I think we won’t be hearing any more of the “Tim Balducci was a nobody trying to get into the inner circle” argument. I tried to find a link to where folks trotted that out in the Thanksgiving-to-Christmas period and couldn’t. Here are some things that the motions filed last night show, along with some other comments:
- The defense is virtually conceding that, at a meeting on March 28th, Scruggs decided to hire Balducci on the Jones case. The part of that that will be interesting for them to explain is the way Balducci was “off the books” and apparently hired because they conceived his relationship with Lackey would help; this shows such a strong kinship to the hiring of Ed Peters in Wilson v. Scruggs, which may come in as other crime evidence. There’s a way Scruggs keeps seeming to try to relive old victories (Merrell Williams -> Rigsby sisters; Moore & Tobbaco -> Hood & Katrina insurers; Peters & DeLaughter -> Balducci & Lackey) The second time around is not working out so well for him.
- Speaking of Wilson v. Scruggs, Balducci sure was the show there in that case in its last 9 months, and he was a major player in the Luckey v. Wilson trial, too.
- Scruggs’s “honest” explanation for the $40,000 is that he hired Balducci to do a voir dire in one case and jury instructions in another. $30,000 or $40,000 (not sure which) to do a voir dire is a pretty good payday, and does not suggest someone you don’t have confidence in.
- There are a lot of calls between Scruggs and Balducci, from both directions, according to the pin register on Balducci’s phone.
- In one of the transcripts, Balducci calls into the Scruggs’s office and his voice is immediately recognized by the receptionist there.
Very good point on the “second time around not working out so well” string of examples, NMC. Thanks.
Funny how well some things work right up ’til they don’t . . .
Are there any legal reasons after all this is over why Tim Balducci cannot write a book…
He may be already doing that!
Reminds me to ask, Judge Lackey told Balducci he’d filed motion of recusal in the Jones case because he had public conversation with local attorney affiliated with the firm representing Jones – Daniel Coker – but Jones was represented by Tollison when Judge Lackey and others submitted the motion in November.
Good, It appears he might just find a good literary agent here at FOLO. Marshall Ramsey could do the cover and I have someone in mind to do the preface.
Daniel Coker represented the Scruggs Katrina Group and now represents the Scrugless Katrina Group. Tollison always represented Jones.
The opening for a folo-Scruggs-author may already be filled.
Good Just remember “DON’T get GREEDY’and always pass it around..and that not sweet potatoes I’m talking about.
But….but…. I thought that the Daniel Coker firm often represented evil insurance companies, and thus….was “evil” by virtue of such….? So, ….why would the Robin Hoods of the MS Forest hire them to represent them? Hmmmmm.
Jack Dunbar, a well-respected lawyer who represented Scruggs in the Wilson and Luckey case, dropping out of Wilson about the time Balducci and Langston decided to use, uh, other means, for years (maybe even a couple of decades) represented State Farm.