Sonya Dakar Follows Her Clinic Into Bankruptcy

Only one day after her daughter put Sonya Dakar’s Hollywood skincare clinic into bankruptcy, the esthetician to the stars filed for Chapter 11 protection herself.

Although she’s filed for bankruptcy, the filing shows just how successful her spa and skincare line have been: Sonya Dakar listed between $10 million and $50 million in assets, according to documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles. She has between $1 million and $10 million in liabilities, with much of her debt arising from legal fees. Much of that debt likely stems from the multiple lawsuits members of the Dakar family have brought against each other since 2008.

“While my business continues to thrive, I have been advised to restructure my assets and file Chapter 11 by my legal counsel,” Sonya Dakar said in statement provided by her daughter Michal. Dakar said her clinic will remain open for business and her NutraSphere Sonya Dakar product line won’t be affected by the filing.

In her statement, Sonya said that the trademarks “Sonya Dakar” and “The Problem Skin Specialist,” which are the subject of a dispute between Sonya and now-estranged husband Israel, belong to her. “I have always been and continue to be the owner of my name and trademark.”

She also said that Mindys Cosmetics was started by the whole family, including all four of the couple’s children, while Mindys Cosmetics’ website states it was created and founded by Israel and their son, Natan.

According to a statement from a public-relations firm hired by Israel and Natan, the two filed an injunction in May 2010 preventing Sonya from using or developing products under the Sonya Dakar name. They say that any Sonya Dakar-brand products sold by a company other than Mindys cosmetics are impostors.

Both continue to use both trademarks.

Sonya Dakar’s bankruptcy filing comes only months after she filed a motion to dismiss her husband’s Chapter 11 case. She argued that their issues should be sorted out in divorce court. His bankruptcy filing had halted their divorce case, and per bankruptcy rules, her filing will do the same.

“This bankruptcy case is all about a family dispute which is already occupying the time and energy of four other courts, federal and state. There is no reason to add a fifth. In a blatant, outrageous case of forum shopping, [Israel Dakar] asks the bankruptcy court to weigh in on issues which are being decided in these other forums,” said a motion filed in January 2012 by Sonya Dakar asking the court to dismiss Israel’s case.