J.Z. Knight Has Hired F. Lee Bailey To Sue Lawyer

TACOMA - The Yelm spiritualist who "channels" a 35,000-year-old warrior has hired O.J. Simpson defense lawyer F. Lee Bailey to sue her ex-husband's attorney for extortion.

J.Z. Knight says Bellevue attorney Mary Gaudio threatened her with adverse publicity to try to force her to modify her divorce agreement with her husband, Jeffrey Knight.

Jeffrey Knight died of AIDS-related illnesses last year.

J.Z. Knight has built a highly profitable spiritual empire based on her reputed ability to "channel" Ramtha, a 35,000-year-old warrior from the lost continent of Atlantis.

Two years ago, Jeffrey Knight accused J.Z. Knight of using her spiritual power over him to force him to accept an unfair divorce settlement.

That case is on appeal to the Washington state Supreme Court. The trial judge awarded Jeffrey Knight nearly $800,000. An appeals court reversed the ruling but upheld $150,000 in attorney fees.

Gaudio said the new lawsuit looks like a publicity stunt.