Stabler Trial Update
By
The Associated Press
Published: Thu, February 21, 2008 - 2:16 pm
attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs plan to call former U.S. Sen.
Trent Lott as a witness if a judge allows testimony about Scruggs'
"prior bad acts" in the upcoming trial.
U.S. District Judge Neal Biggers Jr. is considering whether to
allow testimony about an alleged bribery attempt of Hinds County
Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter in an unrelated case.
It was the second time during a two-day motions hearing that the
former Republican senator's name was brought up in connection with
Scruggs, who is his brother-in-law.
Witness Timothy Balducci, who has pleaded guilty to a federal
bribery charge and is cooperating with the prosecution, was the
first to bring up Lott's name.
Balducci said yesterday (Wednesday) that Lott called DeLaughter
on Scruggs' behalf.
Balducci claims that Lott offered to consider DeLaughter for a
federal judgeship if the judge made a favorable ruling in one of
Scruggs' cases.
Delaughter has not been charged with a crime.
Both Lott and DeLaughter deny participating in any bribery
scheme
Scruggs, his son and law partner Zach, and attorney Sidney
Backstrom are accused of trying to bribe another judge.
They allegedly wanted to get a favorable ruling in a dispute
over $26.5 million in legal fees from a mass settlement of
Hurricane Katrina insurance lawsuits.
The men deny any wrongdoing.
A trial is set to begin March 31.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Just goes to show you if someone stands up for the little guy and actually gets the insurance company they go after him.