JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG

WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL RICHARD E GERSTEIN JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG. THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO JUSTICE BUILDING RUMOR, HUMOR, AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT AND BETWEEN THE JUDGES, LAWYERS AND THE DEDICATED SUPPORT STAFF, CLERKS, COURT REPORTERS, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WHO LABOR IN THE WORLD OF MIAMI'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE. POST YOUR COMMENTS, OR SEND RUMPOLE A PRIVATE EMAIL AT HOWARDROARK21@GMAIL.COM. Winner of the prestigious Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

10 MILLION REASONS TO SAY I'M SORRY

More trouble for lawyers Guy Lewis and Michael Tein as the Herald reported here  on the ten million dollars in fees that the Miccosukee tribe paid their law firm before relations went south. 

In the legal malpractice lawsuit before Judge Rosa Rodriguez, the two embattled lawyers had denied that the tribe had paid them that amount of money. The tribe responded by filing over four hundred checks- copies of the front and back- ouch!- along with the allegation that the two lawyers were kicking back part of their fees to then tribe chairman Billy Cypress. Double ouch!
There's a world of difference between malpractice and kickbacks. The former is a civil issue, the latter is a crime. Triple ouch.  Tis the season for repentance. Now might be the time to come to Jesus. (Sorry to mix religious metaphors so soon after Yom Kippur.)

Trial resumes in the horrible murder case arising out of the abduction of a young couple on south beach near the old Penrods. Joel Lebron is the defendant and accused trigger man. Testimony the other day was that he put a firearm to the head of the young woman and pulled the trigger twice but each time the gun misfired. The young woman begged for her life until the third time Lebron pulled the trigger and the gun fired. Allegations don't get much worse than that. You can follow all the developments with Herald Reporter David Ovalle's twitter feed: @Davidovalle305. 

See You In Court. 




21 comments:

DS said...

Looks Like Cong. Riveria will need a Great Criminal Defense Lawyer:

Rivera ran secret campaign, Sternad tells FBI.

Justin Lamar Sternad told federal law enforcement authorities that U.S. Rep. David Rivera was behind his failed Democratic primary campaign.

By Manny Garcia and Marc Caputo

Justin Lamar Sternad, whose failed congressional campaign became the subject of a federal grand-jury investigation, has told the FBI that U.S. Rep. David Rivera was secretly behind his run for office, The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald have learned

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/09/25/3021207/rivera-ran-secret-campaign-sternad.html#storylink=cpy

Anonymous said...

Man it's nice to wake up and have a cup of coffee. Fasting isn't that hard until you factor in no coffee. Great post as always Rump.

Anonymous said...

Lewis/Tein: the perp walk can't be too far off! Can't wait to see it.

Anonymous said...

Lewis / Tein - who cuts a deal first?

Anonymous said...

if it were a kickback, where are the check or other indicia showing money flowing TO the tribal chairman? seriously.

this is so much nonsense, and shame on people who are jealous, for coming out to take shots.

really. and lewis tein dont deserve it.

the tribe's lawyer sounds like he better have some evidecne, or he is going to lose his bar license.

Anonymous said...

Mike and Guy are done. Maybe they can bunk with Rivera.

Anonymous said...

9:09: Not only are you naive and stupid but you are a sore excuse for a Lewis/Tein apologist. I got it. You must be married to one of them.

Anonymous said...

If they really did get the money, why lie when cancelled checks are so easly to print and present?

How can they be that stupid?

Anonymous said...

Lewis Tein charges seem trumped up

Anonymous said...

Oh, the allure of money does it everytime. It makes anyone in its grasp become stupid. And here, we are dealing with about 10 million bucks. You think Lewis and Tein were thinking about being sued when they were doing everything the Chairman wanted done? At this point they need to think about more important issues, like self surrender, and place of confinement.

Anonymous said...

How could they be so stupid. How could you be so stupid? You see, they are ex federal prosecutors. Their first name is synonyous with "distinguised" and "respected" and "high powered." They are above reproach simply by thier title. And when it comes to amateur land, a/k/a State Court, they are also feared or think they should be. After all, we are just "hacks" who spend our days getting our pants dirty doing the nitty gritty stuff like taking a plea on a 3d degree felony or filing an eviction or defending a foreclosure. Not only should we not suspect them of anything improper, we should be thankful that they have descended from thier lofty perch and graced us with their presence.

Anonymous said...

Rump,Capt,D.S., and my adversaries who hate my guts, albeit they have never met me and I could care less, good afternoon, and shalom.

Something very disturbing took place recently, before Yom Kippur,I contacted the Public Pretenders Office to retrieve a document from a case file and the conversation when as such:

Me:Hello, this is Johnnie L. Person, and I am calling in regards to case such and such, and defendant so and so, to retrieve a document in the case file.

L.A:Is this an open case ?

Me: Yes, very much so.

L.A.: Is the defendant sentenced yet?

Me: I beg your pardon, the defendant hasn't even been to trial.

L.A. Oh ok, then what do you need.

Me: Ms. I need to speak to Mrs. Lazy Lawyer regarding the case I referred to a second ago.

L.A.: Well Mrs. Lazy Lawyer is out of the office and you'll-

Me:Mam is your division chief, Mr. Asshole there.

L.A.:Let me check...Yes he's here but he's not available, would you like to speak to his voice mail.

Me:I'll leave a message if that's what you mean.

Note to myself(Put on calender for lazy lawyer).

My point is whoever said
"Mitigation not Litigation" is correct, dammit. That office is a manure pile of schmuck retards. With the exception of Jay,Bob, and a very small group of others. Every formidable attorney they have there is, or are in the process of jumping ship and I see why. That office has no morale and is a breach of our Constitution.
~AM~

Anonymous said...

Hate to see the way Lewis and Tein are being persecuted

DS said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Super liberal defense attorney here. Having said that' I'd personally kill Joel Lebron. He is an animal. Sorry that our states limited resources will be spent on his appeals.

I do understand the process, and everyone deserves a fair shake. But this case makes me so sick I can only imagine what the family is got g through.

Congrats to the state and hopefully Joel will get the needle soon.

Anonymous said...

Super liberal defense attorney here. Having said that' I'd personally kill Joel Lebron. He is an animal. Sorry that our states limited resources will be spent on his appeals.

I do understand the process, and everyone deserves a fair shake. But this case makes me so sick I can only imagine what the family is got g through.

Congrats to the state and hopefully Joel will get the needle soon.

Anonymous said...

Abe, why do you detest the "back slapping" from some criminal defenses attorneys to others. I have great respect for you, the community owes you many gratitude. Out of curiosity, would you also detest back slapping from one Asa to another when they win?

Nothing wrong with congratulating a colleague for a job well done.

If you ever try and win a defense case, many will congratulate you. Again, nothing personal. You're a great guy. But to congratulate someone who undertakes a difficult position and prevails is human nature. I congratulate you for all your guiltys



DS said...

AM
You are a KNOW NOTHING

Anonymous said...

Rumpole - YOUR POST IS INACCURATE AND YOU SHOULD CORRECT IT. Lewis Tein NEVER denied receiving the 10 Mil! They denied that the Tribe -- notorious tax-evaders that they are -- ever filed the 1099s with the IRS that the Tribe all of a sudden attached to a pleading. Lewis Tein ADMITTED that they received 10 mil, but that it was for representing the Tribe and DOZENS of individual indians for 10 YEARS! You really should correct your completely false and irresponsible post! Read the pleadings before you post! You are such a hater!

Anonymous said...

Hey, 11:21 am. You are either Tein himself or another Tein apologist. Handcuffs will never look so good as when they adorn that short man's little wrists!

Anonymous said...

Bernie Roman, the tribe's lawyer, will be disbarred when his fraud of a lawsuit is dismissed.