The boss of a San Francisco-based private equity firm is being sued by his ex-girlfriend, who claims he assaulted her in their Aspen home.
Jean Pierre Conte is being sued by his ex-girlfriend Hillary Thomas after claiming he ‘beat her naked body’ as she ‘begged for her life’ in January 2022.
Thomas filed a lawsuit against Conte in Colorado, also claiming that after she refused to continue their relationship, he launched a smear campaign against her.
The lawsuit asks for an unspecified amount of damages from Conte, head of Genstar Capital, a $49 billion private equity firm. Conte’s lawyers say the claims are nothing more than a money grab.
Thomas, an interior designer, claims Conte broke down a door at their shared home in Aspen to attack her and began hitting her, all of which he has denied.
Jean Pierre Conte is being sued by his ex-girlfriend Hillary Thomas (pictured together) after claiming he ‘beat her naked body’ as she ‘begged for her life’ in January 2022
Conte heads Genstar Capital, a $49 billion private equity firm. Hillary Thomas is an interior designer
Thomas claims in the documents that Conte admitted the abuse and blamed it on his drinking, in a note left to her, seen here
The two had been together for about a decade and integrated their two families, with Thomas raising Conte’s four children, according to the documents.
The court documents state: ‘The attack included Mr Conte smashing a door to attack Ms Thomas and hitting her naked body, holding her down as she begged for her life and slamming her against the wall, all of which resulted in significant physical damage.’
According to Thomas, she then ran to the only other person in the house at the time, Conte’s chef, who sheltered her while her sister arrived and took her away.
Once at her sister’s home, Thomas claims she suffered bruises on her body, which she said were “excruciating.”
Thomas claims in the documents that Conte admitted to the abuse and blamed his drinking in a note left to her, but after she refused to reconcile he went on a smear campaign.
In the groveling apology note, part of which is ineligible, Conte writes: “I’m so sorry. I love you and only want what is best for you.”
Following the alleged altercation, Thomas claims Conte repeatedly tried to silence her by interfering in her affairs, using financial coercion and defaming her to their shared friends.
According to the lawsuit, Thomas sought treatment for the alleged incident and her health insurance was terminated and she stopped paying health care costs.
Thomas said in her lawsuit that Conte had previously been verbally and physically abusive during their relationship.
According to her lawsuit, Thomas designed the interiors of some of Conte’s properties, including his homes in Napa Valley and San Francisco, and also helped him with real estate projects in Aspen and elsewhere.
Since the alleged assaults, she said she believes he removed her from those projects and also defamed her to other potential clients.
Thomas has also claimed that Conte actively spread what she describes as a “false narrative” about the events, claiming that he told friends and family that she had hired a lawyer to get money from him.
Jean Pierre Conte, seen here, is the head of Genstar Capital, a company valued at $49 billion
Hillary Thomas in a social media post promoting her interior design business
One of Thomas’ attorneys, Sigrid McCawley of Boies Schiller & Flexner, told the story Mercury news: ‘This case against Jean-Pierre Conte is about holding accountable an abusive man who believes his power and privilege places him above the law.’
A lawyer for Conte denied the assault charge and called the lawsuit a “cash grab” by Thomas.
Kerry Wright Garvis also told the outlet, “Mr. Conte never attacked or abused her.”
According to his attorney’s statement, Conte provided Thomas with “millions of dollars in cash, gifts and support for her children during their relationship.”
Conte claims he first received a letter from Thomas’ lawyer raising an allegation of abuse after he rejected her demands for more money following their divorce.
Conte is the current chairman and chief executive officer of Genstar Capital, an equity firm with investments in healthcare, software and industrial technology.
Jean Pierre graduated from Colgate University and Harvard Business School and went on to found and fund multiple philanthropic organizations.