In 'stunning fall from grace,' med-mal lawyer is convicted of trying to extort medical system for $25M
A medical-malpractice lawyer once regarded as a top plaintiff’s attorney in Maryland was convicted of attempted extortion last week. (Image from Shutterstock)
A medical-malpractice lawyer once regarded as a top plaintiff’s attorney in Maryland was convicted of attempted extortion Friday, a day after a federal judge found him in contempt and ordered his detention overnight for violating court orders while representing himself.
The conviction of 77-year-old lawyer Stephen L. Snyder for proposing a $25 million consulting deal with the University of Maryland Medical System is “a stunning fall from grace,” the Baltimore Sun reports. He was convicted on one count of attempted extortion and seven counts of violating the federal Travel Act for using interstate travel, emails, a text message and phone calls to further the alleged extortion scheme.
Prosecutors had contended that Snyder promised to refrain from disparaging the medical system’s transplant program in exchange for the consulting deal, which would prevent him from suing on behalf of medical-malpractice clients because of a conflict of interest. Snyder has said he offered to become a consultant to “help prevent any future tragedies.”
Snyder is known around Baltimore for his slogan, “Don’t just sue them, Snyder them.” At the beginning of the trial, Snyder told jurors that the government “really turned around and Snyder’d me. And they Snyder’d me in a dishonest way,” according to the Baltimore Sun.
Snyder contended that he was entrapped by the medical system, which strung him along while the FBI recorded several of his phone calls. He also said he had consulted with two ethics experts who said the consulting agreement would be legal and ethical.
The Baltimore Banner reports that Snyder has won multiple nine-figure settlements and jury verdicts over the course of his 50-year career.
“But by his own admission,” the publication reports, “Snyder is not at the top of his game. He has told the court that he is in poor health and struggling. He repeatedly ran afoul of the judge. Most of his direct and cross-examinations were peppered with sustained objections for not following court rules and [the judge’s] orders, including 100 in one day of testimony.”
U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman of the District of Maryland found Snyder in contempt after he delivered his closing argument Thursday, WBAL-TV reports.
According to WBAL-TV, Boardman had “warned Snyder not to argue with witnesses, not to testify through statements, not to bring up topics he was aware the judge barred from the case in October—but he kept doing it anyway, including four times during his 75-minute closing argument.”
Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 25. Snyder faces up to 20 years in prison for attempted extortion and each violation of the Travel Act.
Hat tip to Law360, which also covered the verdict.
