Who is Mark Geragos? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Mark John Geragos

Age: 66 Years, 66 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Paulette (Kassabian) Geragos

father: Paul Geragos

mother: Betty Jane Geragos

children: Teny Geragos

Lawyers American Men

U.S. State: California

City: Los Angeles

More Facts

education: Flintridge Preparatory School, Haverford College, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University

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Childhood & Early Life

Mark John Geragos was born on October 5, 1957, in Los Angeles, California, to lawyer Paul Geragos and Betty Jane Geragos. Mark started his education at Flintridge Preparatory School, La Cañada, California.

Before embarking on a legal career, he graduated with honors in anthropology and sociology from Haverford College in 1979. He then earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Loyola Law School in 1982. After being admitted to the State Bar of California in 1983, he joined his father’s law firm ‘Geragos & Geragos’.

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Career

Mark Geragos started his career as a promoter for ‘The Raymond Theatre’ in Pasadena. He worked there from 1979 until 1982 and successfully booked bands like ‘The Pretenders’ and ‘Missing Persons’.

After getting out of law school and joining his father’s firm, Geragos really came into his own. In the first two years, he was the lawyer for the then vice president of American Savings, accused of 16 counts of fraud.

As a lawyer, Geragos gained national fame in the USA when he represented the former business aide of President Bill Clinton, Susan McDougal. He first successfully represented the “Whitewater criminal” McDougal in an embezzlement trial. He gained the ultimate victory when he managed to get a full presidential pardon for her on January 20, 2001.

In December 2002, Geragos represented Hollywood actress Winona Ryder, who was accused of stealing merchandise worth more than $5000. He managed to get her a probation and counseling.

In 2003, he started defending Michael Jackson, who was charged with molesting 13 years old Gavin Arvizo. However, Jackson removed Geragos as his lawyer in April 2004 because of the latter’s commitment to another client.

One of his clients was the notorious murderer Scott Peterson, who was accused of killing his pregnant wife. Geragos lost the case when Peterson was given the death penalty in March 2004.

Geragos’s two biggest career victories came in 2004 - 2005. He was one of the leading lawyers in two federal class action lawsuits. The lawsuits were filed against New York Life Insurance and AXA Corporation for insurance fraud during the Armenian Genocide. In 2005, both companies agreed to pay a sum total of more than $37.5 million to victims and charities.

In addition to criminal law, Geragos also cemented his legacy as a civil defense lawyer by winning two major landmark cases against big companies. On March 3, 2008, the owner of XtraJet was ordered to pay $20 million for illegally filming Michael Jackson in 2003.

In December 2008, he emerged victorious in the San Bruno nonprofit Ischemia Research and Education Foundation VS Pfizer lawsuit. The pharmaceutical giant was ordered to pay $38 million for stealing the trade secrets of a pain relief drug from the nonprofit.

Never shying away from controversies, Geragos found himself under media scrutiny when he started representing Cameron Brown. Cameron was finally found guilty and sentenced to life in prison on September 18, 2015, for murdering his four years old daughter.

Geragos represented singer Chris Brown who was found guilty of physically assaulting popstar Rihanna. Brown pleaded guilty on June 22, 2009, and was sentenced to probation and community service.

Geragos has recently been named in the legal team of Jussie Smollett. The actor was indicted for paying two men to stage a racial attack. However, all charges have been dropped against him.

In March 2019, the celebrity lawyer again made headlines for allegedly co-conspiring in the ‘Nike’ extortion case against lawyer Michael Avenatti.

Awards & Achievements

Mark Geragos is a famous member of the Armenian National Committee of America. He also serves as a member of the Advisory Committee of Birthright Armenia and the chairman of Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

Due to his work for the betterment of the Armenian community, he was awarded Professional of The Year by the Armenian Professional Society.

Family & Personal Life

Mark Geragos is married to Paulette ‘Kassabian’ Geragos. They have a daughter named Teny Geragos and a son called Jake Geragos.

Mark Geragos Biography