March 21, 2008, Oxford, Mississippi - Zach Scruggs, son of noted lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs, today pled guilty to misprision of a felony, in a deal made with federal prosecutors.

Last week, Dickie Scruggs, whose reputation was built on representing shipyard workers who developed asbestos-related diseases, as well as other cases involving the tobacco and insurance industries, pled guilty to bribery charges. Scruggs and colleague Sidney Backstrom both pled guilty to one count of conspiring to bribe a circuit court judge.

The two, as well as others, had attempted to bribe Circuit Judge Henry L. Lackey $50,000 to give a favorable ruling in a lawsuit relating to the distribution of legal fees obtained from Hurricane Katrina insurance cases. The case involved $26.5 million worth of legal fees.

Following the bribery attempt Circuit Judge Lackey reported the attempt to the FBI, and then cooperated by working as an informant.

A total of five men were charged with conspiring to bribe Circuit Judge Lackey. In addition to Scruggs and Backstrom, these include Scruggs’ son Zach, who practices law in his father’s firm, as well as Timothy Balducci, a former New Albany attorney, and Steven Patterson, a former state auditor. The latter two pled guilty and cooperated with the government.

Zach Scruggs’ trial was set to start on March 31, but Scruggs, who worked in his father’s firm, has now pled guilty in a move that may keep him out of prison.

The charge is misprision of a felony. Pleading guilty means 33-year-old Zach Scruggs has admitted to having had knowledge of a felony-in this case the attempted bribery of Judge Lackey-and of choosing not to report it.

Zach Scruggs said he had knowledge of an attempt to “improperly influence” Judge Lackey, but had not specifically known that bribery was involved.

Misprision of a felony has a maximum three year prison sentence. However, prosecutors have recommended probation. Zach Scruggs may also incur a fine of up to $250,000.

Dickie Scruggs, on the other hand, faces a prison sentence of up to five years. The Mississippi State Bar has already filed a petition to have him disbarred.

Scruggs may also be charged in events connected with at least one other case involving the distribution of legal fees from national asbestos lawsuits. In this case, Wilson vs. Scruggs, the charges may include attempted bribery of Circuit Court Judge Bobby DeLaughter. Misconduct allegations have already been made against Judge DeLaughter, and a Mississippi judicial watchdog agency has asked the Mississippi Supreme
Court for an interim suspension of the Judge.

Sidney Backstrom faces disbarment, and attorney Timothy Balducci voluntarily gave up his license. The Mississippi State Bar has not yet commented on whether or not it plans to disbar Zach Scruggs.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 4th, 2008 at 4:38 pm and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos Litigation, Jobsite Exposure, Mississippi. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.