Jay Ingle, an attorney with the Lexington, Kentucky-based law firm Jackson Kelly PLLC, released a statement on behalf of owner Ahmed Zayat Saturday morning addressing the complaint filed by trainer Mike Maker in Jefferson County Court this past Thursday seeking better than $120,000 in alleged unpaid training bills.
“This lawsuit from Mike Maker is absurd,” the statement read. “Ahmed Zayat made all payments required under his prior settlement with Mr. Maker until MGG seized control of Zayat Stables' bank account last month. It is outrageous for Mr. Maker to cry foul given that he agreed to the terms of the workout, which Mr. Zayat has fully honored in an effort to keep his business afloat and repay each of his creditors. To suggest he's done anything less and accuse Mr. Zayat of fraud is scurrilous and defamatory. Mr. Zayat fully expects this lawsuit will be dismissed and intends to seek appropriate sanctions against Mr. Maker for pursuing this malicious action.”
Zayat Stables and its horses were put into receivership Jan. 22 and a $23-million lawsuit was filed MGG Investment Group in Fayette County courts. In an action of his own Jan. 28, Zayat filed a motion asking the same court to dissolve the receivership and to allow MGG and Zayat to resolve the dispute in a different manner.
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