R
iver Forest developer Marty Paris is suing his former divorce attorneys for malpractice, alleging they abandoned him before trial and later conspired to collect fees that led to his jailing. The lawsuit claims a breach of legal ethics, accusing the lawyers of switching sides and working against Paris after previously representing him in his long-running divorce case.

    Paris' attorneys, Brian Hurst and Olga Stambler, allegedly backed out of representing him just before trial in 2022, leaving him without counsel during a critical phase. The trial ended with a judgment that left Paris liable for millions of dollars in legal fees and settlement costs, including $1.19 million to his ex-wife.

    Paris was jailed three times during the proceedings, including over the 2023 holiday season, after judges found him in civil contempt for not paying court-ordered fees. The lawsuit argues that Paris was unfairly targeted and the jailings were part of a "debtors' prison" scheme meant to squeeze him.

    The lawsuit also alleges that Hurst improperly represented Rosenfeld, a court-appointed attorney for Paris' children, in a separate claim for $229,000. This is claimed to be a breach of legal ethics rules, as Hurst had previously been Paris' attorney and did not disclose his prior relationship with Rosenfeld.

    Paris is facing other financial troubles, including a $52 million loan default tied to troubled River North and South Loop housing developments. A bankruptcy court dismissed his personal bankruptcy case in January, removing protections that had previously shielded him from creditors.