Breaking: Dickie Scruggs Pleads Guilty
(Or: Now he’s officially the slimeball you always suspected him to be.)
This just in, from the AP:
Powerful plaintiffs attorney Richard ”Dickie” Scruggs and a co-defendant pleaded guilty Friday to conspiring to bribe a judge for a favorable ruling in a case involving legal fees from a post-Hurricane Katrina lawsuit.The surprise plea came Friday during a hearing in Oxford, Miss. on pretrial matters, court officials said. His trial was set to begin at the end of the month.
Scruggs, 61, and co-defendant Sidney Backstrom both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States. Scruggs’ law partner and son, Zach, also is charged in the case but did not enter a plea and is expected to go to trial.
Prosecutors said they would recommend five years in prison for Scruggs and 2 1/2 for Backstrom, penalties significantly lower than what they could have faced.
Two quick thoughts. First, has Scruggs employed bribery as a tactic in other matters — e.g., the tobacco cases that made him famous (and a movie star)? Second, could Mississippi give Louisiana a run for its money as most corrupt state in the union?
P.S. And maybe one could throw West Virginia into the running. See here (noting federal investigation of the West Virginia Supreme Court, in connection with the Massey Energy case).
P.P.S. No offense to any of the aforementioned states. Our home state of New Jersey is also up there — or down there, as the case may be.
Update: From the ABA Journal: “Dickie Scruggs: Now that he’s been accused of pleaded guilty to bribery, there are questions about how he achieved so much.”
Miss. Attorney Pleads in Bribery Case [AP]
Breaking News: Scruggs Pleads Guilty [WSJ Law Blog]
Long Live the King of Torts? [ABA Journal]
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Comments
don't even both to comment...
don't even both to comment...
FREE DICKIE!
Dicky Scruggs did more for plaintiffs and wronged people than ANY politician has ever done. Scruggs held big tobacco accountable for the harm they have caused to millions of americans. Scruggs is a hero -- who made one small mistake.
12:22: Lat did not even bother to comment...just reported news article.
Lat to new level of laziness -- or more likely he is busy drafting his next debauched description of possible Spitzer sex acts with Kristen!
Scruggs is the scum of the earth, may he and all sleazy plaintiffs lawyers like him get violated in prison forever.
First, this doesn't merit the Drudge-light. Take that thing down.
Second, between this slime and Spitzer's implosion, the defense bar may go into Schadenfreude-induced pleasure overload.
Something's wrong with the site. Lat's post only shows up on the comments page.
Cheap shot, Lat ... at least our governor doesn't sleep with prosties ... we leave that to the Senators ...
Why would DEFENSE bar celebrate the fall of their nemesis(es)? So they can sit on hands billing no time? You are a JOKE. They love Spitzer and Scruggs and the work they send to Wall Street Law firms!!!
12:25 - There is comment. Not saying it's great comment, but it's there.
12:26:
You define the term Hater as used in common parlance.
"First, has Scruggs employed bribery as a tactic in other matters -- e.g., the tobacco cases that made him famous (and a movie star)? " Scruggs was one of MANY attorneys in the tobacco litigation. The securitization of tobacco fees has led to very intrusive due diligence of the entire process. It was actually fascinating (see some attorneys without offices, or even licenses!). Scruggs opted out of securitization...as he could not wrap mind around concept of "present value" versus future value -- and thought he was being "ripped off". Man is brilliant lawyer, but numbers retard.
I just can't think of a man with a more fitting name. Not that "Dickie Scruggs" has any particular meaning, but it just sounds appropriate. Similar to a lawyer I faced once named Jim Sketchy.
What about Plaintiff's boutique firms? Like Susman Godfrey? Are they viewed as sleazy or are the 1-800-SUE-4MILL the scum? Help a student out.......
Too bad it took this long to take him down. I hope he goes to pound-him-in-the-a$$ prison and is put in general population.
Lots of good versus one motor skill error (who would have guessed a judge couldn't be bribed), on balance, a pretty good life. He was getting up there in years though so, taking him down makes sense from both sides' perspective. This will provide room for new plaintiff's bar blood. If coporate scumbags aren't going away, why would plaintiffs?
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ps In the movie "The Insider", there's a scene in a courtroom in which the *real* Dickie Scruggs is sitting behind the bar, while the character Dickie Scruggs is arguing before the court. Take a look at the pics of him in the articles and then check out the movie.
"Second, could [any political subdivision on the planet] give Louisiana a run for its money as most corrupt state in the union?"
The answer to this question is a resounding NO. Louisiana is the most ridiculous place on earth.
12:53 is a fact retard. Scruggs was gaming the bankruptcy system and then got in on the asbestos scam. He's only tried one tort case to verdict and lost. He may be a brilliant scammer but he's certainly not a brilliant lawyer.
1:11, Susman Godfrey is a great firm. I don't like plaintiffs' firms as a general rule, but you should not let what happens to Scruggs (or Bill Lerach, or the Milberg Weiss firm) influence your decision.