A Milwaukee store filed a lawsuit against Vernita Lee, the mother of billionaire
Oprah Winfrey, claiming the talk show host’s mom is behind on her bill of
more than $150,000.

According to the Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel:

A high-end Brookfield fashion store is suing over a past-due bill of more than $150,000
run up by a customer whose perks, the store says, included private showings and
delivery service. The customer: Oprah Winfrey’s mother.

Vernita Lee of Milwaukee has had an open-ended charge account with Valentina since
January 2004, the civil complaint says.
It says Lee racked up a bill of $155,547.31 in purchases and interest as of July
1, and that she was required to make a minimum monthly payment of $2,000 to the
store. Valentina attorney Joseph Niebler Sr. said Wednesday that Lee stopped making
the monthly payments. He said the store tried to resolve the bill before filing
the lawsuit in Waukesha County Circuit Court and continues to pursue a resolution
out of court.

“There isn’t any ill will; it’s a matter of contract,” Niebler said.

The lawsuit says that Lee has told store officials she does not believe she owes
the money. Reached by telephone, Lee declined to comment about the case. Her Milwaukee
attorney, Nathan Fishbach, did not return a phone call. She also has two Chicago-based
attorneys, Steve Gistenson and Michelle Schindler.

Her famous daughter was not available for comment, according to a representative
from her Harpo Productions company in Chicago.

Lee has until a Sept. 19 hearing to answer the complaint. A non-binding mediation
session is scheduled for Sept. 16, court records say.

TAGS: Oprah Winfrey, Vernita Lee

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