Lawyer Convicted of Theft re 900 Free Calls Between Inmates and Her Roommate Gets Community Service

A suspended Washington state lawyer convicted of theft for allowing jail inmates to use her attorney phone privileges to make more than 900 free calls has been sentenced to community service and $2,290 restitution. Kimberly Grijalva, 41, was also convicted after a bench trial last month of a misdemeanor contraband…

Jun 7, 2011 6:54 PM CDT

Law Firm Employees Accused of Stealing $130K They Allegedly Persuaded Clients to Give Them in Cash

Two employees of a Washington state immigration law firm are accused of pocketing $130,000 that they persuaded clients to give them in cash, supposedly to speed the clients’ cases along. Defendants Burton Tong and Masie Delgado have been charged with theft, the Seattle PI reported. They worked for Bart Klein…

Jun 7, 2011 6:16 PM CDT

Expanded New RICO Indictment Accuses Alleged Rogue Attorney of More Law-Firm-Related Crimes

In a new racketeering indictment that reads like the latest John Grisham legal thriller, an imprisoned New Jersey criminal defense attorney is now accused of additional crimes, including witness tampering and drug trafficking. Reiterating prior allegations that Paul Bergrin arranged to murder one witness and plotted to murder another, in…

Jun 7, 2011 5:10 PM CDT

Defense Lawyer Charged with Arranging to Bribe Cop to Say Client Was DEA Informant

Corrected: A California lawyer and a Rialto police officer have been taken into custody and charged with bribery after allegedly arranging for a client of attorney Lawrence Anthony Witsoe to pay $2,500 for the benefit of the officer. In exchange, the officer allegedly falsely told the Orange County District Attorney’s…

Jun 6, 2011 7:33 PM CDT

Lawyer, Ex-Client and 3 Supportive Friends Were Slain by Her Ex-Husband, Police Say

A shooting spree last week in and around Yuma, Ariz., focused on an angry ex-husband’s former wife, lawyer and friends who supported her, according to police investigators and court records. In addition to Jerrold Shelley, 62, who was slain at his law office on Thursday morning, the other four victims…

Jun 6, 2011 6:22 PM CDT

Is Ex-Prosecutor Accused of Trying to Arrange Witness Murders Now Cooperating with Feds?

After news that three co-defendants of a jailed New Jersey criminal defense lawyer have struck deals with the feds, observers are wondering whether attorney Paul Bergrin, 55, is cooperating, too. Bergrin is accused in a racketeering case along with his reputed mistress, another attorney, and a former client of involvement…

Jun 6, 2011 5:58 PM CDT

Around the Blawgosphere: yFrog Flaw Behind ‘Weinergate’?; Han Solo Practice; Marler’s Yard Birds

Hacking into yFrog We’ve all heard the story: New York Congressman Anthony Weiner’s Twitter account posted a photo of “a man’s bulging underpants” over Memorial Day weekend; Weiner says that his account was hacked. And, indeed, Ars Technica’s Law & Disorder blog notes that the image and video hosting service…

Jun 3, 2011 2:42 PM CDT

Divorce Attorney Shot at Law Office Among 5 People Reportedly Killed in Yuma, Ariz.

An Arizona attorney whose general practice included criminal and family law matters was among five people shot and killed today in Yuma, Ariz. A sixth individual was wounded. Jerrold Shelley, 62, was slain at his downtown law office, reports the On Deadline blog of USA Today. The New York Times…

Jun 2, 2011 9:03 PM CDT

Lawyer’s Defrauding of Client—Her Own Mom—in Real Estate Matter Merits Disbarment, Panel Says

Updated: An Illinois lawyer’s work on behalf of her own mother in a real estate matter and other conduct merits disbarment, a state hearing panel has recommended. Ellen Frances Lang did not respond to a legal ethics complaint, and hence its allegations were deemed to be admitted, the panel notes…

Jun 1, 2011 5:27 PM CDT

California’s Best Best & Krieger Acquires DC Telecom Boutique

Best Best & Krieger is opening a Washington, D.C., office through the acquisition of Miller & Van Eaton, a boutique telecommunications law firm based in the District. Six lawyers from Miller & Van Eaton will join Best Best & Krieger effective July 1, according to a press release. The D.C.…

Jun 1, 2011 2:14 PM CDT

The Big Apple’s Cowgirl: Ag Lawyer Finds Success in NYC

Jun 1, 2011 6:09 AM CDT

Suspended Attorney Is Criminally Charged, Along with Elderly Client, in Another Foreclosed Home Case

A suspended California lawyer who was criminally charged earlier this month in connection with another client’s foreclosed home is in the news again. This time it’s because Michael Theodore Pines, 59, is charged along with his former client, Hector Zepeda, who is in his 70s, with breaking into the Newport…

May 31, 2011 10:11 PM CDT

Ex-BigLaw Attorneys at MoloLamken Add Patent Appellate Win to String of Supreme Court Victories

Not quite two years after leaving BigLaw to form their own boutique, two former partners are celebrating a string of noteworthy victories. Helped by referrals from their former firms, as well as other major partnerships, Steven Molo and Jeffrey Lamken have a book of business that gives them at least…

May 31, 2011 9:43 PM CDT

Librarian Who Sued Law Firm Over False Fire Alarm Arrest Seeks to Depose Defense Lawyer

Arrested for allegedly setting off a false fire alarm at Parker McKay on June 2, 2009, a former librarian sued the New Jersey Law firm and multiple other defendants last year contending that the incident involved retaliation for her prior complaints about her work schedule and pay. Now Sheila Ciemniecki…

May 31, 2011 5:54 PM CDT

Lawyer Wins $900K Wage-and-Hour Suit But Loses $515K Fee Due to Lack of Time Entries

A lawyer who won a $900,000 wage-and-hour case against New York City in 2009 on behalf of 16,000 police officers reportedly won’t be getting a payday. Thomas Puccio had sought $2 million in the Fair Labor Standards Act case and was awarded $515,000 by U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin. But…

May 27, 2011 7:20 PM CDT