Ivanka Trump must sit for deposition in shoe suit, judge rules

Presidential daughter Ivanka Trump will have to sit for a deposition in a lawsuit claiming her company copied the design of a shoe called “Wild Thing” from a competitor, a federal judge in Manhattan ruled late Friday.

Trump had opposed a deposition in the lawsuit by Aquazzura Italia SRL — which said its shoe design was used for a Trump model called “Hettie” — on the grounds that she had nothing to do with the actual design of shoes marketed through a partnership.

But U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest said Trump’s “public statements regarding active and comprehensive brand management” gave Aquazzura a reasonable basis to question her despite what the judge called her “obvious time constraints” due to White House responsibilities.

The judge limited the deposition to two hours, said it would have to occur in Washington if Trump wishes, and gave the two sides until late October to schedule it.