A complete timeline of the messy legal drama that led to bridal designer Hayley Paige's sudden exit from JLM Couture

Samantha Grindell,Lauren Edmonds,Rachel HosieJan 6, 2021, 01:25 IST

JLM's complaint alleges that Gutman used the @misshayleypaige Instagram account like an influencer.Instagram/allthatglittersonthegram

Hayley Paige Gutman announced her resignation from her parent company, JLM Couture, on December 21, 2020.
Gutman resigned after JLM sued Gutman over her use of the official @misshayleypaige social-media accounts, and was granted a temporary restraining order against her earlier in December.
The company and wedding-dress designer have disagreed over the use of social-media accounts affiliated with Hayley Paige brands since 2019.
JLM claims the @misshayleypaige accounts were created to promote the designer's brands, while Gutman says the Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok accounts are personal accounts.

Hayley Paige Gutman and fashion company JLM Couture are in a tumultous legal battle over social-media accounts connected to the wedding-dress designer's brands.

After months of issues, JLM - which owns Hayley Paige brands - sued Gutman over her personal use of company social-media accounts, and was granted a temporary restraining order against her.

In response, Gutman announced her resignation from the company in an Instagram video, claiming that JLM locked her out of the official Hayley Paige social-media accounts and barred her from using her own name in a business context.

Insider created a timeline to explain how the problems between Gutman and JLM led to the lawsuit and her resignation, as well as what's happened in the days since she parted ways with the company.

In July 2011, wedding-dress designer Hayley Paige Gutman signed an employment agreement with fashion company JLM Couture.

Hayley Paige Gutman was in business with JLM Couture from 2011 to 2020. Slaven Vlasic / Stringer / Getty Images

On April 6, 2012, the @misshayleypaige Instagram account was launched.

A screenshot of the official Hayley Paige Instagram account. Hayley Paige/JLM Couture/Instagram

By November 2019, the @misshayleypaige Instagram account reached 1.1 million followers.

Gutman on an episode of "Say Yes To The Dress." "Say Yes To The Dress"/TLC

In the same month, Gutman created a TikTok account with the @misshayleypaige handle, according to a complaint filed by JLM's attorneys.

A screenshot of the official Hayley Paige TikTok account. Hayley Paige Gutman/JLM Couture/TikTok

Some time after, JLM Couture CEO Joe Murphy advised Gutman to post company-approved social-media posts as they began discussing a new contract, according to the complaint.

Gutman and JLM disagreed over the use of social-media accounts affiliated with her bridal brands. Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images

Some time after, JLM Couture CEO Joe Murphy advised Gutman to post company-approved social-media posts as they began discussing a new contract, according to the complaint.

By the end of 2019, Gutman removed references and links to JLM from the @misshayleypaige Instagram account's bio, the complaint said.

JLM's complaint alleges that Gutman used the @misshayleypaige Instagram account like an influencer. Instagram/allthatglittersonthegram

In June 2020, Gutman told JLM she believed she owned the @misshayleypaige Instagram account, according to the complaint.

Gutman believes she owns the account. Dia Dipasupil / Staff / Getty Images

JLM's complaint said Gutman began posting ads for other companies and products on the @misshayleypaige Instagram account in July 2020.

A post on the Hayley Paige Instagram account promotes goods from another company. Hayley Paige Gutman/JLM Couture/Instagram

On October 25, 2020, Gutman restored the links to JLM in the @misshayleypaige Instagram bio after a discussion with Murphy, according to the company's complaint.

The complaint says Gutman restored links to JLM on Hayley Paige-branded accounts after a meeting. Dia Dipasupil / Staff / Getty Images

JLM's complaint said that Murphy told Gutman the accounts belong to the company in a phone call on November 3, 2020.

Joe Murphy, CEO of JLM Couture, in 2005. Duffy-Marie Arnoult / Stringer / Getty Images

On the same day, Gutman removed the links from the @misshayleypaige bio again and deleted "bridal related posts" from the account, the complaint said.

Gutman at a wedding industry event in 2017. Cindy Ord / Stringer / Getty Images

On November 23, 2020, Gutman again refused to post JLM content to @misshayleypaige and wouldn't give the company access to the Pinterest and TikTok accounts with the same handles, according to the complaint.

Gutman wouldn't hand over the accounts to JLM, according to their complaint. Anna Webber / Stringer / Getty Images

On November 23, 2020, Gutman again refused to post JLM content to @misshayleypaige and wouldn't give the company access to the Pinterest and TikTok accounts with the same handles, according to the complaint.

On December 15, 2020, JLM sued Gutman over her use of the @misshayleypaige Instagram account.

JLM sued Gutman over her use of social media affiliated with her brands. "Say Yes To The Dress"/TLC

Days later, on December 21, 2020, Gutman released a video announcing her resignation from JLM on her @allthatglittersonthegram Instagram account.

Gutman's December 21 Instagram video went viral. Hayley Paige Gutman/Instagram

The next day, JLM challenged Gutman's claims in a press statement.

JLM has denied Gutman's claims since her video went viral. Hayley Paige Gutman/Instagram

On December 23, 2020, JLM posted a statement on Instagram to publicly defend the company against Gutman's claims.

JLM posted a public statement to Instagram. Cindy Ord / Stringer / Getty Images

On December 24, 2020, Gutman took to Instagram to thank her fans for their support.

Gutman thanked her fans for their support. Dia Dipasupil / Staff / Getty Images

On December 27, 2020, a JLM representative alleged that Gutman violated the temporary restraining order a court had granted against her.

Gutman has denied JLM's claim that she violated the temporary restraining order. Jamie McCarthy / Staff / Getty Images

On December 28, 2020, JLM provided Insider with an email that appeared to refute Gutman's claim that she didn't have a lawyer look over her first contract with the company.

Insider reviewed an email exchange between JLM and Gutman. Hayley Paige Gutman/Instagram

On December 28, 2020, JLM provided Insider with an email that appeared to refute Gutman's claim that she didn't have a lawyer look over her first contract with the company.

Gutman took to Instagram on December 31, 2020, to say she wanted to "gracefully end" her time with JLM, but that the company refused to negotiate. JLM said Gutman's assertion was "blatantly untrue."

Gutman shared a second update with her Instagram followers. Hayley Paige Gutman/Instagram

Gutman took to Instagram on December 31, 2020, to say she wanted to "gracefully end" her time with JLM, but that the company refused to negotiate. JLM said Gutman's assertion was "blatantly untrue."

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A complete timeline of the messy legal drama that led to bridal designer Hayley Paige's sudden exit from JLM Couture

In July 2011, wedding-dress designer Hayley Paige Gutman signed an employment agreement with fashion company JLM Couture.

On April 6, 2012, the @misshayleypaige Instagram account was launched.

By November 2019, the @misshayleypaige Instagram account reached 1.1 million followers.

In the same month, Gutman created a TikTok account with the @misshayleypaige handle, according to a complaint filed by JLM's attorneys.

Some time after, JLM Couture CEO Joe Murphy advised Gutman to post company-approved social-media posts as they began discussing a new contract, according to the complaint.

By the end of 2019, Gutman removed references and links to JLM from the @misshayleypaige Instagram account's bio, the complaint said.

In June 2020, Gutman told JLM she believed she owned the @misshayleypaige Instagram account, according to the complaint.

JLM's complaint said Gutman began posting ads for other companies and products on the @misshayleypaige Instagram account in July 2020.

On October 25, 2020, Gutman restored the links to JLM in the @misshayleypaige Instagram bio after a discussion with Murphy, according to the company's complaint.

JLM's complaint said that Murphy told Gutman the accounts belong to the company in a phone call on November 3, 2020.

On the same day, Gutman removed the links from the @misshayleypaige bio again and deleted "bridal related posts" from the account, the complaint said.

On November 23, 2020, Gutman again refused to post JLM content to @misshayleypaige and wouldn't give the company access to the Pinterest and TikTok accounts with the same handles, according to the complaint.

On December 15, 2020, JLM sued Gutman over her use of the @misshayleypaige Instagram account.

Days later, on December 21, 2020, Gutman released a video announcing her resignation from JLM on her @allthatglittersonthegram Instagram account.

The next day, JLM challenged Gutman's claims in a press statement.

On December 23, 2020, JLM posted a statement on Instagram to publicly defend the company against Gutman's claims.

On December 24, 2020, Gutman took to Instagram to thank her fans for their support.

On December 27, 2020, a JLM representative alleged that Gutman violated the temporary restraining order a court had granted against her.

On December 28, 2020, JLM provided Insider with an email that appeared to refute Gutman's claim that she didn't have a lawyer look over her first contract with the company.

Gutman took to Instagram on December 31, 2020, to say she wanted to "gracefully end" her time with JLM, but that the company refused to negotiate. JLM said Gutman's assertion was "blatantly untrue."