This case has taken on a life of it's own with Scrugg's original attorney's office being raided by the FBI, that attorney and some of his employees plus a judge who was involved in a big case involving Scruggs were asked to talk to the grand jury, and the rumors and speculation surrounding possible additional indictments/pleas agreements are flying all over the place.  Keep in mind a chunk of them are rumors at this time, but based on all the lawyer juggling, and motions filed surrounding this case, it will only get bigger versus settle down.  On a side note, the federal judge in one of the high profile SF cases where Scruggs used to be involved (he withdrew from all Katrina cases personally due to other problems he has had of late) just ruled that SF can take the sworn testimony from Dickie and his son Zach in reference to their relationship/timelines/ etc with their dealings with the Ridgsby sisters (of the stolen SF documents fame).  Judge Senter states the Scruggs wore "two hats" in their dealing with them, as employer and also as attorney, and there is a chunk of that dealing that is not protected under the attorney client priviledge.  Also of note, it appears that the Ridgsby sisters may be back in the market for a job as the Katrina Law Group (formally known as the Scruggs Katrina Group) has let it be known that they will no longer be paying the sisters their $150,000 per year, per person salaries as "consultants" for the group.  It is unknow if ole Dickie will be paying them direct out of his own pocket, even though he is no longer associated with that group.  If there is any possibility that their dealings with Scruggs and the MS attorney general is not perfectly legal and ethical (as per state bar standards), it might be in Mr Scrugg's best interest to keep them happy and on his side. but of course if all their dealings are above board and everything they did was completely of their own doings without him or the attorney general giving them any guidance to do so, he would have no worries about them no longer getting their pay for the "consulting work" they were doing, and I'm not real sure, but I'd guess that that consulting work may not be needed too much anymore.  It may come to pass that that relationship with the sisters and paying them as consultants may cause some harm to the KLG on these insurance cases.  They have both been deposed and the transcript of those depositions are available by link if anyone is interested in reading them.  Pretty long, but overall a good read.  Below are four links to law blogs/insurance blogs that keep up with the changes in "Scruggsmania" and they are very interesting to read.  They also cover other issues of law, insurance and MS politics.  Good way to keep up on legal changes in our industry (and also non insurance issues) around the country.

http://www.insurancecoverageblog.com/

http://folo.wordpress.com/

http://www.yallpolitics.com/

http://www.overlawyered.com/

OXFORD – When lawyers filed more paperwork Friday in the federal judicial bribery case that’s enshared famed litigator Richard “Dickie” Scruggs and four others, the opening paragraph may have said more than usual.

Co-defendant Steven Patterson’s name wasn’t listed with others indicted with him Nov. 28 – Scruggs, his son Zach and Oxford legal associate Sidney Backstrom. Also not listed was New Albany Timothy Balducci, another co-defendant, who pleaded guilty Dec. 4 and is known to be working with the government.

Courthouse observers had told the Daily Journal earlier this week they believed Patterson had changed his innocent plea to guilty after cutting a deal for leniency with the federal prosecutors.

That action was confirmed Wednesday from another source close to the case.

The new U.S. District Court document, filed Friday, may be further evidence of Patterson’s flip.
The five men were accused of trying to bribe a circuit judge for a favorable ruling in a $26.5 million Katrina legal fees lawsuit.

Another lawyer pleads guilty

Court papers filed point to Scruggs

Jerry Mitchell • jmitchell@clarionledger.com • January 13, 2008

By HOLBROOK MOHR
The Associated Press

OXFORD - Former state auditor Steve Patterson pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring with prominent attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs and others to attempt to bribe a state court judge.

The alleged conspiracy was an attempt to secure a federal ruling in a dispute over legal fees from Hurricane Katrina litigation, according to federal prosecutors.

Patterson, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and black-and-yellow tie, appeared before U.S. District Judge Neal Biggers Jr. in federal court here for the about 45-minute hearing.

"I never set out to corruptly bribe a judge," Patterson told the court. "However, I do understand that once I joined it and the cat was out of the bag, I was a coconspirator."

No date was set for sentencing.

Patterson, 56, was indicted in November along with Scruggs, Scruggs' son and attorneys Timothy Balducci and Sidney Backstrom on charges they conspired to pay Circuit Judge Henry Lackey at least $40,000 for a favorable ruling in the fees case. The government said Lackey informed federal authorities of the alleged bribe overture and cooperated with investigators.

OXFORD – The trial of noted Oxford attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs on attempted bribery charges has been delayed until March 31, a judge decided Wednesday.

The trial previously was set for Feb. 25, but Biggers agreed to the delay because the government was not ready with materials that the defense said it needed, and because Scruggs attorney John Keker has a scheduling conflict because of a trial in California.

Scruggs and four others were indicted in November on charges of attempting to bribe Judge Henry Lackey.

Scruggs has pleaded not guilty.

By Patsy R. Brumfield
Daily Journal

OXFORD - If Booneville attorney Joey Langston was telling the truth Jan. 7, at least three former or current public officials have some explaining to do.

Langston pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe Hinds Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter to get a favorable ruling in a civil lawsuit.

In the 22-page transcript of his plea hearing before Chief Judge Michael Mills, Langston said he, Timothy Balducci and Steven Patterson paid $50,000 in cash to former Hinds County District Attorney Ed Peters to influence DeLaughter, a longtime friend of Peters'.

In that pleading, which was made available Thursday, he claims they were acting on behalf of famed Oxford attorney Richard 'Dickie' Scruggs to resolve a lawsuit about the division of legal fees in a case against asbestos manufacturers.

Also insinuated is a link with Washington, D.C., to put DeLaughter's name up for a federal judgeship, something Langston said he knew the judge was interested in.

A judicial nomination of this kind occurs only through a U.S. senator, and then-Sen. Trent Lott is Scrugg's brother-in-law.

"Scruggs told Langston to let the Judge know that if he ruled in his favor he would pass his name along for consideration regarding the federal judgeship," the transcript reads. "Langston then informed Peters, who, in turn, passed the information along to Judge DeLaughter."

Mills asked Langston, "Did you do what he just stated?"

"Yes, Your Honor," the 50-year-old Langston responded.
Calls to Peters, DeLaughter and Scrugg's lead attorney John Keker for a response were not answered by late Thursday. DeLaughter has publicly insisted that he never took anything in this matter.

Lott spokesman Bret Boyles said Scruggs had "zero involvement" in the judicial selection process, noting Lott had already made up his mind to appoint someone from Gulfport. The ultimate decision in judicial appointments lies with President Bush.

In the end, the government said, Peters got another $950,000 for his services. And Langston agreed it happened this way.

They also claimed DeLaughter e-mailed Peters a rough draft of the opinion he planned to enter. And Langston, Balducci and Patterson would be able to see it before any final version was filed.

Langston had better be telling the truth: He has sworn an oath before his testimony and knows he can be charged with perjury and anything else the government believes he's done.

Also Monday, Patterson agreed to plead guilty to trying to bribe a judge in another case the one for which he, Balducci, Scruggs, Scruggs' son Zach and Oxford attorney Sidney Backstrom were indicted Nov. 28.

According to Patterson and Langston's plea agreements, they cannot be charged with anything else related or unrelated to these matters. Their sentences will await how well they cooperate with the government.

Dickie Scruggs has not been charged with anything
relating to Langston's story about DeLaughter.

Bowling for lawyers Mississippi style. The biggest question seems to be you is indited next or who flips next. And who is P L Blake and why did Dickie Scruggs pay him $20,000,000.

This is becoming an amazing case and proves that greed, breeds greed. If all are guilty, I hope they get very long prison sentences. People like you and I have worked hard all our lives and in most cases cannot retire in wealth. Now take some conniving, dishonest, slick talking lawyer and he sits on snob hill looking down upon us poor slaves. I wish they would re-open the tobacco case and see what went on there. If you think this has made a hard working ,honest old adjuster mad, your very right. Many of us have done without through the years to feed, house, and clothe our families and this should be upsetting you too, I hope. There are some good and decent lawyers that are a necessity of society, but 90% of them are ambulance, class action chasing greed mongers. Whew, that made me feel better.

This is becoming an amazing case and proves that greed, breeds greed. If all are guilty, I hope they get very long prison sentences. People like you and I have worked hard all our lives and in most cases cannot retire in wealth. Now take some conniving, dishonest, slick talking lawyer and he sits on snob hill looking down upon us poor slaves. I wish they would re-open the tobacco case and see what went on there. If you think this has made a hard working , honest old adjuster mad, your very right. Many of us have done without through the years to feed, house, and clothe our families and this should be upsetting you too, I hope. There are some good and decent lawyers that are a necessity of society, but 90% of them are ambulance and class action chasing greed mongers. Whew, that made me feel better.

What's the difference between an HONEST attorney, and BIG-FOOT?

(there have been reported sightings of big-foot)

So who thinks DIckie will actually do time for this? Just curious.

If I was a bettn man. I'd bet he will do real time.   What i do wonder is who is paying the Rigsby sisters legal bills now they are no longer on the Scrugg's payroll? Hope they hung onto some of that $6250 biweekly income (each). I suspect we will watch many more lawyers tumble in Ms. before the dust settles, this seems to be bigger the Dickie and Zach.