Megattorney Dickie Scruggs Pleads Guilty to Attempted Bribery of a Judge
“How could one of America’s greatest bluegrass banjo pickers stoop so low?”, I wondered, scanning the headlines in the Wall Street Journal. Then I realized that no, See-Dub, this isn’t about the bluegrass legend, but rather about one of America’s most prominent trial lawyers, Richard Scruggs, being just a little too eager to bring on that sweet redistributive justice–especially when it came to re-distributing the legal fees into his own pocket:
Mr. Scruggs revolutionized the practice of mass-tort litigation, assembling throngs of plaintiffs to take on deep-pocketed targets. In the largest score, a Scruggs team wrested $206 billion from cigarette makers in 1998 on behalf of 46 states, a settlement from which Mr. Scruggs took home hundreds of millions of dollars.
Last spring, according to government filings, Mr. Balducci, the former Scruggs associate, approached Judge Lackey and requested that he enter a ruling in the legal-fees case in Mr. Scruggs’s favor. In exchange, Mr. Balducci dangled the prospect of a job. Judge Lackey alerted government officials, who arranged a sting operation.
The guilty plea comes as something of a surprise. He’s likely going to have to surrender his law license and have to scratch out a penurious existence on the scant hundreds of millions he’s squirreled away through asbestos litigation.
You know, though we may have our differences around here with the WSJ on immigration issues, their coverage of Scruggs’ misstep has been thorough and their big-business schadenfreude is well placed. I’m not one of these guys who thinks all lawyers are evil, but Scruggs and his anti-business hyenas sure give the rest of the industry a bad name.
P.S. Trivia, which probably isn’t that trivial, and which Michelle has noted before: Dickie Scruggs is Trent Lott’s brother-in-law.
P.P.S: If I read this campaign contribution data correctly, John McCain has given back the $2300 donation he received from Scruggs. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee isn’t in such a rush with that $28,500.
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I think Mr. Scruggs is trying to save his son from prosecution or conviction. It was a shock to hear today that he pled guilty. The government had the goods on him and some of his comrades had turned on him.
He may also be trying to save his brother in law some uncomfortable testimony.
Democrats doing what they do. Taking apart America brick by brick.
(Fortune) — In just over a month, corporate America has seen the downfall of three of its most vilified legal opponents.
Bill Lerach, the former securities class action king, was sentenced to two years in prison on February 12; Eliot Spitzer, the one-time scourge of Wall Street, announced his resignation as New York’s governor on March 12; and Richard Scruggs, the master of giant tobacco and asbestos cases, pleaded guilty today to one federal count of “conspiracy to corruptly influence a state circuit court judge.” He faces up to five years in federal prison.
Although Spitzer’s tumble was the most dramatic, it’s Scruggs and Lerach whose descents loom largest for corporate general counsel these days. After all, Spitzer had graduated from his role as prosecutor (to be replaced by Andrew Cuomo, who seems to be emulating the aggressive approach of his predecessor).
And, equally important, Scruggs and Lerach were brought down for transgressions directly related to how they handled one or more cases.
The result is a satisfying “I told you so” in corporate boardrooms.
He’s one of those lawyers who piles in “victims” on a class action suit. The suit is settled, victims get little, and he walks away with millions. I remember, years ago, a class action suit against Estee Lauder. When it was settled, my wife got a $5 discount coupon and the law firm got $23 million. You see these legal “con artists” on tv now, trying to get people to call over all sorts of stuff. Who pays in the end? Not the lawyers, not the companies sued…the consumer, you and me. I have nothing but disgust for them. In the medical field, people, nowadays, don’t see a person in a white coat and stethescope; they see dollar signs. A large part of my day is spent doing paperwork, all in an attempt to cover myself, in case I’m sued at some later date, by a “Scruggs”. 11 years ago, a patient’s family tried to sue me. When they checked all the medical records, they dropped it. I had done all I could to help; there wasn’t any blame on me. I had made copious notes at the time. The law firm had to find another “victim” to gather its millions.
There goes his ad on the back of the phone book..
He’s definitely not a banjo player, but he was trying to pull some strings. Maybe they’ll send him up the river where he can play Jailhouse Rock.
Dueling Banjo’s would be more appropriate….
That could be true. Maybe he can get deliverance to an area where that can happen.
I’m just glad to see another slimy lawyer finally get what he deserves. Too bad they won’t fine him the millions he has acquired through is unethical legal practices. This country really is in need of Tort reform to put an end to the bottom feeding ambulance chasers making millions like Scruggs and Silk Pony.
Perfect example of why Bush is right on the FISA bill, the communications companys need exemption.
It’s the 99% of lawyers that give the other 1% a bad name…
All this banjo talk reminds me of Deliverance.
Flatt was better than Scrugs. Just sayin’.
Not all lawyers are evil, but some are. Most lawyers are rather unctuous. Some are soulless. Some are as bad as the criminals they represent. I think many are not very happy people. The ones serving as judges can be real big jerks. There are some decent people who ARE happy to be lawyers. The current democratic presidential candidates are excellent example of how being an attorney can metastasize into a blow-hard politician.
While Scruggs was under federal investigation and while the investigation was heaviy publicized, the Clinton campaign arranged for Scruggs to hold a fund raiser for Hillary. Scruggs may even have been under federal indictment at the time he arranged the fundraiser (not sure about that). I wonder if any member of the MSM will ask the question to Hillary Clinton: “Why would your campaign arrange for a fundraiser to be given by somebody under federal criminal investigation?” Scruggs has given boatloads of money to various Clinton campaigns over the years. I wonder if anybody in the MSM will do their homework and write an article about just how much money Scruggs has given to various Clinton campaigns over the years.
Young people do not become lawyers to “help people” as with doctors, teachers, even the military. They do so to get rich. That is the biggest flaw in our judicial system, just as in the representative branch. I do not think our founding fathers ever imagined there would be “professional” politicians. Most have never held a job other than politician and we wonder why they can not understand our needs.
And that is our fault for hiring foxes to guard our hen-houses.
Q. Why does New Jersey have so many chemical plants and Washington DC have so many lawyers?
A. New Jersey had 1st choice.
Reason #392,837,910,209 to keep immunity in FISA.
Nah. Scruggs was always right in tune, but Lester was always Flatt.
He’s still a piker compared to the money they’ve extracted from the Chinese, and nobody wants to write about that either.
Dickie Scruggs is a disease…to the legal profession.
If I recall, lawyers were banned in Virginia, in 1645, and 1658. The “law” business was a mess. Sounds familiar. They were allowed back in 1680, with the same problems again. Maybe we need a little more government regulation on the state level to keep things from continuing way out of control.
Oh God no ; not Scruggs! Now who’ll play Foggy Mountain Breakdown.
I was going to celebrate my mutual love of all things bluegrass, but looks like I’m not alone.
Thank you Judge Lackey.
Twoninerkilo, I think Earl Scruggs is still alive, and his son, Randy, still plays. LOL. Flatts is gone though…died in the 70s. Enjoy the music.
Thieves and rascals capture your attention while the mayhem, pillage & plunder continues. Like snake charmers.
We keep voting the same scoundrels to Congress & the Senate at every turn. Activist Judges legislate from the bench.
Way to go!
No doubt this reflects my own prejudices, but I just can’t imagine any good ever coming from someone named “Dickie Scruggs.” Did he ever consider suing his parents? It’s a B-movie name that practically screams “creep.”
Anyway, enjoy your time, Dickie. I’m sure you will make lots of new friends.
Sorry, MM, no new-news here; the MSM made sure we all knew of that connection quite some time ago.
I was just wondering. It may be regretful if this guy goes to prison. Even though he surrendered his law license, he’ll have tons of potentional clients in jail. 2 months after being incarcerated, the courts could be overwhelmed with those silly lawsuits. I guess he’ll charge the inmates their dessert or candy bars.
The whole Judicial System in this country has become so corrupt that I fear it is beyond redemption.
A Law Degree is nothing more than a license to steel legally.
Bingo! - nice one, longbow.
His troubles have just begun. I mean, who wants to go to prison with a nickname like, “Dickie?”