High-profile trial attorney Richard Scruggs, who gained prominence battling the insurance and tobacco industries, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe a judge.
The plea–in U.S. District Court in Oxford, Miss.–involved a legal action in which the Scruggs law firm was suing an attorney in a dispute over $26.5 million in attorneys' fees from a Hurricane Katrina-related settlement with State Farm Insurance.
Mr. Scruggs was charged with five others–including his son, David Zachary Scruggs–with a bribery plot involving $50,000.
He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, and at sentencing faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Loss of his law license is expected.
Mr. Scruggs led a team of attorneys that brought a class action against State Farm companies over losses stemming from Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi. The dispute over attorneys' fees came from an $80 million settlement with State Farm Insurance.
Mr. Scruggs and the others were accused of attempting to bribe Circuit Judge Henry L. Lackey. The judge reported the incident to federal investigators, and subsequently worked undercover to amass evidence against Mr. Scruggs and the others.
Appearing in court on a day when pretrial motions were scheduled, the attorney, in a move that had not been expected, entered his guilty plea. Mr. Scruggs, in his elocution, admitted he had a role in the plan to bribe the judge but said he had not originated the scheme.
Mr. Scruggs' son, Zachary, faces trial on March 31 and appears to be going to trial, according to several reports.
A call to the Oxford, Miss., U.S. Attorney's Office handling the case was not returned.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Mr. Scruggs could face further charges for attempts to influence another case.
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