Donald Trump, the former U.S. president, is suing his former attorney for $500 million (£400 million), claiming breach of contract.
He claims Michael Cohen violated his ethical obligation to represent his client's interests.
The lawsuit is being brought up in the midst of intensifying attacks by Trump allies on Cohen, a crucial witness in a New York probe against the former president. Last week, a Manhattan prosecutor charged Trump with fraud in relation to hush money payments to a porn star.
The BBC was informed by Cohen's spokesperson and attorney, Lanny Davis, who expressed his confidence that the lawsuit against his client would fail.
Additionally, Cohen is accused of making "improper, self-serving, and malicious statements about his former client, his family, and his business" in the lawsuit, which was filed in a federal court in Florida.
Cohen represented Trump for more than ten years. He was frequently referred to as Trump's fixer and served as vice president of the Trump Organization.
But as investigations into several of Trump's associates began after the 2016 victory, the two experienced a severe falling out.
After pleading guilty to fraud and campaign finance offenses in 2018, Cohen received a three-year prison term and a fine. Since his release from prison, Cohen has established a solid reputation as a vocal opponent of Trump and a regular on television shows.
He has written a book and hosts a podcast, both of which Trump cites in the lawsuit.
It claims that in his 2020 book Disloyal, Cohen made up conversations and wrongfully referred to Trump as a "racist."
Davis, said in a statement to the BBC, "Trump appears once again to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen."
"It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him," he added.
New York prosecutors have charged Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, in what they say was an effort to cover up payments intended to keep a porn star, Stormy Daniels, quiet about her alleged affair with him.
As the first former U.S. president to ever be charged with a crime, Trump made his court appearance in Manhattan on Apr. 4. He pleaded not guilty.
Cohen has admitted that he helped arrange a $130,000 payment to Ms. Daniels in his capacity as Trump's fixer.
As Trump's court date drew near, Cohen frequently appeared on prominent network news programs and disparaged his former employer.
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