Lawyers in the News.
1. Head over heals. Lawyer, Stephen Ateshoglou is representing Stephen Chang in a lawsuit filed this week against “Hot Lap Dance Club” in Manhattan. Chang, a securities trader, sustained “serious injuries” when the stripper who was giving him a lap dance spun around and kicked him in the eye.
2. Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Larry Stephen sentenced Trevor Smith (better known as Busta Rhymes) this week to three years probation for assaulting his former driver. The rapper was also ordered to perform 10 days of community service, pay a $1,250 fine, and enroll in a drunken driving program. Scott Leemon, Busta’s Lawyer, said a private agency called Rock Corp. will work out the community service program.
3. Oprah’s army revolts! Winfrey’s lawyer, Chip Babcock, has a lot on his plate this week. Orit Greenberg filed a lawsuit against Harpo Studios claiming she sustained “severe and permanent injuries” when she was pushed down the stairs during a stampede at a filming of the “Oprah Winfrey Show” back in 2006. Also this week; another one of Oprah’s army, Darlene Tracy, filed a lawsuit against Ms. Winfrey, claiming the idea for “Oprah’s Big Give” was stolen from her.
4. Michael Grieco, who represents actor Mickey Rourke, was in court this week. Rourke, star of the movie “Barfly”, was arrested last November for reckless driving on his vespa in Florida. The police report says that when the officer approached him Rourke got off his scooter stating “What the *#% did I do?” The cop observed a flushed face, watery eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath. Mickey then stated “I’m not drunk, I didn’t even drink that much.” This week Rourke pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was sentenced to six months probation, and 50 hours of community service (which he can choose to buy off at $10 per hour). Grieco, said “The only thing he has to do is take an online driving course.”
5. Can’t buy me love. Gloria Allred, who represents Heather Mills, feels her client was mistreated during her divorce battle in London. Mills was awarded $48.6 million on Monday in her settlement from Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney. The Judge residing over the case said that Mills was a “less than impressive witness” and that she was “not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid.” Allred has represented other celebrities, such as Nicole Simpson’s family and Britney Spears’ bodyguard. Back in 2002 Allred criticized Michael Jackson’s parenting skills to which MJ replied “tell her to go to hell”.
6. Real life Law and Order. Ravi Batra, a New York attorney, is suing the creators of “Law and Order” for an episode depicting a mirror image of himself. The show was about a “bald Indian-American Lawyer” called “Ravi Patel” who bribes a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge. Batra has never been charged with bribery and says that his reputation was affected by the bad press. He is suing for $15 million. Davis Wright Tremaine is representing Wolf.
7. (Non-Lawyer) Fun facts about March Madness! Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement consulting organization in Chicago, estimates that the NCAA will cost businesses $1.7 billion in wasted work time over the 16 business days of the tournament. It is possible that 37.3 million workers will participate in office pools and 1.5 million will be watching games on their computers at work (which can slow down the company’s computer network). It’s a wonder how anyone gets anything done when there is basketball to watch!
