Michelle Malkin » Oprah Winfrey’s irresponsible mom countersues store for giving her credit

Oprah Winfrey’s irresponsible mom countersues store for giving her credit

By Michelle Malkin • October 1, 2008 05:10 PM

I kid you not. This is exactly the same entitlement/victim mentality that has gotten us into the bailout mess we are in. Irresponsible spender demands limitless credit. Cries “predatory lender” when the chickens come home to roost. Borrow. Spend. Whine. Repeat:

Oprah Winfrey’s mother should not have to pay a high-end fashion store the more than $150,000 it says it is owed because the store extended credit despite knowing her troubles managing debt, according to a new court filing.
101970Vernita Lee

Valentina Inc. sued Winfrey’s mother, Vernita Lee of Milwaukee, in July, contending that she racked up a bill of $155,547.31 in purchases and interest as of July 1. She was required to make a minimum monthly payment of $2,000 to the store, the suit says.

Mediation between the two sides failed last week, prompting Lee to file a counterclaim contending she does not owe the money.

The account is “unconscionable, and therefore, unenforceable because Valentina knowingly and unfairly took advantage of Lee’s lack of knowledge, ability, and/or capacity when Valentina created the account,” the civil lawsuit says.

It is the second time Lee and Valentina have been in conflict over her wardrobe bill.

In 2002, Lee was ordered to pay $35,000 upfront and make monthly payments of $5,000 until another past-due bill of $174,285 was paid, according to court records.

As part of the resolution of that case, a court order dismissing the case included the phrase, “Valentina Boutique, Inc., shall not at any time extend further store credit to the Defendant, Vernita Lee.”

The 2002 case was dismissed as long as Lee made the payments, which she did, according to the counterclaim.

Lee has had an open-ended charge account with Valentina since January 2004, according to the recent civil case.

Lee also contends that the store violated the Truth in Lending Act by not disclosing the finance charge and annual percentage rate in the account more conspicuously.

Perhaps they should have tattooed it on her forehead?

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#101

On October 1st, 2008 at 10:47 pm, Leatherneck said:

This is an example of why some people get called really bad/mean names.

They do it to themselves.
#102

On October 2nd, 2008 at 12:07 am, miron said:

Does Oprah have another mom, a “responsible” one?
#103

On October 2nd, 2008 at 12:32 am, SSG David Medzyk said:

It’s obvious isn’t it? They only gave her credit because she is the color purple.

Yeah, I know, lousy try at humor. Hey, I kill terrorists for a living, so Jerry Seinfeld I ain’t.
#104

On October 2nd, 2008 at 1:20 am, emjem24 said:

Winfrey and her mother exploit this “victim mentality” every day. Winfrey’s mother can bilk a business of the money that they’re entitled to and her daughter can continue to claim she understands women yet won’t interview Sarah Palin.

If you can’t manage credit card debt, then you shouldn’t be given credit in the first place. It appears, that like housing, credit is a civil rights issue for the black community. What I’m beginning to notice is that many black citizens bilk our social entitlement system while crying “poverty” yet they can use their welfare checks to get houses or get credit to buy stuff they’ll never pay back.

This is out of control. Where are the freaking lawmakers to clean this crap up? Oh, that’s right, they’re in the black communities’ back pocket. Silly me.
#105

On October 2nd, 2008 at 1:26 am, CO2 Producer said:

I heard about this story a couple of weeks ago. Geez, Oprah, reach in your pocket for some spare change to shut them up.

To SSG DM (#103), I’d rather we have more terrorist eliminators than comedians. Thanks, man. We owe you guys more than we’ll ever be able to repay.
#106

On October 2nd, 2008 at 3:35 am, pdwalker said:

She’ll probably get away with it too.
#107

On October 2nd, 2008 at 7:50 am, pressto said:

“Valentina Boutique, Inc., shall not at any time extend further store credit to the Defendant, Vernita Lee.”

If that line is true she probably will win this case.
#108

On October 2nd, 2008 at 8:10 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

SSG David Medzyk said:

Yeah, I know, lousy try at humor. Hey, I kill terrorists for a living, so Jerry Seinfeld I ain’t.

Comedians we don’t need-Seinfeld isn’t that funny. Good work you do Sergent.
#109

On October 2nd, 2008 at 9:36 am, max said:

SSG Medzyk,

It got a smirk out of me… Keep up the good fight!
#110

On October 2nd, 2008 at 9:54 am, xler8bmw said:

HHHMMMM was this MLK’s dream to have them use civil rights as a get out of jail free card?????

You can’t fire anyone of race

You have to be PC about everything that is WRONG but don’t ay it you will get a scarlett letter

God forbid you arrest someone of race because then you’re profiling even though the description fits the bill

AMAZING!
#111

On October 2nd, 2008 at 9:57 am, WarEagle82 said:

This could not happen in a sane, rational, logical world. We have slipped through a ~~black hole~~. Oops. Can’t say that any longer. We have slipped through a quantum singularity into an alternate bizzaro universe. This is the only explanation.
#112

On October 2nd, 2008 at 10:44 am, MtsEdge said:

Winfrey and her mother exploit this “victim mentality” every day. Winfrey’s mother can bilk a business of the money that they’re entitled to and her daughter can continue to claim she understands women yet won’t interview Sarah Palin.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, right, Oprah?
#113

On October 2nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm, greenfairie said:

I think this wonderful “mom” abandoned Oprah at a young age, leaving her to be raised by grandparents and her dad. I guess Momma hasn’t changed much.
#114

On October 2nd, 2008 at 3:27 pm, RetFireman said:

Holy cow! You can do that?

So, basically, I should be able to sue each and every one of my creditors and say, “Wel…you should have known better.”

Wow…of course, no one is really saying anything about how multi-gazzilionaire Oprah is letting her own mother flap in the wind and how she is not giving her own mother the money to pay off her debts.

Must be a thing with Liberals. Look out for everyone, as long as they are not your own family.

Oprah’s mom, Odumbo’s brother in the crap-shack…
#115

On October 2nd, 2008 at 4:11 pm, K2 said:

Lee also contends that the store violated the Truth in Lending Act by not disclosing the finance charge and annual percentage rate in the account more conspicuously.

that darn small print! isn’t that what all the sub-prime home buyers were saying too?

So, using the old Hillary mantra “it takes a village’, where is Oprah?
Isn’t family supposed to help family out of tough times?

oh, ooops….. Hillary meant the US Government….. never mind…..
#116

On October 3rd, 2008 at 2:34 am, RetFireman said:

oh, ooops….. Hillary meant the US Government….. never mind…..

Government=Big Brother=Family