David Cone’s partner, Taja Abitbol, was ordered to pay the legal bills of a neighbor who accused her of setting fire to her Manhattan apartment in 2019 for fame. Abitbol was involved in a lawsuit with neighbor David Rice, who claimed she tried to burn down her apartment to secure a spot on “The Real Housewives of New York.” Despite denying the allegations and suing Rice for defamation, a New York County Supreme Court judge ruled that Abitbol must pay all of Rice’s legal fees due to evidence of her attempting to gain notoriety from the fire.
Abitbol lit a sage candle for morning meditation in her apartment on Nov. 9, 2019, which caught fire and set off the building’s sprinklers while she prayed. The incident was declared an accident by the NYPD and FDNY. Abitbol appeared on the “Tamron Hall Show” the following day to discuss the event. However, Rice claimed in his lawsuit that Abitbol and Cone orchestrated the fire to create a story for the talk show and to boost her chances of being cast on “Real Housewives.” Rice requested at least $320,000 in damages for the renovation he had to undergo due to the sprinkler system’s activation.
Rice’s lawsuit also alleged that Abitbol was seeking fame and notoriety and detailed that she had failed multiple auditions for “Real Housewives.” Abitbol, who denied setting the fire deliberately, defended herself by arguing that it was a defective candle and a pure accident. She filed a defamation lawsuit against Rice over statements he made to a blog and to the FDNY and The Post about an investigation into the fire. Despite the lawsuit being dismissed, Abitbol plans to appeal the decision by citing a polygraph test that she passed and was filed with the court.
Abitbol, who divides her time between Miami, where she runs a wellness center called Taja Drip, and NYC with Cone and their son Sammy, continues to pursue legal action against the rental building for inadequate sprinkler control and the manufacturers of the candle. Her attorney expressed confidence in appealing the court’s decision and believes that the First Department will reverse it. The ongoing legal battle and controversy surrounding the incident have put a strain on Abitbol’s reputation and relationships within her neighborhood and the entertainment industry. Despite the setbacks, she remains determined to clear her name and prove her innocence in the matter.
