Criminal Charges Levied Against Big Tort Law Firm

The New York Sun ^ | May 19, 2006 | JOSH GERSTEIN - Staff Reporter of the Sun

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

LOS ANGELES - The future of one of the country's leading class-action law firms, Milberg Weiss, is in grave doubt after a federal grand jury returned a criminal indictment yesterday accusing the firm of engaging in a secret, 25-year-long conspiracy to kick back attorneys fees to investors who served as named plaintiffs in more than 150 lawsuits brought against publicly-traded American companies.

[The Westerner]

What goes around, comes around.

[FormerACLUmember]

Most lawyers are simply your run of the mill career criminals, but dressed in $3000 silk suits.

[Red Badger]

How can you indict a firm? People commit crimes, not "firms".........

[george wythe]

It's hard to take sides when sharks are attacking each other.

[prairiebreeze]

The justice system certain does need some bolstering to it's integrity. A good next step would be a peer or judicial review with punative powers who could examine rogue prosecutors who persecute for political gain.

Also, I find it hard to believe that this went unnoticed by the legal system for 25 years. I don't find it hard to believe most of them kept mum about it though.

ping

[sono]

Barbara Boxer could suffer some collateral damage.

[Shery]

I PRAY they get canned!

[talleyman]

Doesn't surprise me - the ACLU's been running an extortion racket for years.

[Rutles4Ever]

Also, I find it hard to believe that this went unnoticed by the legal system for 25 years.

Professional courtesy

[Red Badger]

She gonna have some splainin' to do..........

[nightdriver]

It it's true, I hope some big-shot lawyers get their hides nailed to the wall.

The all too pervasive attitude among lawyers is that they can get away with anything.

[Red Badger]

CULTURE OF CORRUPTION Ping!.......

[Red Badger]

...went unnoticed by the legal system for 25 years.

Justis is blind, but she's no fool........

[socialismisinsidious]

"Because of the secret kickback arrangement, Milberg Weiss had a stable of individuals ready and willing to serve as paid plaintiffs," she said. The prosecutor said the scheme gave the firm an unfair advantage over its competitors, at least until 1995, when a change in the law reduced the importance of being among the first to file a specific case."

I hate trial lawyers. So the problem isn't that these bottom suckers ruin peoples' lives or misinterpret, embellish and steal via the legal system...the problem is that the other bottom suckers couldn't get a chance to do the same.....cry me a freaking river.

[gunnedah]

This is the way the legal system and lawyers in general are stealing all of Americas assets. Eventually lawyers will end up with most of the wealth in this country because they run and control the judicial in America from beginning to end and like any entity that polices itself there are not any controls over the system.

[Daaave]

The Hill
Friday May 19, 2006

Donations to Sen. Edwards questioned
By Sam Dealey

"Sen. John Edwards’ presidential campaign finance documents show a pattern of giving by low-level employees at law firms, a number of whom appear to have limited financial resources and no prior record of political donations."

"Records submitted to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) show these individuals have often given $2,000 to the North Carolina Democrat, the maximum permitted by law."

"In many instances, all the checks from a given firm arrived on the same day — from partners, attorneys, and other support staff."

"Stacy and Robert Kern of Los Angeles, for example, are among those who contributed to Edwards’ candidacy. Stacy Kern is listed as an administrator at the law firm of Howarth & Smith. The firm participated in the class-action suits against the tobacco industry."

hillnews.com/

[sono]

Not so sure ...

"It's a court of law, not a court of justice"
Oliver Wendell Holmes

[snowrip]

Milberg Weiss and its attorneys have been among the most generous donors to the Democratic Party.

And the house of cards comes a'tumblin' down...

Politically motivated, my a$$. The US attorney is from one of the most liberal states in the country, and one of the most liberal cities on earth. The Milberg Weiss guys are just pissed that the tables have been turned on them... I wonder which democrat party hack will be the first to try and pull some strings to save them. This is just the opening chapter in a story which runs deep.

[Dante3]

Interesting.