An attorney wants a judge to force the public auction of 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin.

Lexington attorney Angela Ford asked a state judge Tuesday to force the sale to settle a $42 million civil judgment against attorneys Shirley Cunningham Jr. and William Gallion. They own a minority stake in the horse.

Ford represents more than 400 people suing Gallion and Cunningham over their handling of a settlement involving the diet drug fen-phen.

A spokesman for Jess Jackson, who owns an 80 percent stake in Curlin, says Ford’s request is baseless. Jackson isn’t involved in the fen-phen case.

Gallion and Cunningham are awaiting a second trial on criminal charges that they conspired to illegally take $65 million from clients.