Mississippi

Scruggs’ Lawyers Accuse Judge of Targeting Their Client in Bribe Case

Lawyers for Richard “Dickie” Scruggs are seeking to throw out taped conversations about an alleged attempt to bribe a state judge, arguing that one exchange suggests the judge wanted to set up his client. Scruggs’ lawyers are seeking more information about the extent to which Judge Henry Lackey of Mississippi…

Jan 17, 2008 3:39 PM CST

More Details Emerge in Scruggs Bribery Case, Former Counsel Pleads

More details were revealed in court today concerning an alleged attempt by famed Mississippi personal injury attorney Richard Scruggs and four others to bribe a judge last year for a favorable ruling in a $26.5 million case involving Hurricane Katrina legal fees. Meanwhile, in a separate case in which Scruggs…

Jan 14, 2008 7:15 PM CST

Two of Scruggs’ Lawyers Withdraw Following FBI Search of Their Law Firm

Two lawyers from a law firm searched by federal agents last month have resigned from representation of high-profile plaintiffs lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs, who has been charged with conspiring to bribe a judge. Joey Langston and Billy Quin of the Langston Law Firm in Booneville, Miss., received permission to withdraw…

Jan 9, 2008 3:54 PM CST

$1.2M Paid in R.I. Lead Paint Suit

More than two years after DuPont agreed to pay $12 million and clean up 600 homes in order to settle a lead paint lawsuit brought by the state of Rhode Island, the first of the money is being distributed. Several children’s health and educational projects will split $1.2 million of…

Dec 18, 2007 11:26 PM CST

FBI Agents Search Offices of Lawyer for Richard ‘Dickie’ Scruggs

FBI agents this morning searched the office of a lawyer for indicted personal injury lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs, who is accused in a federal indictment of conspiring to bribe a judge. Agents executed a search warrant for the office of lawyer Joey Langston of Booneville, Miss., according to the Clarion-Ledger.…

Dec 10, 2007 7:41 PM CST

Lawyer Pleads Guilty and Cooperates in Scruggs Case

Lawyer Timothy Balducci has changed his initial not guilty plea and agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy in a judicial bribery case involving high-profile plaintiffs lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs. Balducci has cooperated with the government and will continue to do so, according to a plea agreement filed in a Mississippi…

Dec 5, 2007 7:53 PM CST

Late-Arraigned Lawyer Said to Be Cooperating in Scruggs Case

A delay in the arraignment of Mississippi lawyer Timothy Balducci is fueling reports and speculation that he is cooperating in the bribery case against Richard ”Dickie” Scruggs and other co-defendants. Sources told the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) that Balducci began cooperating in the criminal probe at some point after…

Dec 5, 2007 12:21 PM CST

Judge Tells of Shock at Bribe Offer

The Mississippi judge who helped in a federal investigation of well-known plaintiffs lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs tells of a “shock that I can’t put into words” when he was first approached about a bribe. Judge Henry Lackey alleged in an interview with the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) that Mississippi…

Nov 30, 2007 1:16 PM CST

Scruggs Takes Issue With Letter Claiming Katrina Case Withdrawals

Updated: Are Richard “Dickie” Scruggs and his law firm withdrawing from all Hurricane Katrina-related litigation? The answer is yes, according to a letter from Don Barrett posted on the Wall Street Journal Law Blog. Barrett is one of the founders of the Scruggs Katrina Group, which represents thousands of policyholders…

Nov 29, 2007 8:03 PM CST

Katrina Lawyer Richard ‘Dickie’ Scruggs Indicted in Judge Bribery Plot

High-profile plaintiffs lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs has been charged with conspiring to pay a Mississippi judge $50,000 to resolve a fee dispute in favor of his law firm. Scruggs is well-known for handling tobacco litigation for the state of Mississippi and more recently for suing State Farm on behalf of…

Nov 29, 2007 11:42 AM CST

FBI Searches Scruggs Firm for ‘Ancillary’ Document

Updated: The FBI searched the law offices of Richard “Dickie” Scruggs Tuesday in Oxford, Miss. Agents were looking for a document “ancillary” to the Hurricane Katrina insurance litigation, the Sun Herald reports. The search reportedly spanned several hours, during which time agents barred employees from the office. A lawyer for…

Nov 28, 2007 8:24 PM CST

Battling Misconduct Claims in Katrina Case

As if the ongoing insurance coverage battle involving Mississippi’s attorney general, a well-known plaintiffs lawyer and a national insurance company weren’t already contentious enough, explosive new allegations have just been made public. Attorney General Jim Hood allegedly threatened to indict the CEO of State Farm Insurance Cos., as well as…

Nov 8, 2007 11:07 PM CST

Supreme Court Halts Execution in MS

A last-minute decision tonight by the U.S. Supreme Court to call off the scheduled execution of a Mississippi murderer seemingly signals that there is now a de facto death penalty moratorium in place nationwide. The decision—which was made a mere 15 minutes or so before Earl W. Berry was scheduled…

Oct 30, 2007 11:44 PM CDT

Mob Moll: Mafia Solved Civil Rights Case

In the latest revelation in the ongoing murder trial of a former FBI supervisor in New York, the longtime mistress of a Mafia enforcer has testified that the FBI relied on mob muscle to solve an infamous 1964 civil rights case. (It was dramatized in the movie Mississippi Burning.) Witness…

Oct 30, 2007 8:35 PM CDT

5th Circuit Gets New Judge, Southwick Confirmed

Senators today confirmed Mississippi Judge Leslie H. Southwick to a seat on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals despite concerns by some Democrats that his past writings were racially insensitive. There were not enough votes for a filibuster, so Southwick won confirmation by a 59-38 vote, according to the…

Oct 24, 2007 4:21 PM CDT