The ruling by Circuit Court Judge Maxine Cheesman in favor of former investor and family friend Lorna “Muffie” Guthrie concludes a two-year battle over the sale of the elite mare Nikka VD Bisschop. The court found that Lamaze engaged in "deliberate, material, and pervasive fraud," including the use of forged medical documents to stall proceedings.

A "Permeating Fraud"

The litigation took a dark turn when Lamaze’s claims of battling terminal brain cancer were debunked. Investigation revealed that medical letters submitted to the court were fabricated; the listed providers confirmed Lamaze was never their patient.

Judge Cheesman’s final judgment was scathing, noting that Lamaze’s pleadings "cannot be trusted" and that his testimony was "shown to be false." The court further noted that while a final hearing was scheduled for November, Lamaze’s own representative informed the court that the rider had made a "conscious decision" to skip the hearing to go horseback riding instead.

The "Procedural Trap"

Lamaze’s defense, led by publicist Pascal Renauldon, maintains that the rider is the victim of a "procedural trap." They argue that because the court froze Lamaze’s assets in 2023, he was unable to afford the mandatory legal counsel required for his corporate entities, such as Torrey Pines Stables.

Despite these claims, the court found that Lamaze had over ten months to secure counsel and instead relied on Renauldon, a non-lawyer, to perform legal tasks—a move the judge categorized as the "unauthorized practice of law."

A Final Verdict

The $1.6 million award to Guthrie follows a $5.5 million judgment won by the Rein family in September. For the victims, the victory is bittersweet. "It is sad that the legacy of Eric Lamaze will be his deceitful and disloyal dealing with the many friends and families who for decades supported him," Guthrie stated.

Lamaze filed an appeal against the decision on January 12, 2026. Meanwhile the FEI suspension of the rider enters into its 3rd year.