Posted on 11/28/2007 7:23:30 PM PST by Leisler
A grand jury in North Mississippi has indicted Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, his son, Zach Scruggs, Scruggs Law Firm attorney Sidney A. Backstrom, attorney Timothy Balducci and former State Auditor Steve Patterson for conspiring to bribe a state court judge in North Mississippi over a case that involved funds from a settlement with State Farm insurance companies. The indictment, filed late Thursday, said Scruggs attempted to influence Lackey in the case by offering him $40,000 for an order that would resolve the lawsuit Jones vs. Scruggs in favor of Dickie Scruggs and the Scruggs Law Firm.
Dickie Scruggs also is accused of attempting to conceal his and the other attorneys' involvement in the alleged bribery attempt.
The Scruggeses were not in their law office Thursday afternoon and the law firm's attorney, Joey Langston, did not return telephone calls to comment.
If he were in a position to make such an offer. Be interesting to hear more details. I do note that the judge has not been indicted.
"The indictment accuses Richard "Dickie" Scruggs of conspiring to pay the judge $40,000 to rule in his favor in a lawsuit brought by other attorneys who sought fees for work on Katrina insurance litigation.
Circuit Court Judge Henry Lackey reported the "bribery overture" to federal authorities and agreed to assist investigators in an "undercover capacity," according to the indictment."
Apparently the judge blew the whistle.
I wonder if this figured into Lott’s resignation?
Arden supporters of Ole Miss. Well, that says it all.
No the problem is that North Mississippi is just south of Memphis. The crime all runs together.
I’ve been wondering that, too.
I guess we’ll find out soon.
Was Scruggs the basis for a Grisham character in the Rainmaker,the Runaway Jury or The Firm? He seems to fit them all.
I’ve been inside a law firm in Jackson that fit the description of The Firm rather closely. But I have a suspicion there are a lot of firms like The Firm.
I’m not sure — a lot of us here in Mississippi always thought the Tort King was an amalgamation of Paul Minor, Scruggs, and several other notorious trial lawyers in south Mississippi.
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