Lawyers in Detroit text case accused of misconduct
Headline News
A lawyer who used a salacious trove of text messages as leverage to settle two lawsuits against ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick for $8.4 million has been charged with ethics violations, along with four attorneys who worked on the deal.
Mike Stefani "engaged in conduct that is contrary to justice, ethics, honesty or good morals," the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission said in a nine-page complaint. Staff at the grievance commission act as investigators and prosecutors of misconduct by lawyers.
"I was simply representing my clients to the best of my ability," Stefani said. "I'm not going to accept allegations that I'm dishonest or committed a crime." He added: "I'm going to defend my reputation."
The text messages were "irrefutable" evidence that Kilpatrick, a lawyer, committed perjury at a 2007 civil trial when he denied having an affair with a top aide, but Stefani didn't notify the commission in a timely manner, investigators said.
Stefani obtained Kilpatrick's text messages by sending a subpoena to SkyTel Inc., the city's communications provider.
The messages arrived in October 2007, a few weeks after the police officers' trial. The officers claimed Kilpatrick punished them because they were investigating wrongdoing by his inner circle.
Related listings
-
Reed Smith cutting associates’ salaries 10%
Headline News 05/22/2009The Reed Smith law firm said it will cut salaries for all U.S. associates by 10 percent across the board, effective July 1. In an internal memo that was originally leaked to the Web site Abovethelaw.com Wednesday afternoon, managing partner Gregory J...
-
Computer Expert Sues Leonard Street Law Firm for $775K
Headline News 05/22/2009A computer expert claims in a lawsuit that Minneapolis law firm Leonard, Street and Deinard owes him $775,000 for storing digital evidence in a case involving the city’s two largest newspapers. Mark Lanterman of Computer Forensic Services said he sto...
-
L.A. County courts to close 1 day a month
Headline News 05/20/2009Los Angeles County Superior Court officials announced Tuesday they would shut down court operations one day a month and furlough employees to address a projected $90-million shortfall caused by the state's continuing budget crisis. The county's 600 c...
Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?
IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child.
Forte Law Group is one of only a very few law firms within the state of Connecticut that is dedicated to exclusively representing families and children with special needs.
Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer?” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.