Imprisoned Mississippi attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs hasbeen accused of involvement in another judicial bribe plot, thistime involving $15 million in asbestos injury settlement monies andthe help of a U.S. senator.

The claims against Mr. Scruggs, who gained national attentionwith class actions against property insurers and the tobaccoindustry, were contained in a federal lawsuit filed last week byAttorney William Roberts Wilson Jr.

That action names Mr. Scruggs, his law firm, his son Zachary,former attorney Edward Peters, attorney Timothy Balducci,non-attorney Steven A. Patterson and 10 John Does.

According to the complaint filed with U.S. District Court inOxford, Miss., the jurist involved is Hinds County Circuit CourtJudge Bobby B. DeLaughter in Jackson, Miss. A knowledgeable sourcesaid the senator referred to was Mr. Scruggs' brother-in-law TrentLott, who has since retired from the Senate.

Mr. Lott is now with the Breaux Lott Leadership Group. A memberof his firm, Bret Boyles, said Mr. Lott would have no comment.Calls and faxes to Judge Delaughter's chambers were notreturned.

Mr. Wilson's latest charges against Mr. Scruggs date back to2005 when he sued Mr. Scruggs in federal court claiming he hadimproperly channeled fees due Mr. Wilson from an asbestos injurysettlement case and used them to finance his successful legalaction against tobacco companies. Mr. Wilson contended he sought aportion of the multimillion-dollar tobacco settlement as aresult.

But U.S. District Court Judge Tom S. Lee ruled he could notconsider what Mr. Wilson might recover from the tobacco suitproceeds until there was a decision on Mr. Wilson's claim beforeJudge DeLaughter for the asbestos fees, which a special master forthe court put at $15 million.

The complaint states that Mr. Scruggs with Timothy Balducci,Edward J. Peters, Steven A. Patterson, David Zachary Scruggs andnon-parties Joseph C. Langston and others conspired to “influenceand corrupt” the judge so he would render a zero judgment onasbestos fees.

Judge DeLaughter and “a former United States senator joined theconspiracy and agreed to aid and abet” Mr. Scruggs and the others,it was charged.

Mr. Langston, the attorney listed as a non-party in the suit,was accused a year ago in a criminal complaint filed by MississippiU.S. Attorney Jim Greenlee of conspiring with Mr. Scruggs toinfluence Judge DeLaughter by arranging to provide “favorableconsideration” for appointment as a federal judge.

According to the complaint against Mr. Langston, he and othersengaged an unnamed “close personal friend” of Judge DeLaughter as“consultant” and Mr. Scruggs told Mr. Langston to tell JudgeDeLaughter he could arrange for him to be considered forappointment as a federal judge.

In addition to being more prestigious, a U.S. District Courtjudge is paid $65,130 more than a Mississippi Circuit Court judge,whose annual salary is $104,170.

The information charged that Mr. Langston and Mr. Patterson, whois a defendant in the lawsuit, delivered $50,000 to the judge'sfriend, and that after Mr. Scruggs secured a favorable ruling Mr.Langston, Mr. Patterson and the judge's unnamed friend split $3million “representing the savings to Scruggs” as a result ofrulings in favor of Mr. Scruggs by Judge DeLaughter resulting in asettlement of the case.

Mr. Langston pleaded guilty to the charges against him and lastmonth was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison. However, the datefor his surrender has been extended until March, and there arereports that he is cooperating with prosecutors.

Mr. Greenlee's office had no response when asked about JudgeDeLaughter.

Mr. Scruggs is currently in Federal Correctional Institute inAshland, Ky., serving a five-year term for an attempted plot tobribe Circuit Court Judge Henry Lackey in Calhoun City, Miss., in acase involving a dispute over attorneys' fees in a $26.5 millionHurricane Katrina settlement.

Judge Lackey reported a $50,000 bribe offer to the FBI andcooperated with federal prosecutors.

Mr. Lott retired from office in 2007, two days before Mr.Scruggs was indicted in that case. According to Politico, theRepublican senator said after the indictment, “I didn't know thathe was under investigation. I never heard anything about it.”

Mr. Scruggs represented the senator in his claims dispute withState Farm over his coastal home, which was destroyed by HurricaneKatrina. Mr. Lott was active in pushing federal legislation toinvestigate claims handling of State Farm and other insurers afterthat storm.