Nicole Griffin Chance: Claims Woman Posed As Lawyer to Get Yoga Secrets

It's a yoga throwdown.

If, for instance -- just spitballing here -- someone says she's a lawyer and will represent you in your divorce in exchange for yoga lessons, maybe you might want to think twice.

According to a lawsuit in Jefferson County scheduled to begin today, Nicole Griffin Chance says the woman she gave that deal to was not only not a lawyer, but eventually used the knowledge she gained from reviewing Chance's financial records to open a nearby competing yoga business.

Where is the namaste, people?

The Southeast Texas Record, a legal-industry site, reports that the suit claims that Jessica Depew had been working as a yoga instructor for Chance when the deal was made.

Chance ended up not getting divorced, but what she gained in marriage she said she lost in business.

Chance decided to hire Jessica Depew and provided her with business and financial records, which she delivered to Michael Depew's office. At the time, Chance believed Michael Depew to be a lawyer, also.

According to the lawsuit, Chance discovered the Depews had lied to her about their professions. Michael Depew owned a computer business and had never worked as a lawyer or even attended law school. After Jessica Depew failed to pay state bar taxes and state taxes, the Texas bar suspended her on Sept. 9, 2009, from practicing law.

"Plaintiff learned only recently of Defendants' endeavor to open a competing yoga studio within 1,000 yards of her own studio," the suit states.

State Bar Records show Depew is currently in good standing and able to practice law in the state.

The Depews have filed requests for summary judgment that say Chance "has produced no evidence that the two committed any suable violations under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices," the record says, but the case will go ahead to trial.