Lori Loughlin’s new legal strategy is to put the college-admissions system on trial, lol

Lori Loughlin is seen out amidst the college bribery scandal

Imagine for a moment that you are Lori Loughlin. You forced your dumb daughters to scam their way into college, and you shelled out $500,000 in total on the scam. You actively participated in the scam, and probably even largely orchestrated the scam, with some help from a guy who, you later learned, was working with the FBI to expose your scam and the scams of other rich parents. Then you get arrested for wire fraud and other federal crimes because of the scam. You refuse a plea agreement because, again, you’re rich and white and you believe in your heart that you can simper your way out of this. You then spend months leaking to People Magazine about how you’re faith-based and simply a caring mother, that’s why you did all those crimes. What else is there to do? Well, if you’re a genius like Lori Loughlin, you’ll decide to put THE SYSTEM on trial. Yes, Lori wants to “expose” USC for their admissions process. The same admissions process she successfully scammed. Brilliant.

A bloodbath in the making. Lori Loughlin wants to take the University of Southern California (USC) to task amid claims that the college might sue her and husband Mossimo Giannulli. According to documents obtained by Us Weekly, Loughlin and Giannulli’s attorney, BJ Trach, issued a letter to prosecutors about how USC is represented by the same firm as her clients. (USC hired the firm in regards to an issue regarding the Coliseum.) While Trach asserted it would not be a conflict of interest to represent both parties, the letter stated that USC “suggested that Latham’s representation of Ms. Loughlin and Mr. Giannulli poses foreseeable conflicts because it is possible that USC may have civil disputes with one or both sometime in the future.”

Loughlin isn’t taking the potential litigation news lying down. A source confirmed to Us that the Fuller House star aims to uncover the truth behind USC’s admission tactics.

“Lori feels that USC is going to do whatever is necessary to attempt to financially ruin her family. USC accepts extremely substantial donations, which will typically result with a child from that family enrolling,” the insider shared with Us. “Lori wants to expose USC’s admission practices and looks forward to her day in criminal court.”

The source also added that it would be USC’s “prerogative” if they chose to file a civil lawsuit against Loughlin and 56-year-old Mossimo designer. “Lori and Mossimo will defend themselves, and would anticipate a very robust and thorough discovery process of USC’s admissions and large financial donations in which a child became a student at the university,” the insider concluded.

[From Us Weekly]

It takes some kind of brass balls to argue that yes, your scam worked and your dumb daughters were successfully accepted and enrolled in USC but that they only reason you were arrested is because you didn’t spend ENOUGH money getting them in. YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH! No, in all seriousness, is what they call “a difference in kind.” There’s a difference between “mommy and daddy donating a building to a college so that their kid will be admitted” versus “mommy and daddy perpetrating a scam on the NCAA, testing companies and admissions officers to get their kid enrolled.” Both options are sleazy and awful, but only one is illegal. For Lori to now argue that she can “expose” the fact that… rich parents donate sh-t through legal channels to get their kids admitted, well, that’s the kind of dumb legal strategy I would expect from her.

Lori Loughlin  at the Hallmark TCA Press....

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.

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70 Responses to “Lori Loughlin’s new legal strategy is to put the college-admissions system on trial, lol”

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  1. Seraphina says:

    I’m trying to figure out what kind of Cool-Aid she is drinking and who is giving it to her.

  2. Elkie says:

    Having read yesterday that supposed ultimate arbiter of justice Black-Out Brett Kavanaugh (and his dark money pay-offs) has rewarded one of his biggest cheerleaders by appointing her daughter as his clerk for the upcoming season, the machinations of the star of Garage Sale Mysteries to get her crotchfruit into college suddenly seems pretty quaint in comparison.

    Quid pro quo.

  3. LaraK says:

    Omfg she’s so dumb!

    The only thing that would be worse is if her lawsuit somehow got the courts to declare that admissions based on donations are unlawful. She’s white and churchy so it’s not totally impossible. Then she will declare herself the holy white savior of the college admission system and we’d never hear the end of it!

    • BchyYogi says:

      Please let this entitled one go Down. Hard. For all of us who had to bow down to the mean cheerleaders in HS and the wealthy condescension of all our first “real” clients…let this churchy white lady go down. Hard.

    • Coco says:

      Like a faith based, nonprescription fashion frames-wearing Erin Brockovich

    • holly hobby says:

      She’s wasting the court’s time if this is her defense. It’s a criminal case against her and her hubby, not an indictment of USC. The judge will not allow that to proceed. She must have lost her original “reputable” attys because this atty sounds new and dumb.

  4. Moses says:

    She’s a moron, and I doubt this strategy will pay off the way she thinks. I mean, wouldn’t she have to admit that she bribed and committed tax fraud in order to highlight the sleazy-yet-legal way kids of donors are admitted? Just take your two years in jail, Lori.

  5. Chef Grace says:

    In Trumplandia she is in the right. Trumplandia laws will be on her side.
    She will ascend to the righteous heights of all privileged white women of Trumplandia.
    Blow those freaking horns of justice.
    LOL

  6. Lightpurple says:

    Dear Lori:

    There seems to be a few things that have escaped your notice. Let be bring your attention to them.
    1. The other parents, some of whom are more famous than you, are all pleading guilty and taking their punishments. That fact will not be lost on your jury pool.

    2. Ah, yes,your jury pool. You seem a bit confused about where your trial will be taking place. Welcome to the Joseph Moakley Federal Courthouse in South Boston’s Seaport District. This courthouse has seen famous trials before.Again, more famous than you. Like Whitey Bulger. And the trial of the Marathon Bomber. In short, we don’t care, Lori
    3 And your jury pool itself? Boston is a majority minority city, your act might not play too well with men and women who just send Ayanna Pressley to Congress. Or even those who continue to send former steelworker Stephen Lynch. The neighboring communities that will also contribute to your jury pool? Oh, Lori, recent demographic numbers show that Boston and its surrounding areas has the highest level of college educated residents in the country. There are also 114 colleges in tiny Massachusetts. We know college admissions. You won’t find much sympathy.
    4. You need to revamp your act. Be penitent. You were wrong. Admit it. Plead guilty, like the others. Accept Tuuka as your Lord and Savior, slap a Red Sox hat on your head, a pair of Celtics Green Converse high tops on your feet, a Gronk shirt on your back and work “Prayers for Papi” into everything you put out and maybe the judge won’t be so harsh with your sentencing.

    • Christin says:

      My prediction is that she will come to Boston to “educate” the people referred to as her peers. I truly think she is that dense and full of herself.

  7. Aang says:

    Can’t stand her. But giving a big endowment vs a bribe is different only in name. But I guess that is a big difference when you are looking at jail time. She just should have donated a few million. Like Kushner’s or Trump’s dads. Anyone who thinks we live in a meritocracy is delusional. Everything exists to maintain the current power structure. They might hold up a few exceptional minorities as success stories but these seats of power are all about keeping things the same.

    • Lanne says:

      The difference is that other students benefit from the libraries and scholarships that the schools get from rich parents. No one benefits from Aunt Becky’s spawn getting into USC except maybe some jank “weight loss popsicle” maker who signs on said idiot spawn to be an “influencer.” What I don’t get is the complete lack of career awareness here. Does said Auntie really think she’s going back to Hallmark movies after this?

      • SamC says:

        Not necessarily. I worked at a big university for awhile and yes, there are the mega millions donors for buildings, etc. On the other hand, more often endowments are basically big slush funds for professors (with lots of influence). While they endowment funds are supposed to be for academic pursuits, I saw faculty submitting reimbursements to the endowments accounts for home electronics, furniture, kids nanny, non academic travel, even a $20 alarm clock for their guest house.

      • Other Renee says:

        Samc, that is really a distressing and disappointing revelation.

    • jaylow says:

      the difference is huge. If you give an endowment (besides being legal) yes your child is getting in but it also gives all the other students a chance to benefit in some way. Whether it is a scholarship to those in a lower socioeconomic level or by benefit or a lab, library etc. What Aunt Becky did was illegal and only to benefit her kid and the crooks she paid off.

    • Helen says:

      “Anyone who thinks we live in a meritocracy is delusional. Everything exists to maintain the current power structure. They might hold up a few exceptional minorities as success stories but these seats of power are all about keeping things the same.”

      exactly this

  8. My3cents says:

    Lori you were on Full House not Alley Mcbeal.

  9. minx says:

    Fine, let them waste a lot of money on lawyers.

  10. Lanne says:

    Right now Felicity Huffman must be praying “thank you Aunt Becky for making me look better next to you!”

  11. Jane says:

    Omg. Everybody might be shitting on Lori here but this is actually a brilliant strategy. Lori would argue that she was forced to bribe the college because given the vast number of legal scams into getting a kid into college. The fact that the donation may have built a library for other students won’t register in the public minds, only that an undeserving student got a chance to attend in basically the same manner. Yes, we know that this happens all the time but to dweleve into the details and highlighting how involved colleges are in perpetuating legal scams. It goes all the way up to the college presidents. Those type of conversation will be asked, who made the decision. And the parents who legally scammed their way in will put pressure on the colleges to drop the lawsuit because they don’t want their name or kids name to be involved in that type of conversation legal or not. And let’s remember that prosecutors are also parents who “donate”. Maybe the not lower level ones but the ones higher up. USC will face too much pressure and will not pursue this. It’s brilliant and I want Lori legal or PR team if it ever in trouble

    • Esmom says:

      I don’t know about that. I tend to think it’s less brilliant and more just desperate. For someone so “faith-based,” she has shockingly little humility or morality.

      • Snap Happy says:

        I agree with Jane. Her whole PR faux outrage at being a victim is totally annoying, but this may not be the worst legal strategy. Does a legal strategy have to be moral? She just has to put doubt in the mind of the jury.

      • Esmom says:

        Of course a legal strategy doesn’t have to be moral. But SHE could do the moral thing and admit she was wrong and show some remorse and humility instead of doubling down on the blame game.

      • Original T.C. says:

        Faith-based moralizers are the biggest hypocrites, it’s do as I say not as I do.

    • SamC says:

      They should have done an academic endowment, like the Aunt Becky Professor for Rowing Excellence. $500,000 would have covered it, their kids still would have gotten accepted, and would all have been legal.

    • Lanne says:

      But how will Aunt Becky look next to felicity huffman and others who are taking their punishment? Sure she can take on the whole system, but what does she gain even if she wins? A long drawn out trial where all her own shady behavior comes out. Every damning email she sent. It could cost her whole fortune if they employ “expert witnesses”—they aren’t that rich. And what of her career afterward? This is a case of trying to put out a fire with gasoline. All she had to do was take the plea and get her 3 months at Club Fed and then she gets an apology tour and more Hallmark movies when she cries White Lady Tears. Instead she’s taking on this big fight that will do NOTHING but make those who despise her despise her more, and you can’t make Hallmark movies if a large part of the audience (mothers after all) hate you. This isn’t brilliant PR. America loves reformed sinners, but you have to play the game correctly. If she wins her case, she’ll be another example of rich people getting to buy justice. She’ll be hated if she wins and ridiculed if she loses. Her lawyers should make her look up schadenfreude in the dictionary because she apparently has never heard of the word.

    • Lightpurple says:

      Lori is facing criminal charges. She can’t countersue in a criminal case. The issues before the Court are what is the law and did she break that law. None of the stuff she’s blathering about is relevant to whether or not the prosecutor has sufficient evidence to show that she broke the law. None of it will be admissible at her criminal trial.

    • Coco says:

      Omg. Yes this is brilliant.

  12. wolfgirl says:

    Those sandals are a crime in themselves

  13. Laura says:

    I really hope she gets her a** handed to her, but even if by some incomprehensible twist of fate she does manage to get out of this… Has she not thought ahead?
    She’s losing in the court of public opinion.
    Does she have no idea how she’s coming across? The optics are terrible. I will never watch her in anything again at this point.
    Whereas Mrs Macy/Huffman will get the benefit of my doubt. She manned up, accepted responsibility and is keeping her head down. With a low profile and maybe a couple interviews print/TV after… She’ll prob have her career again.

    • Other Renee says:

      Laura, Mrs. Macy/Huffman does not get any pass from me. She’s just as immoral and entitled as stupid Aunt Becky. She’s playing the role of the remorseful mother because that’s what her legal team advised her to do. She is an actress playing the role to perfection. She’s a cheat and a liar and a lawnmower parent, completely uncaring about other potential students who lost their spots in college due to the likes of her. No, thanks. There are many other actors I’d prefer to watch.

      • Laura says:

        Other Renee
        You’re prob right. I’m not gonna give her a pass but the benefit of the doubt which Tbh she prob doesn’t deserve. I guess it’s all relative, she is benefiting from how immoral, stupid and entitled Lori is behaving by simply keeping her head down and mouth shut.
        She is guilty also, just smart enough to only let us see remorseful Felicity.

  14. tmbg says:

    You know, she could have just had her kids go to a community college if they couldn’t get into a university. There’s no shame in that. Why go to such lengths when these girls clearly aren’t academics? 🤦🏼‍♀️

    • Esmom says:

      They wanted to go to Arizona State, reluctantly if I remember correctly, as Olivia didn’t even want to go to college but was willing to go to ASU to appease her parents. That wasn’t good enough for Lori, who needed to be able to tell her friends that her daughters were enrolled at a more elite university.

    • Tourmaline says:

      Because in the eyes of some USC is a brand and it is a network as much as an educational institution. This fam wanted the gloss of USC the same as the gloss of having certain cars or other material goods.

    • Veronica S. says:

      Ivy Leagues are mainly about prestige and networking. Frankly, if her daughters had any foresight, they’d have viewed this as a smart business move instead of a tragic burden impinging on their partying – part of their branding as savvy businesswomen and access to other people in the industry.

  15. Sean says:

    How in the hell does someone so low on the Hollywood totem pole get such a big ego and become so delusional? When I read about Johnny Depp’s delusions of grandeur, it makes sense because he’s one of the wealthiest (or used to be) and most well-known entertainers on the planet. But Lori “Aunt Becky” Loughlin?!

  16. Darkladi says:
  17. Tourmaline says:

    Lori needs to get on William H Macy’s TV show because she’s SHAMELESS!

  18. HK9 says:

    Idiot. Take the deal and walk away.

  19. Karen2 says:

    I’ve been reading up on USC. Mainly from LAT. The admissions scandal is just one of many scandals it’s got. & Probably not the most serious. I read that Becky is going to say she thought her half mil was a charitable donation. Hufman is likely already forgiven given the good buzz from Central Park 5. Almost heading into yesterdays news territory.

    • oh-dear says:

      she won’t be able to make that stick because she had her daughters pose as rowers to get on the rowing team. That is evidence of deception.

  20. ClaireB says:

    “you believe in your heart that you can simper your way out of this.”

    THIS IS SO GOOD! Thank you, Kaiser, for continuing to cover this desperate trick, because her antics make me laugh. And apparently, she’s going to keep making me laugh until she gets off for being a rich, white, female Trump supporter. That will definitely make me stop laughing.

  21. Bunny says:

    IANAL (I am not a lawyer), but going into court and saying that, “Those guys made me break the law ’cause they took my money” is dumber than Hell.

    I mean, unless USC admissions officers held a weapon to her head and forced her to do what she did… which, you know, they probably didn’t do.

    Speaking of which, wouldn’t her attempting to put USC on trial pretty much require her to admit in court to having committed the crimes she’s accused of?

    • GirlMonday says:

      @Bunny, I am saying this to you in the spirit of friendship, though we’ve never met:
      If you are going to type out “I am not a lawyer” anyway, maybe just skip the “IANAL”. Because, now, despite being almost 40 years old, the middle schooler in me’s mind is runnin amok.

      Totes agree with you, tho. This woman is dumber than a box of rocks. If entitlement makes her this stupid, “Survival of the Fittest” just might save our country.

  22. Kate says:

    This story is about possible civil suits between USC and Lori/Mossimo. It’s totally different from the criminal trial and whatever her defense will be there. They’re saying if USC sues her family for scamming their way in, she will defend herself with some sort of strategy showing the shady USC admissions process. They had to disclose to the prosecutor in the criminal trial that the same firm represents both her and USC in different matters and there could potentially be future conflicts in representation.

  23. Nina says:

    She, uh, seems like a stable genius.

  24. ojulia123 says:

    I just…I love this story SO MUCH. Is this woman insane? Maybe!! Delusional? Absolutely! This whole thing is fascinating.

  25. Ruyana says:

    She just WILL NOT PUT DOWN THE SHOVEL!

  26. wolfgirl says:

    I have an adult son with a disability and together we have fought incredibly hard for Every. Single. Thing.
    Why can’t she be grateful to simply have children who were not handed the horrible ordeal of severe physical amd mental challenges through no fault of their own?
    I would LOVE my boy to be able to go (on his own hard won merits) to any sort of post school education or trade or anything at all that fulfilled him as a human and gave him happiness.
    Disgusted.
    Sorry.