Role of politically connected law firm questioned
Headline News
Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan's office asked a Cook County judge Tuesday to remove a law firm with close ties to Gov. Rod Blagojevich from the criminal case of a one-time Blagojevich friend charged with stealing $2 million from the state.
Blagojevich's office and Madigan have repeatedly clashed over the governor's use of private law firms to represent state agencies or his administration. Madigan's office argues that only the attorney general has the authority to represent state agencies in court or hire outside firms for that work.
The development is the latest twist in the case of Anita Mahajan, who is facing fraud charges that her firm, K.K. Bio-Science, billed the Department of Children and Family Services for drug tests it did not perform.
Madigan's office argued that the law firm of Meckler, Bulger and Tilson cannot continue to represent the agency's interests in the ongoing criminal case against Mahajan.
Mahajan and her banker husband, Amrish, were personal friends of Blagojevich and his family and financial supporters of his campaign. First Lady Patricia Blagojevich, a real estate agent, received more than $113,000 in commissions from real estate deals involving the Mahajans in 2006.
Cook County Judge James Obbish did not immediately rule on the request from Madigan's office.
Bruce Meckler said lawyers for his firm were in court Tuesday only because Mahajan's lawyer was demanding records from the firm related to its work for DCFS in the Mahajan case last fall.
"We were there representing our law firm, which had been subpoenaed," Meckler said.
Steve Miller, Mahajan's attorney, questioned in court whether the firm was representing DCFS or the governor's office.
Meckler, who has close political ties to Blagojevich, said his firm is not representing the governor's office in this case. The firm has represented the governor's administration in other matters, and the governor appointed Meckler to the board that oversees Navy Pier and McCormick Place. In addition, Meckler's firm has contributed more than $128,000 to Blagojevich's campaign fund.
Related listings
-
Supreme Court rejects experimental drugs case
Headline News 01/15/2008The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to consider a ruling that terminally ill patients have no right to be treated with experimental drugs not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration -- even if that means the patient will likely die before...
-
Appeals Court Rules Against Ex-Detainees
Headline News 01/12/2008A federal appeals court ruled Friday against four British men who contend they were systematically tortured and their religious rights abused throughout their two-year detention at Guantanamo Bay.In a suit against ex-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld...
-
Chicago law firms expand in Charlotte
Headline News 01/10/2008In 1998, Chicago law firm Mayer Brown established an office in Charlotte to be close to that city's bankers. A decade later, its local rivals are trying to muscle in on what has become a lucrative financial-services center. Winston & Strawn becam...
Victorville CA DUI defense Attorneys
The outcome of a DUI defense will have a long-term effect on anyone’s life, making the decision to receive legal representation an easy one. The fact is, most people accused of a DUI are first offenders with no criminal background. Whether this is your first run in with the law or you have had previous convictions, you are in need of a DUI defense attorney.
The charges you are facing for a DUI range from fines, a 12-month suspension on your license and worst-case scenario, prison time. Your attorney will be able to analyze your situation to decide the best way to go about your case.
Our attorneys know the tricky ways to challenge all of the DUI tests and know how to claim improper collection of evidence. We will be able to negotiate on your behalf and free you from charges and help you keep your drivers license. The DUI process can last up to several months, we can make this process easier on you. .