11th Circuit Court

Defendants Salvo Back at Feds in Ga. Court Corruption Case

A former Georgia judge and his wife are firing back in a federal prosecution over claimed court corruption in the Alapaha Judicial Circuit, alleging “outrageous government misconduct” in matters related to the ongoing case against them and at least nine other defendants. Specifically, lawyers for Berrien Sutton and his wife,…

Aug 29, 2008 8:16 PM CDT

DOJ Seeks to Slash Ex-Lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s Prison Sentences

Citing his cooperation with prosecutors in cases that are still being developed, the U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly seeking to reduce by approximately one-half the federal prison time to which convicted former lobbyist Jack Abramoff is likely to be sentenced. Abramoff, who has been convicted of fraud and conspiracy,…

Aug 27, 2008 11:47 PM CDT

Judge Says King & Spalding’s Discovery Abuse Claims ‘Are Just Not True’

A federal judge in Atlanta has found that discovery abuse claims made by King & Spalding “are just not true” and ordered the firm or its client to pay 75 percent of its opponent’s fees to litigate the dispute. The penalty comes to about $87,000, according to the Fulton County…

Aug 19, 2008 12:54 PM CDT

Defendant Lawyer in Fla. Case Can’t Judge New Zealand Cat Show

A Florida lawyer federally charged in an $83 million mortgage loan scheme, although freed on signature bond, can’t travel to New Zealand to judge a cat show. Attorney John Yanchek of Sarasota is “a recognized international feline judge,” as well as a breeder of Oriental Shorthairs and Somalis, according to…

Aug 14, 2008 7:52 PM CDT

‘Dorm Dudes’ May Be Right in Miami’s Gay Porn Fight

The city of Miami is fighting an uphill battle in its effort to close down a house in which “dorm dudes” are paid by a gay porn website to live there and have sex on schedule. Although the city contends that the so-called porn dorm is in violation of residential…

Aug 14, 2008 5:56 PM CDT

Alleged Fla. Lobster Poacher Freed on $1M Bond

A commercial fisherman arrested in what is believed to be the largest lobster-poaching case ever pursued in the Florida Keys has been freed after posting $1 million bail—far more than the $150,000 that the prosecution had sought. David Dreifort, 41, was arrested Wednesday—the first day of lobster season—after federal law…

Aug 8, 2008 7:14 PM CDT

Law Requiring Students to Get Parental Consent to Opt Out of Pledge Is Upheld

A federal appeals court has upheld a Florida law that required students to get their parents’ permission before being excused from the Pledge of Allegiance. A federal judge had said the law “robs the student of the right to make an independent decision,” but the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of…

Jul 24, 2008 6:36 PM CDT

1000s of Criminals Worked in Florida Mortgage Industry

To work as a mortgage broker in Florida, an individual has to be licensed. But no licensing requirement applies to mortgage originators. As a result, tens of thousands of individuals helping Florida homeowners get mortgages haven’t been licensed–among them, 5,306 loan originators with criminal histories, reports the Miami Herald in…

Jul 21, 2008 6:28 PM CDT

2 Ex-Judges, 1 Attorney Indicted in Georgia Corruption Case

Two former state-court judges–one of them, until recently, a chief judge–as well as an attorney and a court administrator have been indicted in Georgia, in a federal case over state judicial corruption. The indictments today were by a federal grand jury that has been probing claimed corruption in the Alapaha…

Jul 18, 2008 6:13 PM CDT

Jailed Boy Band Promoter is Told to Repay $300 Million

The creator of the Back Street Boys and ‘N Sync has been ordered to pay $300 million in restitution in a Ponzi scheme in which he reportedly netted more than that amount from investments by individuals and bank loans. However, most of the money cannot now be found, and it…

Jul 16, 2008 10:51 PM CDT

Federal Case Over Fla. Lawyer’s ‘Handshake’ is Dropped

A federal case has been dropped concerning a Florida attorney who spent a night in jail earlier this year for allegedly assaulting a federal prosecutor with an overly aggressive “handshake.” According to witnesses, Kathy Brewer Rentas of Becker & Poliakoff in Hollywood, jerked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keene’s arm downward,…

Jul 11, 2008 8:48 PM CDT

Appeals Court Judge Questions Fee Boost for Exceptional Work

A federal appeals court judge has questioned fee enhancements for exceptional legal work in what the blog How Appealing calls “a must-read decision” for many in the class-action bar. Although Judge Edward Carnes of the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Court of Appeals questioned the fee award, he nonetheless said precedent required…

Jul 9, 2008 1:35 PM CDT

IRS Isn’t Just Pursuing UBS Clients; Auditors to Look at Other Foreign Banks

In the wake of a precedent-setting federal court ruling earlier this week that the IRS can seek the names of Americans holding secret accounts from Swiss-based UBS AG, the agency is stepping up enforcement efforts at other foreign banks. It is asking auditors at major accounting firms to help identify…

Jul 3, 2008 2:19 PM CDT

US Court Tells Swiss Bank UBS to Reveal Customer Names

In a reportedly unprecedented court order, a federal judge in Miami has ordered Swiss-based UBS AG to reveal the names of U.S. residents who have been using secret accounts to avoid paying American income tax. “Federal prosecutors have accused UBS of helping American clients hide $20 billion overseas in secret…

Jul 1, 2008 11:15 PM CDT

DOJ Seeks Rare Federal Court Ruling Forcing UBS to Name Names

Updated: The Department of Justice is trying to get an unprecedented federal court order requiring a Switzerland bank to turn over the names of wealthy U.S. residents who maintained secret accounts there to evade income tax here. If the DOJ’s filing against Swiss-based UBS AG in federal court in Miami…

Jul 1, 2008 5:35 PM CDT