Big-Time Attorney Dickie Scruggs Gets Five Years In Prison

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/bigtime_attorney_dickie_scrugg.php

Big-Time Attorney Dickie Scruggs Gets Five Years In Prison
By Andrew Tilghman - June 27, 2008, 1:06PM

From the AP

Richard ''Dickie'' Scruggs, the attorney who built his career by taking on tobacco, asbestos and insurance companies, was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for conspiring to bribe a judge.

U.S. District Judge Neal Biggers Jr. called Scruggs' conduct ''reprehensible'' and fined him $250,000. The judge handed down the full sentence requested by prosecutors despite arguments from the defense for half that time in prison.

Scruggs appeared to nearly faint as the federal judge scolded him for his conduct. Some people in the courtroom gasped as Scruggs started to sway side to side and his attorney grabbed his arm to steady him. He had to be seated before the sentence was read.

''I could not be more ashamed where I am today, mixed up in a judicial bribery scheme,'' Scruggs told the judge.

Big insurance companies will probably never have to pay up now.

before he got caught? We'll never know, but I don't feel sorry for him at all. He knew the law and he broke it.

Was really trying to help people down here. If you have been following the other end of this story, the fight against the insurance companies. You may better understand what I meant.:)

but he still tried to bribe a judge. He's guilty.

The insurance companies were pushing Scruggs from every direction because he was succeeding against them. They were attacking him outside of court, in the press, trying to get him taken off the case. So he was under undue pressure from a relentless and ruthless entity that he could not hope to match. In all that, there was a suit over attorney's fees in the Katrina litigation, and that's where Scruggs tried to bribe the judge, and the judge went straight to the FBI.

If you want to see a conspiracy, try this. A co-conspirator who first proposed the bribe to the judge in early discussions claimed at first that the judge had brought up the bribe, and the amount, and implied he would rule against Scruggs if he didn't have some reason to rule for him. Of course, that's exactly what you'd expect him to say if he were guilty. He then proposed the deal to Scruggs, who reluctantly agreed to it, and was trapped.

Worse case is that Scruggs initiated a bribe and was caught. Best case is that Scruggs is a good person who was set up and agreed to pay a bribe to take a shortcut under intense pressure from many sides. Either way, he's guilty, he should have known better, and he let a lot of people down.

Here's a comment Scruggs made in court today: "I could not be more ashamed to be where I am today. I realized I was getting mixed up in it and I will go to my grave wondering why. I have disappointed everyone in my life - my wife, family and friends here to support me today. I deeply regret my conduct. It is a scar and a stain on my soul."

:shrug:

I read the Sunherald web page rather frequently. Grew up there, my parents live there, and lately, a friend's father has been missing there.

What am I supposed to be looking for?

friend's missing father is found soon. Just thought you might like to read what has been written down here. But, since you are from down here, you already know the story. :)

I'll be there over July 4th, actually. Grew up in Lyman and Saucier, but spend a lot of time in Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, and the Kiln. Some in Biloxi.

No reason for telling you that except I'm homesick. :rofl:

:shrug:

have been protecting us. Now with the better improved FISA bill there is going to be no end to the court cases that will be coming to the fore-front.

This all broke just after Lott resigned. Scruggs is Lott's brother-in-law, and Lott was mentioned in some of the accusations made against Scruggs. He doesn't seem to have been involved, but his name was used as an example of influence Scruggs could wield. But when Lott resigned, he didn't know how far his name would be connected.

Scruggs was the head of the lawsuit against insurance companies for Katrina victims in Mississippi, and his indictment forced him off that case. Scruggs is a lawyer much like John Edwards in some ways, taking on civil cases against corporations for the little guy, and getting very, very rich doing so. Unlike Edwards, he got carried away and bribed a judge, and now he's screwed.

Sad case of someone who seemed to be a hero, but got caught up in too much.

"first you kill all the lawyers!!"

Q: What do you call 100 lawyers on the bottom of Lake Michigan??

A: A good start

I do not have the highest opinion of tort lawyers.:hide:

Or the next time you or your loved one is maimed by a shoddy defective product,

Or the next time you or your loved one is poisoned by a drug rushed to market with a wink, wink from the FDA and shit-canned test results,

CALL YOUR ACCOUNTANT.

Tort lawyers are the REASON we have safe products.

Bake, Esq.

:thumbsup:

:crazy:

Odd names.

Then again, Joby really is my name, so my sense of normal isn't everyone's. :rofl: