Post by jannikki on Jun 21, 2006 17:06:57 GMT -4
Prosecutors React to Milberg Recusals
By JOSH GERSTEIN - Staff Reporter of the Sun
June 21, 2006
In a sign of concern about the difficulties the court system is having
handling the criminal indictment of a leading class-action law firm,
Milberg
Weiss Bershad & Schulman LLP, federal prosecutors have asked that they
be
informed before any more judges recuse themselves from the matter.
So far, five federal judges in Los Angeles have begged off the case, in
which the firm, two of its name partners, Steven Schulman and David
Bershad,
a perennial plaintiff in Milberg Weiss securities suits, Seymour Lazar,
and
Mr. Lazar's lawyer, Paul Selzer, are accused of conspiring to pass
illegal
payments to Mr. Lazar and other plaintiffs.
Two of the judges who recused cited their handling of class-action
suits
brought by Milberg Weiss, while one said he had investments in
companies
sued by the firm and mentioned in the indictment. One judge also noted
that
his appointment to the bench was supported by a former Milberg Weiss
partner, William Lerach.
In a filing made public yesterday, prosecutors asked for advance notice
of
any future recusal and a chance to make a presentation to the court
about
"all facts known to the government that may be relevant to any such
determination."
Judge John Walter, who was appointed by President Bush in 2002,is the
latest
to be randomly assigned to the Milberg Weiss matter. The reassignments
of
the case have caused delays of hearings for two men who are not charged
in
the Milberg Weiss indictment, but have agreed to plead guilty in
related
proceedings. The firm, its partners, and Messrs. Lazar and Selzer have
denied wrongdoing and promised to fight the charges.
www.nysun.com/article/34821
By JOSH GERSTEIN - Staff Reporter of the Sun
June 21, 2006
In a sign of concern about the difficulties the court system is having
handling the criminal indictment of a leading class-action law firm,
Milberg
Weiss Bershad & Schulman LLP, federal prosecutors have asked that they
be
informed before any more judges recuse themselves from the matter.
So far, five federal judges in Los Angeles have begged off the case, in
which the firm, two of its name partners, Steven Schulman and David
Bershad,
a perennial plaintiff in Milberg Weiss securities suits, Seymour Lazar,
and
Mr. Lazar's lawyer, Paul Selzer, are accused of conspiring to pass
illegal
payments to Mr. Lazar and other plaintiffs.
Two of the judges who recused cited their handling of class-action
suits
brought by Milberg Weiss, while one said he had investments in
companies
sued by the firm and mentioned in the indictment. One judge also noted
that
his appointment to the bench was supported by a former Milberg Weiss
partner, William Lerach.
In a filing made public yesterday, prosecutors asked for advance notice
of
any future recusal and a chance to make a presentation to the court
about
"all facts known to the government that may be relevant to any such
determination."
Judge John Walter, who was appointed by President Bush in 2002,is the
latest
to be randomly assigned to the Milberg Weiss matter. The reassignments
of
the case have caused delays of hearings for two men who are not charged
in
the Milberg Weiss indictment, but have agreed to plead guilty in
related
proceedings. The firm, its partners, and Messrs. Lazar and Selzer have
denied wrongdoing and promised to fight the charges.
www.nysun.com/article/34821