LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - Dr. Marie Y. Lemelle, 65, the CEO of Platinum Star PR, Inc., and former City of Glendale Commissioner for the Commission on the Status of Women, is facing backlash from misconduct and malicious prosecution allegations being levied against her.
Verified sources claim Lemelle is embroiled in controversy and recent unfavorable headlines amid the reveal that she filed false reports under oath and otherwise misrepresented and revictimized a crime victim.
Community leaders believe that Lemelle engaged in the troubling behavior with an intent to ruin the victim’s reputation by bringing unfounded claims against her.
The crime victim was vindicated after a Los Angeles County judge found that Lemelle did not present sufficient evidence Entertainment News Business.
The Honorable Timothy Martella presided over the trial. Judge Martella called the case “unwarranted,” according to court transcripts.
Per the court reporter Eleanor Flores, the transcripts state “The court finds the party requesting the order of protection did not sustain the applicable burden of proof and accordingly the request is denied.”
Judge Martella ordered the case dismissed, according to court records.
Court documents indicate that the crime victim was represented by Pasadena lawyer Jon-Rene Moore Glover. Upon the judge ordering the case baseless, the attorney made a request for Lemelle to pay back the $1,500.00 that the victim had paid to the defense team, per court documents.
Court records state, “Respondent’s request for attorney fees is denied as an oral motion, respondent to file a noticed motion.”
To date, according to legal filings, there is no record with the court that the victim’s legal team filed a new motion.
Lemelle’s legal case, filed in the United States Court for The Superior Court of California on April 7, 2023, alleges “she is a former client who consistently exhibited emotional abuse, fraud, and deceit.”
In the filing, Lemelle alleges of the victim “she has become explosive” and “I don’t know what she is capable of doing when upset, angry, or delusional.” In the filings, Lemelle alleged that the victim “had made written threats” to her.
Court filings show that Lemelle submitted a collage of pictures of the crime victim to the court. In addition, Lemelle submitted a photo of the victim’s child. These and other concerning acts and behaviors are being described as disturbing and questionable to some who have reviewed the case files.
A query into the Los Angeles Superior Court in July 2024 revealed that Lemelle has a wide range of legal woes dating back decades.
Lemelle, a longtime Hollywood publicist, is best known for representing heavyweights such as Beverly Hills based Footnanny - Oprah’s Pedicurist, San Diego native LPGA Golf Pro Avis Brown-Riley, and Los Angeles born Robert Ri’chard, plus an array of others. The entrepreneur and film producer also heads up Pitbull PR Agency and Platinum Star Media Group, Inc., a film production and talent management company.
Just last year Lemelle, a social change activist, partnered with Kristen Thomasino, the CEO of Thomasino Media LLC and Buddytown Consulting LLC, to form The Social Good Movement Tour. Additionally, Lemelle has been noted in the media as a diversity and inclusion activist, as well as a community activist..
According to the Cultural Inclusion Foundation website, Lemelle was honored in 2023 for her stance on women’s empowerment and social justice initiatives, opposite city leaders such as Mayor Karen Bass, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, LA County Board members Holly J. Mitchell and Hilda L. Solis, also a former administrator for former President Barack Obaman Entertainment News Business.
Following an inquiry surrounding the turbulent allegations, a Los Angeles grassroots coalition opened an investigation. A damning report of their findings was released in July and findings revealed their year-long investigation from June 2023 - June 2024 that resulted in evidence to substantiate the claims being levied against Lemelle.
The panel said “although difficult to read the report” it was determined that Lemelle did engage in misconduct and malicious intent. The panel said the decision was made after speaking with dozens of witnesses, watching surveillance video, and reviewing hundreds of pages of documents.
Industry insiders close to the situation reported that the victim suffered a “retaliation motivated” prosecution. News of Lemelle’s engagement in such acts has rattled social justice leaders.
Sources with direct knowledge stated the matter stems from a contract dispute when the victim reportedly filed ethics complaints against the California businesswoman.
As part of our policy, we do not refer to crime victims by name, out of respect for the victim and survivors.
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