Testimony begins in hearing on Judge Angela Stokes courtroom behavior

Testimony begins in hearing on Judge Angela Stokes courtroom behavior

Posted: Feb 26, 2015 1:31 PM CST Updated: Feb 26, 2015 2:22 PM CST

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Mountain of evidence to be presented at disciplinary hearing for Judge Angela Stokes. (Source: WOIO)

 

Judge Angela Stokes. (Source: Cleveland Municipal Court)

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CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - Opening statements in the disciplinary case against suspended Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Angela Stokes painted far different pictures of her work on the bench.  Attorney Robert Caligiuri of the Disciplinary Counsel told the three Judge panel, "When a person, any person walked into Judge Stokes courtroom 15C in Cleveland Municipal Court they walked into a different universe where rudeness, impatience, judicial incompetence, disrespect and disorder ruled the day." 

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Cleveland judge's behavior is on trial

Cleveland judge's behavior is on trial

Updated: Thursday, February 26 2015 1:39 PM EST2015-02-26 18:39:19 GMTFeb 26, 2015 12:39 PM CSTFeb 26, 2015 12:39 PM CST

A three Judge panel has begun hearing evidence in the disciplinary case against Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Angela Stokes. More >>

A three Judge panel has begun hearing evidence in the disciplinary case against Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Angela Stokes. More >>

Investigation: The cost of defending Judge Stokes

Investigation: The cost of defending Judge Stokes

Updated: Tuesday, December 2 2014 7:02 PM EST2014-12-03 00:02:06 GMTDec 02, 2014 6:02 PM CSTDec 02, 2014 6:02 PM CST

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After a long delay the City of Cleveland has finally given 19 Action News the dollar amount spent defending Municipal Court Judge Angela Stokes from discipline. The number is staggering, $116,728.54. And that is just to date, The case is likely to go on months longer. More >>

After a long delay the City of Cleveland has finally given 19 Action News the dollar amount spent defending Municipal Court Judge Angela Stokes from discipline. The number is staggering, $116,728.54. And that is just to date, The case is likely to go on months longer. More >>

Judge Stokes at center of another claim of strange behavior

Judge Stokes at center of another claim of strange behavior

Updated: Monday, August 25 2014 11:28 PM EDT2014-08-26 03:28:20 GMTAug 25, 2014 10:28 PM CDTAug 25, 2014 10:28 PM CDT

Judge Stokes at the center of more odd behavior.More >>

Judge Stokes at the center of more odd behavior. More >>

BANNED: Cleveland Court Judge Angela Stokes from hearing criminal cases

BANNED: Cleveland Court Judge Angela Stokes from hearing criminal cases

Updated: Saturday, March 15 2014 10:18 PM EDT2014-03-16 02:18:02 GMTMar 15, 2014 9:18 PM CDTMar 15, 2014 9:18 PM CDT

Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Angela Stokes has been barred from hearing criminal cases by presiding Judge Ronald Adrine.More >>

19 Action News has just confirmed Judge Stokes' courtroom conduct is currently under investigation by the disciplinary arm of the Ohio Supreme Court after hundreds of complaints to the court about her treatment of staff, defendants, attorneys and police officers.More >>

New courtroom rules credited to Judge Stokes' antics

New courtroom rules credited to Judge Stokes' antics

Updated: Tuesday, November 12 2013 2:01 PM EST2013-11-12 19:01:03 GMTNov 12, 2013 1:01 PM CSTNov 12, 2013 1:01 PM CST

Count one of the complaints against Judge Stokes is that she abuses court resources. More >>

Count one of the complaints against Judge Stokes is that she abuses court resources. More >>

He used played video of Stokes berating an attorney in the following exchange, 'I am tired of this nonsense, you are out of order. You are out of order counsel. I gave your client a break by only ordering two days of this sentence into execution.'
The question before the Disciplinary Council is whether the behavior is abusive enough for Judge Stokes to be removed from the bench.
The strategy of Judge Stokes defense team seems to be that all the things the Disciplinary Council cites in it's complaint against her were secretly collected by Presiding Judge Ronald Adrine and his predecessor Judge Larry Jones and were part of a plot to get her off the bench.
Attorney Paul Daiker claims, "The evidence will show that Judge Adrine recruited and rewarded a number of individuals willing to bear false witness against Judge Stokes."
Judge Jones was the first witness saying he tried many times to have her correct her courtroom behavior saying, "It would work for two weeks, three weeks."  He says his concern was her treatment of others.  He cited several examples "leaving the court house at 6 o'clock, 7 o'clock, 8 o'clock and again it's unfair to them and also as I indicated it's unfair to the public."
Stokes law license is currently suspended temporarily. The panel hearing testimony will make a recommendation to the Ohio Supreme Court who will make a final decision.

Editor's note: Your ProbateShark finds no humor in this attack on the elderly.  It is important in that it baits lawyer against lawyer.  And is the "change" they seek resulting in the corrupt Probate Court of Cook County? Lucius Verenus,  Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com 


Old People, Ridiculousness, Rudeness

Old Lawyers Fight At Country Club, Submit Dueling Membership Revocation Letters

By Staci Zaretsky

‘You amoeba-shaped squid!’

Old lawyers have earned themselves a bad reputation, especially in light of the current legal economy. They’re reviled by some as the Boomers who refuse to retire and make way for the new generation of attorneys. They refuse to adopt new technologies, they always think they’re right, and they adamantly refuse to change. This may be an unfair characterization, but many people believe it to be true, as disrespectful as it may be.
Given the harsh way some view older lawyers, of course they would be amused to see two of them almost come to blows inside a genteel Alabama country club. Imagine an attorney in his 70s allegedly screaming “you motherf*cker” at the top of his lungs, and then you’ll get an idea of what reportedly went down….

The events we’re about to talk about happened in October, but the dueling Montgomery Country Club membership revocation letters that were sent by the lawyers involved have been making their way around the legal circuit in Alabama, and we finally received them last night. In the long list of forwards, various members of the bar wrote that the letters were “hilarious” and “awesome.” One recipient summarized what transpired thusly: “I think one of them called the other an amoeba.” How’s that for southern charm?
The attorneys involved in the altercation were Thomas T. Gallion III and Thomas G. Mancuso. Here’s what Mancuso claims happened at the beginning of the country club confrontation (click to enlarge):

Gallion, on the other hand, claims Mancuso sent him a “defamatory letter” days before the incident at the club. Here’s Gallion’s description of what allegedly happened on the day of the fight (click to enlarge):

Here’s another excerpt from Mancuso’s letter to the country club president that we suspect was meant to gin up some sympathy for him as he painted himself as the lawyer with the cooler head (click to enlarge):

Here’s Gallion’s response to Mancuso’s “woe is me” narrative. This paragraph makes Gallion seems like… a very special kind of d-bag who must be a big hit at parties and social gatherings (click to enlarge):

We don’t know for sure if either of these fine gentlemen was barred from returning to the country club, but Mancuso suggests that he may file criminal charges against Gallion, while Gallion claims that never happened because he “learned a long time ago never to put one’s hand in garbage.” This guy’s got balls.
Gallion made the following promise when it comes to Mancuso’s presence at the club (click to enlarge):

Life as a grumpy old lawyer in Alabama certainly seems like it gets pretty entertaining, y’all.
(Flip through the following pages to see Thomas Mancuso’s and Thomas Gallion’s redacted letters in full.)

Which firm recently found out that one of its partners was involved in a sexist email scandal, and is doing absolutely nothing about it?

21 May 2014 at 11:51 AM

Biglaw, Email Scandals, Gender, Partner Issues, Rudeness, Sexism, Sports, Women's Issues

Biglaw Partner Avoids Punishment For Participation In Lewd, Crude, Sexist Email Scandal

By Staci Zaretsky

‘Have spent all day fending Edna off my graphite shaft.’

We already knew that Biglaw firms aren’t exactly the most friendly places for women. We already knew that some male lawyers are still quite miffed that women invaded their good old boys’ clubs. What we didn’t know was that some Biglaw firms would go so far as to essentially sign off on their partners’ extremely sexist views.
Which firm recently found out that one of its partners was involved in a sexist email scandal, and is doing absolutely nothing about it?

The firm in question is DLA Piper, which may want to consider opening a DLA NO MA’AM outpost. Earlier this month, one of the firm’s sports law partners in the London office was caught exchanging incredibly lewd, crude, and sexist emails with one of his clients, Richard ­Scudamore of the U.K. Premier League.
The Sunday Mirror first covered the story on May 10, without naming the lawyer involved. A little more than one week later, that lawyer has been named thanks to reporters over at the Am Law Daily. Say hello to Nicholas West, whose DLA Piper bio has been completely wiped clean of his credentials.
Here’s one of West’s darling email exchanges with Scudamore, leaked by the Sunday Mirror:

Nicholas West

In one crude email exchange the lawyer bragged to ­Scudamore: “Have spent all day fending [Premier League planning and projects director Peta Bistany, aka “Edna”] off my graphite shaft. She is terribly relentless isn’t she?!”
The football chief and father of five who lives with his wife Catherine in a £1.8million home in Cirencester, Glos, replied: “Terribly! Must keep her off your shaft… graphite, sausage meat or flimsy sponge.” Yesterday a Premier League source said the pair claim to have been referring to golf clubs. The lawyer also told Scudamore to “save the cash in case you find some gash”.

DLA Piper launched an inquisition against West after catching wind of his involvement in this extravaganza of crude comments, but ultimately decided to do nothing. Here’s more information from Am Law Daily:

A DLA spokesman told [said] that while the firm had determined that West’s actions represented “a failure to meet the high professional standards in which we take pride,” no further action will be taken.
“We have accepted Mr. West’s assurances that these emails are not reflective of his beliefs and values and that there will be no recurrence of this behavior,” the firm said in a statement.
West released a statement of his own in which he “sincerely apologize[d]” for his actions and admitted that he had “let myself, my firm and its clients down.”
“I have an obligation to uphold the highest professional standards and I give my assurance that this will be the case going forward,” he added.

Here’s what seems to be a more accurate translation of West’s statement: “I let myself, my firm, and its clients down by getting caught. I have an obligation to uphold the highest professional standards, and because I am a lad with true honor, I give my assurance that this will be the case going forward because I won’t be so daft as to put how I really feel down in writing ever again. This is so f’ckn easy! Go United!”
It’s good to know one of the top law firms on the planet doesn’t want to discipline its partners for engaging in sexist behavior — but then again, perhaps DLA Piper feels that Nicholas West’s own embarrassment is good enough. Either way, this can’t be good for public (or pubic, amirite Nick?!) relations.
DLA Clears Partner Caught Up in Sexist Email Furor [Am Law Daily]
England football supremo Richard Scudamore made sexist slurs in a string of emails to soccer pals
[Sunday Mirror]

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Biglaw, Email, Email Scandals, Emails, Gender, Nicholas West, Partner Issues, Partners With Issues, Peta Bistany, Rudeness, Sexism, Sports, Sports Law, Women's Issues

12 Feb 2014 at 2:25 PM

Depositions, Old People, Rudeness

Depositions Are Much More Fun When You Knock The Glasses Off Opposing Counsel’s Stupid Face

By Staci Zaretsky

Remember Adriana Ferreyr? She’s the 30-year-old Brazilian telenovela star who’s suing octogenarian moneybags George Soros because he didn’t buy her a $1.9 million apartment (or a $4.3 million apartment; the nerve of that old codger). When we last checked in on her, she was busy hiring Davis Polk alum William Beslow to fling legal arguments at the geriatric gigolo almost thrice her age she once banged, presumably hoping to make billions.
Ferreyr’s adventures in gold-digging continue this month with claims of her wild and crazy antics at a recent deposition in New York. She may only be known as a Hoveround ho in this country, but that doesn’t mean she’s not going to act like a diva.
Adriana Ferreyr doesn’t care if you’re a legal legend of the bar. She’ll still slap the glasses right off your stupid face…

According to recent filings, Ferreyr “came out swinging” at a deposition last week. While George Soros was being deposed, the fiery Latina allegedly appeared with a videographer, demanding that all of the proceedings be filmed. Martin Singer, representing Soros alongside William Zabel of Schulte Roth & Zabel, agreed with Beslow that a video would not be necessary, so Ferreyr apparently did what any elegant young woman would have done: she punched her lawyer and then screamed at him for about 20 minutes before allowing him to return to the deposition.
But that’s not all. Here’s a great summation of what allegedly went down from the New York Daily News:

Ferreyr … clocked Soros in the head, knocked the glasses off his California lawyer Martin Singer, cursed his other prominent lawyer William Zabel and even screamed at her own high powered attorney William Beslow, according to papers filed Friday by Singer.
“A–h–le! You piece of s–t!” Ferreyr, 30, allegedly screamed at Soros, 83, when he passed her in the hallway on the way to the restroom.

We hope Soros was able to turn down his hearing aids before Ferreyr started yelling at him. Singer, on the other hand, a young buck when compared to his client, was unable to avoid the soap star’s alleged wrath:

When the lawyers agreed at 1 p.m. to break for lunch, Singer said, Ferreyr “suddenly and without warning … lunged at Mr. Soros — who is 83 years old — and struck his head with her hands, knocking off the headphones he was wearing to amplify the audio in the room.”
“Ms. Ferreyr pulled back her arm to strike Mr. Soros in the face. I was able to grab both of (her) arms to move her away….I let go of her arms. Ms. Ferreyr immediately swung at my face, knocking off my glasses.”
Singer said he had to pull her back from stepping on his glasses and she tried to kick him. Then, he said, she slapped a Soros aide, Jose Santos, across the face and kicked Santos in the shins.

Ferreyr allegedly went on to threaten SRZ name partner, William Zabel: “You’re gonna go down, Zabel. You’re gonna go down. You should go to prison and get beat up.” Ai meu Deus, how eloquent.
We wonder what George Soros ever saw in this girl — her alleged behavior is outrageous. Adriana Ferreyr is on the prowl, so future sugar daddies beware: money can buy everything, but definitely not class.
George Soros’ ex-girlfriend goes berserk during deposition and smacks the 83-year-old billionaire in the head: court papers [New York Daily News]
Earlier: Adventures in Gold Digging: Soros Case Welcomes a New Lawyer