Another milepost for Michael Barisone

by | Apr 11, 2023 | On the rail

Civil lawsuits involving dressage trainer Michael Barisone have been settled after years of litigation following the shooting of Lauren Kanarek, the plaintiff who was also a defendant in a counter-suit filed by Barisone.

Kanarek was a student of Barisone’s and a tenant at his Long Valley, N.J., farm. Their relationship deteriorated to the point that they had a confrontation in August 2019, when she was shot twice in the chest and he was charged with attempted murder.  Kanarek spent four days in a coma in Morristown Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit after the shooting took place in a scuffle, which also involved her boyfriend, Robert Goodwin.

In a trial last year, Barisone was found not guilty by reason of insanity of the attempted murder of Kanarek and a weapons charge. It is the first time in 30 years that a jury in the state of New Jersey had reached such a conclusion, according to Chris Deininger, one of Barisone’s attorneys. The jury also found Barisone not guilty in connection with an attempted murder charge, assault and possession of a firearm involving Goodwin.

Kanarek sued Sweet Grass LLC, a partner in the farm with Barisone, and Barisone individually in a separate action. The Sweet Grass matter concluded with a confidential settlement ending that entity’s liability in the case.  Mark Silver, the attorney for Sweet Grass, did not return calls for comment.

After a lawsuit was filed against him individually, Barisone counter-sued. Both he and Kanarek last week agreed to drop their suits with prejudice, which means they cannot be filed in the future. Gregg Alan Stone, Kanarek’s attorney in that matter, chose not to comment.

Barisone, who had been diagnosed with delusional and depressive disorders, remains in Greystone Park State Hospital in Parsippany, N.J. Pending the outcome of a formal investigation and final decision, Barisone is on interim suspension for “allegations of misconduct” from SafeSport, an organization created by Congress to end sexual, physical, and emotional abuse on behalf of athletes.

Michael Barisone and attorney Chris Deininger. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)

Deininger said in a prepared statement, “On my behalf, on behalf of Edward Bilinkas and on behalf of all the other professionals working as part of Michael Barisone’s legal team, I’m pleased to announce the voluntary final dismissal of Lauren Kanarek’s claims against Michael Barisone and of Michael’s claims against her, which took place without the exchange of money.

“With the civil suit claims behind him, Michael can continue his recovery from the mental breakdown he suffered in August 2019, following the incidents recounted at the criminal trial.

“The extinguishment of the civil suit claims, in our view, is yet another important vindication of Michael. We are thankful for all the encouragement and support people have given Michael, with special thanks to those who testified at trial and those who bravely came forward to give crucial information important to the defense.

“We will now focus our attention on getting Michael out of the hospital, getting him back to his homestead in Florida and resolving his issues with SafeSport. Our fight will continue until the day when Michael is once again free to raise, ride and train horses, which has always been his calling and passion.”

Meanwhile, Deininger filed suit Monday against three insurance companies, contending they should have covered the costs of Barisone’s defense.In denying coverage, the companies contended that Barisone’s action was intentional and not reasonable, Deininger said.

“The jury came back saying it’s not intentional, so that’s gone, and the insurance company never investigated whether the use of force was reasonable, they just said that,” noted Deininger.

“I’m going to raise the issue of whether or not they should have paid his defense costs, because there were claims of negligence that are not intent-based, and I think they should have defended him on those claims.”