folo

Richie Schwartz is the telephone book and billboard personal injury lawyer in Jackson (“one call, that’s all”). The billboards always got to me, because in the first year of law school, I sat near the back and in front of me was Richie, asking annoying and irrelevant questions (my wife, who transferred to Emory for a second and third year, doesn’t remember him at all).

Anyhow, someone in Richie’s firm got a good hard look for their handling of fen phen cases.  Now there’s this:

In the latest on the investigation of a notorious street gang in Richland, a computer has been confiscated from a Jackson law firm. WLBT has learned Richland police took a computer from the law office of Richard Schwartz. Attorney Schwartz is not a part of the investigation, but according to her myspace page alleged gang leader Thomasa Parker is employed at the law office.

Earlier this month, nearly a dozen people identified as Simon City Royals street gang members, were arrested for their part in an assault at a Richland mobile home park. The victims were nearly beaten to death.

Investigators believe there are more than 100 members of the Simon City Royals scattered throughout the tri-county area.

Richland Police Chief Russell James said he can’t comment on the computer confiscated from the Schwartz law office.

More from the Clarion Ledger:

Additional charges have been brought against alleged Simon City Royals gang leader Thomasa Parker, who along with nine other people were arrested in Richland two weeks ago on a variety of drug and assault charges.

Thomasa Parker, dubbed "Madam," "Spirit" or "Queen Bee," is thought to be the brains behind the gang and was originally charged with grand larceny and theft of utilities.

…
Police allege the Simon City Royals — a predominantly white gang from Chicago — had brazenly dealt crystal meth and performed "beat downs" on their members from a mobile home at 111 Mendenhall Ave. The location is in walking distance of the Police Department and mayor’s office.

The gang’s possible presence in Richland has sparked isolated incidents the last few years, but officials believed until recently the situation had died down.

Two weeks ago, the gang’s alleged activity culminated in a 20-on-three street fight. Richland police descended on the residence and arrested eight people on charges including possession of drugs, conducting gang activity and aggravated assault manifesting extreme indifference to life.

The fight sent at least two juveniles to the hospital — one suffering major lacerations to the head.

H/t to Shaveswithaoccamsrazor

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As before, kingfish kindly notifies us of developments in Francomb v. Bell . . . and this time shares Robbie Bell’s answer and defenses (10-page pdf).

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I must thank my pal al-Scooter for tipping me off to the bloggy re-emergence of one of my favorite writers. A couple of years ago, there was a marvelous blog called WhiskeyBar,* whose proprietor was a word-wizard called billmon. Then one day, he just stopped. Not another word outta him.

Today, to my delight, he showed up on DKos. If you were a billmon fan too, join me here.

* This isn’t the actual WhiskeyBar (which I think may have been spelled WhiskyBar), but apparently an archive put up by some billmon-adoring fan(s).

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Here they are, straight from the Mississippi Supremes (h/t Anderson):

EN BANC
  2008-BD-00450-SCT

The Mississippi Bar v. Sidney A. Backstrom; Disposition: Motion to Disbar or Grant Other Relief filed by the Bar is granted. Sidney A. Backstrom is hereby permanently disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Mississippi. This order shall constitute notice of permanent disbarment in this cause. The Clerk of this Court shall forward an attested copy of this order to Sidney A. Backstrom and the Executive Director of The Mississippi Bar. Sidney A. Backstrom shall, within thirty days following entry of this order, notify clients and affected courts of his disbarment and comply with all other requirements applicable to disbarred attorneys pursuant to MRD 11. Sidney A. Backstrom shall, within forty-five days following entry of this order, file an affidavit with this Court stating that all of his clients have been notified of his disbarment and his consequent inability to practice law in Mississippi and that he has complied fully with all the requirements set forth in MRD 11. The Clerk of this Court shall immediately forward an attested copy of this order to the circuit court judges and chancellors in and for Lafayette County, Mississippi, and the senior judge of each court shall enter this order upon the minutes of his or her respective court. The Clerk of this Court likewise shall immediately forward an attested copy of this order to the Clerks of the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, the Clerk of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Bar shall recover from Sidney A. Backstrom all of its costs and expenses of this disciplinary action. Smith, C.J., for the Court. Order entered.

The Mississippi Bar v. Richard F. “Dickie” Scruggs; Disposition: Richard F. Scruggs’ Motion to Dismiss Formal Complaint is hereby dismissed as moot. The Bar’s Motion for Indefinite Suspension and Suspending and Staying Proceedings is dismissed as moot. The name of Richard F. Scruggs shall be stricken from the rolls of The Mississippi Bar. The Bar’s Motion to Disbar or to Grant Other Relief is granted. Richard F. Scruggs is hereby permanently disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Mississippi. This order shall constitute notice of permanent disbarment in this cause. The Clerk of this Court shall forward an attested copy of this order to Richard F. Scruggs and the Executive Director of The Mississippi Bar. Richard F. Scruggs shall, within thirty days following entry of this order, notify clients and affected courts of his disbarment and comply with all other requirements applicable to disbarred attorneys pursuant to MRD 11. Richard F. Scruggs shall, within forty-five days following entry of this order, file an affidavit with this Court stating that all of his clients have been notified of his disbarment and his consequent inability to practice law in Mississippi and that he has complied fully with all the requirements set forth in MRD 11. The Clerk of this Court shall immediately forward an attested copy of this order to the circuit court judges and chancellors in and for Lafayette County, Mississippi, and the senior judge of each court shall enter this order upon the minutes of his or her respective court. The Clerk of this Court likewise shall immediately forward an attested copy of this order to the Clerks of the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, the Clerk of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Bar shall recover from Richard F. Scruggs all of its costs and expenses of this disciplinary action. Randolph, J., for the Court. Order entered.

The Mississippi Bar v. David Zachary Scruggs; Disposition: David Zachary Scruggs’ Motion to Dismiss Formal Complaint is dismissed as moot. The Bar’s Motion for Indefinite Suspension, Striking from Rolls, Suspending and Staying Proceedings is dismissed as moot. The name of David Zachary Scruggs shall be stricken from the rolls of The Mississippi Bar. The Bar’s Motion to Disbar or to Grant Other Relief is granted. David Zachary Scruggs is hereby permanently disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Mississippi. This order shall constitute notice of permanent disbarment in this cause. The Clerk of this Court shall forward an attested copy of this order to David Zachary Scruggs and the Executive Director of The Mississippi Bar. David Zachary Scruggs shall, within thirty days following entry of this order, notify clients and affected courts of his disbarment and comply with all other requirements applicable to disbarred attorneys pursuant to MRD 11. David Zachary Scruggs shall, within forty-five days following entry of this order, file an affidavit with this Court stating that all of his clients have been notified of his disbarment and his consequent inability to practice law in Mississippi and that he has complied fully with all the requirements set forth in MRD 11. The Clerk of this Court shall immediately forward an attested copy of this order to the circuit court judges and chancellors in and for Lafayette County, Mississippi, and the senior judge of each court shall enter this order upon the minutes of his or her respective court. The Clerk of this Court likewise shall immediately forward an attested copy of this order to the Clerks of the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, the Clerk of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Bar shall recover from David Zachary Scruggs all of its costs and expenses of this disciplinary action. Lamar, J., for the Court. Order entered.

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Okay, here’s one (a) you may or may not have been following but is very interesting, and (b) that I hope Rodney might show up to have a run at. A little while ago, leaveittothelaw commented, “They have us where they want us. …” Well, littl, m’man, it ain’t just lately . . .

Have you heard about the BAE scandal in Britain (which DoJ is also “investigating” here)? Nutshell: It involves the huge defense firm BAE’s dealings with — um, that would be bribery of — Dubya’s pals in the House of Saud, notably Prince “Bandar Bush.” The UK’s Serious Fraud Office was in the middle of a hot investigation of some smelly payments in an aircraft deal in 2006 when, boom, Tony Blair’s government shut it down.

Yesterday, Newsweek published this Isikoff-Hosenball story headlined Gag Order (subtitle: “How Saudi Arabia’s Prince Bandar muscled Tony Blair into silence”):

The United Kingdom’s highest court today provided new details of how the Saudis pressured British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government to shut down a politically embarrassing bribery investigation two years ago that implicated the Saudi ambassador to Washington. The ruling, by a House of Lords judicial panel, offers an unusually revealing window into how international power politics is played in the post-9/11 era.

The five-member panel recounts how Blair, faced with Saudi threats to cut off cooperation on counterterrorism operations, personally intervened to scuttle a criminal investigation into billions of dollars in allegedly improper payments made by British Aerospace Systems (BAE) to obtain Saudi contracts. …

Read the whole thing — I’m interested in what reactions it draws here. Meanwhile, here are a couple from London, in The Telegraph and The Guardian.

But I’m warning you, this is make-you-want-to-scream stuff.

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Laura Gibbes send along two new documents: a resolution from the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Achives and History, requesting that Highway 61 be permanently re-routed off Port Gibson’s Church Street; and a letter from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, advising that it agrees with MDAH’s position that Church Street should not be used for a highway route.

Whether they’ll turn Butch Brown’s head is open to doubt, but I’m sure glad to see them. Thanks, Laura.

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No matter where you are on the political continuum: I’m already upset at Obama’s choice of running mate. (Now could somebody please tell me what “SYFPH” stands for?)

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Story here.

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A federal judge has just given Round One to the House Judiciary Committee in its fight to force testimony on the U.S. Attorneys scandal from the locked jaws of Harriet Miers, Karl Rove, et al. More details at TPM.

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I hear John McCain is now running an ad that tries to link Barack Obama with the likes of Britney Spears — something about the emptiness of celebrity, I gather (and of course, there’re the handy “Harold, call me” overtones too). Well, at the Atlantic, Marc Ambinder reports that John Weaver, for many years one for McCain’s closest friends and advisors, has HAD it with such.

The ad’s premise, he said, is “childish.”

“John’s been a celebrity ever since he was shot down,” Weaver said. “Whatever that means. And I recall Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush going overseas and all those waving American flags.”

“The strategy of driving up Obama’s negatives ‘reduces McCain on the stage,’ Weaver said,” adding, “There is legitimate mockery of a political campaign now, and it isn’t at Obama’s. For McCain’s sake, this tomfoolery needs to stop.”

Yep, but what with all those Rovians he’s hired, I don’t look for that to happen. You?

Anyhow, according to Ambinder, Obama, asked about McCain’s ad-strategy, said, “You know, I don’t pay attention to John McCain’s ads, although I do notice he doesn’t seem to have anything to say very positive about himself. He seems to only be talking about me. You need to ask John McCain what he’s for and not just what he’s against.”

Wish somebody would — he’d probably be struck dumb (I can just see the YouTube now).

(h/t TPM)

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