a long standing $2 million casino debt.
His attorney issued the following statement two years ago:
"Francis has effectively evaded meaningful collection by making it appear that he has virtually no income or assets, despite his publicly lavish lifestyle. Wynn has confirmed what it has long suspected, namely that Francis has avoided Wynn's collection efforts by, among other things, not taking any income and using accounts held by various entities that do business under his 'Girls Gone Wild' brand to pay all his personal expenses."
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
