Clinton did make a $125,000 payment to Bennett before shutting down the Clinton Legal Trust, which was closed so Clinton financial backers could be directed to the Clinton Library Fund, which is struggling Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Posted on 06/21/2002 6:35:58 PM PDT by PackerBoy
Clinton Pays Kendall But Stiffs Bob Bennett
Not all legal bills are created equal—at least in the view of Bill and Hillary Clinton. The high-powered couple are paying off their seven-figure debt to Williams & Connolly lawyer David Kendall but still owe Skadden, Arps lawyer Bob Bennett more than $1 million.
The Clintons have been making monthly payments to Williams & Connolly with income from book deals and speech fees. They had no choice: The firm told the former president that he couldn't continue to use the services of W&C attorney Bob Barnett, who handles Bill Clinton's business deals, unless he started paying off the nearly $3 million in debt to Kendall.
"No law firm will let a client get new services without insisting that they do something about unpaid bills," one legal expert says.
Clinton did make a $125,000 payment to Bennett before shutting down the Clinton Legal Trust, which was closed so Clinton financial backers could be directed to the Clinton Library Fund, which is struggling. Clinton and Bennett did not end up on speaking terms, with each blaming the other for the legal events that led to Clinton's impeachment—and the edge of the political abyss, from which Williams & Connolly ultimately saved him.
The breakdown in their relationship—Bennett has no ongoing business with Clinton—gives him no leverage to collect, and Bennett is not likely to sue Clinton for the cash.
Bennett hopes that Clinton never pays.
Then his firm sues Clinton. Then Clinton counter-claims for legal malpractice to get out of paying. Under the law, the countersuit constitutes a waiver of the attorney-client privilege -- so the lawyers can prove the value of their services. Bob Bennett sells his "book" to the top publishing bidder, netting a fat seven-figure deal.
And they all -- except Clinton -- live happily ever after.
Imagine that phone call to the mortgage loan officer who couldn't give Clinton his mortgage on his first home purchase. I bet he was looking over his shoulder for months! That's right folks! The man lived in free housing for his entire professional life until 2000.
Clinton did make a $125,000 payment to Bennett before shutting down the Clinton Legal Trust, which was closed so Clinton financial backers could be directed to the Clinton Library Fund, which is struggling Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Bennett and Clinton are both horrible human beings who deserve to face each other in court or in a duel. (I still can't figure out how Bill could be related to Bob.)
ROFLOL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.