Posted on 10/15/2007 10:44:13 AM PDT by BenLurkin
LOS ANGELES The co-founder of a prestigious New York law firm and two co-defendants pleaded not guilty Monday in Los Angeles to federal charges related to a major class-action kickback scheme.
Melvyn Weiss entered his pleas to two counts of conspiracy and one count each of obstruction of justice and making false statements in relation to documents that were the subject of a grand jury subpoena.
Not guilty pleas were also entered by plaintiff Seymour Lazar and attorney Paul Selzer to charges contained in a superseding indictment filed last month.
Lazar, who allegedly received kickbacks, and Selzer are each charged with four counts of money laundering. Selzer also is charged with one count of conspiracy to launder money and a count of criminal forfeiture.
Prosecutors said the firm previously known as Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman made an estimated $250 million by filing class-action lawsuits against some of America's largest corporations. Kickbacks were allegedly paid to people who agreed to be plaintiffs.
The seven-year investigation has resulted in guilty pleas by several former partners and lawyers at the firm.
Weiss surrendered his passport and is being allowed to travel without conditions to California, New York, Washington, D.C., and Florida, where he has a second home.
If Weiss travels elsewhere in the United States, he must inform court officials if he intends to remain there more than 72 hours.
A good day.
These activities are routine for class action law firms. Those oil company executive have nothing on class action attorneys when it comes to greed.
Wow-$250 million.Takes “ambulance chasing” to a new level.sarc
Melvyn Weiss is a poster-boy for why people hate lawyers. This scam he and his firm have run has cost businessmen, shareholders, and customers millions of dollars. Melvyn has no shame, no morals, and he needs to spend the rest of his life behind bars.
I’ll bet you can find similar activities at other law firms. Start with the ones who advertise on TV—”Don’t just sit there, sue someone!”
Now Open for Jewish Lawyer Jokes.
Crooked lawyers? Color me surprised.
If Weiss travels elsewhere in the United States, he must inform court officials if he intends to remain there more than 72 hours.
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Wow!! When is a court order not a court order. Hsushine anyone?
The cop says to the lawyer, " you lawyers make me sick, your arm is missing from the elbow down, you're bleeding all over, and all you can do is scream about your Lexus"
The lawyer looks down at his missing arm and screams, "my Rolex, my Rolex, where is my Rolex!!"
Three lawyers, and they all claim to be not guilty?? It’s not even possible to get any three lawyers together and not have at least one of them be guilty of something.
My own lawyer was disbarred for stealing from a dead woman’s estate. Now he’s studying for the ministry, he claims.
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