THURSDAY NOTES AND THEORETICALS
One theory as to where the Rothstein case is going - it takes a big blog to admit it, but facts are facts: beyond a snippet here and there, we've disseminated hardly anything interesting in the still rapidly unfolding Rothstein scandal. So, with gritted teeth and a depo-free afternoon, we set off today to try and remedy the situation in our usual fashion - by finding more experienced lawyers and mindlessly copying down everything they say. At the risk of looking even sillier than Mike "Crumbs" Satz charging a hapless and already federally finished Joe Eggelletion, here's a disturbing theory courtesy of some our favorite federal practitioners that hasn't already been floated or proven by Bob Norman, Buddy Nevins, Jay Weaver or their colleagues.*
First of all, there's a lot of buzz and awe brewing at the rumored sophistication of Rothstein's racket. It turns out a guy who may not have had much of a talent for lawyering (or certainly anything sartorial), may be pretty sharp in a dark, twisted fashion. Not smart enough to avoid detection, mind you, but clever enough to possibly drag a lot of intelligent and largely unsuspecting lawyers down with him.
For instance, did you know that all of RRA, not just Rothstein's inner sanctum, was wired for video? Yup, the hallways all boasted Vegas style "eye in the sky" turrets, which were installed "for security purposes". The individual lawyers' offices were not, as far as anyone knows, bugged with cameras. The really weird part? The persistent rumors that the hall cameras, and possibly other devices, may have had the ability to capture sound.
What does it all mean? By itself nothing, beyond establishing a hardcore Nixonian paranoia to add to Scotty's already volatile mixture of complexes, delusions and ticks. Factor in the predictable, yet unfathomable, "I know nothing" chorus of all the other RRA lawyers, and it starts to get interesting.
Now, no one is saying any of the other lawyers played an active part in the scam, but what if they did so unwittingly, or with "willful blindness"? (that's a legal term, y'all) What if some of the high priced talent was paid a whole lot of money to do absolutely nothing? (except lend credibility to the scam, of course) What if they "knew or should have known"? (another legal term) Or, what if they played along with a flamboyant and all-powerful Boss, who occasionally suddenly appeared in their office with a rich socialite, asking how x, y, or z case was going (wink wink), with the flabbergasted attorney fumbling an "everything's great, Scotty," even though they may have had no idea what he was talking about? What if they, gasp, also signed when Rothstein said "sign this?" And what if video/audio had been surreptitiously/illegally recorded starring all of the above players?
Certainly, a lot of ifs, and, on the above facts, maybe not enough to ensure a criminal indictment, let alone a RICO conviction. But ... what about civil liability? And what about the Florida Bar? For therein lies the rub .... the collateral damage on this could potentially be bigger than anyone cares to admit.
We'll cut to the chase. You can't take the Fifth on a civil matter. Similarly, testimony freely given based on a grant of immunity on the criminal side would serve only to ensure a fat share of a ridiculously huge joint and several civil judgment, awfully hard to dent, let alone pay off, especially without a law license. Follow?
Obviously, most, if not all of the questions, are unanswerable at this time. Right now, the whole theory makes for nothing more than a fascinating law school hypothetical. Still, you can bet that a lot of RRA lawyers are laying awake at night, wracking their brains whether or not they did something, or forgot about something they may have done, that could mean big trouble in the near future.
It's a huge mess, courtesy of a guy they'll likely be making movies about someday. Unfortunately, after all the wreckage and destroyed lives, if they do make that movie, Rothstein will have achieved exactly what he wanted all along: he'll be remembered forever.
(* Our apologies if any of this stuff stuff has been previously reported - eavesdropping in the
Courthouse cafeteria all day leaves little time for newspaper reading)
(Thanks to the "Dynamic Duo")
The Satz/Rothstein Connection - Chuck Morton was kind enough to confirm that Mike Satz attended at least one Christmas Party at 'Che Rothstein. It was a couple of years ago, at the house prior to the one you've seen Joe Alu standing in front of all week. The party was reportedly a grand affair, with an entire bar made of ice, and a plexiglass covered pool that allowed dancers to feel as if they really could walk on water. Chuck, who taught both Rothstein and Russell Adler at Nova Law once upon a time, was also in attendance, as were many sitting judges.
So, how deep was the Satz/Rothstein friendship? No one can say for sure, but they were reportedly pretty palsy. In fact, the good folks connected to RRA appear to have raised at least $5400.00 for Team Satz during the last election.* There are also rumors of some direct calls between "Scotty" and Satz's office (quack, quack!).
Is it significant that the county's top law enforcement official ignored, or worse, couldn't see the warning signs? Is Broward County a corrupt cesspool of legendary proportions because the word "obtuse" may describe our elected state attorney better than any other, as opposed to the more sinister theories advanced through the years? Sure, many judges and others in the power elite also were hypnotized by the pink stripes in the garish suits, but is that an excuse when you're talking about the man who swore a duty to ensure justice and protect the citizens of Broward? Is this guy really that out of touch, and should he be allowed to sit back and not investigate funny business, just because he may be blinded by friendship, or because he can't see past his pile of Il Mulino noodles? (for the record, his friends Ken Jenne, Howard Scheinberg, and others worked there too) One thing's for sure, whatever has led us to this point, BROWARD NEEDS CHANGE.
(* Satz has taken funky contributions before, like when he took
at least $1,000.00 in 2004 from the Huizenga family, during
the SAO's felony DUI prosecution of Robert Ray Huizenga)
LEE TV? - There's a strong buzz that County Judge Lee Seidman, currently embattled in a three-way to keep his job, has been trying to win a transfer to First Appearances. Why? Weekly TV Time, plus a big name plate that says "SEIDMAN", should translate to votes. Will it happen? We're told NO WAY, given the wonderful job Judge Hurley has been doing, and wants to continue doing. Still, it might be fun to have Seidman in the studio, given last week's hilarious "human torch" faux pas, and the potential docket clearing speed records he might set. Of course, it should be noted that someone from Team Seidman told us today, in no uncertain terms, that Seidman has absolutely no interest in the gig, rumors be damned.
1000 "Be Kind Rewind" stickers available FREE in the Law Library - they're left over from the Library's collection of CLE audiotapes, never affixed, since not a single tape has ever been returned that wasn't in the same place as when it was checked out (ie, the beginning).
BROWARDBULLDOG.ORG - Finalist for U.S. Attorney planted phony court records:
"A Miami-Dade judge who President Obama is considering to be South Florida’s next U.S. Attorney once falsified official court records in apparent violation of state law.
Judge Daryl Trawick ... instructed the clerk’s office to alter the public court docket in 2002 at the request of state prosecutors seeking to protect a drug informant. A secret docket was kept so Trawick could keep track of what was actually happening ... "
This & That - PSCC Meeting pushed: today's quarterly meeting has been moved until next Thursday at 3:00 PM; Family law practitioners to throw a "Welcome Cheryl Aleman" party on February 1st, after the Civil practitioners "Don't Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out" fundraiser on January 28th (checks payable to the "Sandra Perlman Campaign For Judge"); Conflict for Bogie? - should David Bogenschutz represent Stuart Rosenfeldt, after having represented RRA employee Ken Jenne? And does anyone know if Ken is still on probation?; Don't miss out on the Stripper and BSO Rothstein stories over at The Daily Pulp.
See ya!
First of all, there's a lot of buzz and awe brewing at the rumored sophistication of Rothstein's racket. It turns out a guy who may not have had much of a talent for lawyering (or certainly anything sartorial), may be pretty sharp in a dark, twisted fashion. Not smart enough to avoid detection, mind you, but clever enough to possibly drag a lot of intelligent and largely unsuspecting lawyers down with him.
For instance, did you know that all of RRA, not just Rothstein's inner sanctum, was wired for video? Yup, the hallways all boasted Vegas style "eye in the sky" turrets, which were installed "for security purposes". The individual lawyers' offices were not, as far as anyone knows, bugged with cameras. The really weird part? The persistent rumors that the hall cameras, and possibly other devices, may have had the ability to capture sound.
What does it all mean? By itself nothing, beyond establishing a hardcore Nixonian paranoia to add to Scotty's already volatile mixture of complexes, delusions and ticks. Factor in the predictable, yet unfathomable, "I know nothing" chorus of all the other RRA lawyers, and it starts to get interesting.
Now, no one is saying any of the other lawyers played an active part in the scam, but what if they did so unwittingly, or with "willful blindness"? (that's a legal term, y'all) What if some of the high priced talent was paid a whole lot of money to do absolutely nothing? (except lend credibility to the scam, of course) What if they "knew or should have known"? (another legal term) Or, what if they played along with a flamboyant and all-powerful Boss, who occasionally suddenly appeared in their office with a rich socialite, asking how x, y, or z case was going (wink wink), with the flabbergasted attorney fumbling an "everything's great, Scotty," even though they may have had no idea what he was talking about? What if they, gasp, also signed when Rothstein said "sign this?" And what if video/audio had been surreptitiously/illegally recorded starring all of the above players?
Certainly, a lot of ifs, and, on the above facts, maybe not enough to ensure a criminal indictment, let alone a RICO conviction. But ... what about civil liability? And what about the Florida Bar? For therein lies the rub .... the collateral damage on this could potentially be bigger than anyone cares to admit.
We'll cut to the chase. You can't take the Fifth on a civil matter. Similarly, testimony freely given based on a grant of immunity on the criminal side would serve only to ensure a fat share of a ridiculously huge joint and several civil judgment, awfully hard to dent, let alone pay off, especially without a law license. Follow?
Obviously, most, if not all of the questions, are unanswerable at this time. Right now, the whole theory makes for nothing more than a fascinating law school hypothetical. Still, you can bet that a lot of RRA lawyers are laying awake at night, wracking their brains whether or not they did something, or forgot about something they may have done, that could mean big trouble in the near future.
It's a huge mess, courtesy of a guy they'll likely be making movies about someday. Unfortunately, after all the wreckage and destroyed lives, if they do make that movie, Rothstein will have achieved exactly what he wanted all along: he'll be remembered forever.
(* Our apologies if any of this stuff stuff has been previously reported - eavesdropping in the
Courthouse cafeteria all day leaves little time for newspaper reading)
(Thanks to the "Dynamic Duo")
The Satz/Rothstein Connection - Chuck Morton was kind enough to confirm that Mike Satz attended at least one Christmas Party at 'Che Rothstein. It was a couple of years ago, at the house prior to the one you've seen Joe Alu standing in front of all week. The party was reportedly a grand affair, with an entire bar made of ice, and a plexiglass covered pool that allowed dancers to feel as if they really could walk on water. Chuck, who taught both Rothstein and Russell Adler at Nova Law once upon a time, was also in attendance, as were many sitting judges.
So, how deep was the Satz/Rothstein friendship? No one can say for sure, but they were reportedly pretty palsy. In fact, the good folks connected to RRA appear to have raised at least $5400.00 for Team Satz during the last election.* There are also rumors of some direct calls between "Scotty" and Satz's office (quack, quack!).
Is it significant that the county's top law enforcement official ignored, or worse, couldn't see the warning signs? Is Broward County a corrupt cesspool of legendary proportions because the word "obtuse" may describe our elected state attorney better than any other, as opposed to the more sinister theories advanced through the years? Sure, many judges and others in the power elite also were hypnotized by the pink stripes in the garish suits, but is that an excuse when you're talking about the man who swore a duty to ensure justice and protect the citizens of Broward? Is this guy really that out of touch, and should he be allowed to sit back and not investigate funny business, just because he may be blinded by friendship, or because he can't see past his pile of Il Mulino noodles? (for the record, his friends Ken Jenne, Howard Scheinberg, and others worked there too) One thing's for sure, whatever has led us to this point, BROWARD NEEDS CHANGE.
(* Satz has taken funky contributions before, like when he took
at least $1,000.00 in 2004 from the Huizenga family, during
the SAO's felony DUI prosecution of Robert Ray Huizenga)
LEE TV? - There's a strong buzz that County Judge Lee Seidman, currently embattled in a three-way to keep his job, has been trying to win a transfer to First Appearances. Why? Weekly TV Time, plus a big name plate that says "SEIDMAN", should translate to votes. Will it happen? We're told NO WAY, given the wonderful job Judge Hurley has been doing, and wants to continue doing. Still, it might be fun to have Seidman in the studio, given last week's hilarious "human torch" faux pas, and the potential docket clearing speed records he might set. Of course, it should be noted that someone from Team Seidman told us today, in no uncertain terms, that Seidman has absolutely no interest in the gig, rumors be damned.
1000 "Be Kind Rewind" stickers available FREE in the Law Library - they're left over from the Library's collection of CLE audiotapes, never affixed, since not a single tape has ever been returned that wasn't in the same place as when it was checked out (ie, the beginning).
BROWARDBULLDOG.ORG - Finalist for U.S. Attorney planted phony court records:
"A Miami-Dade judge who President Obama is considering to be South Florida’s next U.S. Attorney once falsified official court records in apparent violation of state law.
Judge Daryl Trawick ... instructed the clerk’s office to alter the public court docket in 2002 at the request of state prosecutors seeking to protect a drug informant. A secret docket was kept so Trawick could keep track of what was actually happening ... "
This & That - PSCC Meeting pushed: today's quarterly meeting has been moved until next Thursday at 3:00 PM; Family law practitioners to throw a "Welcome Cheryl Aleman" party on February 1st, after the Civil practitioners "Don't Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out" fundraiser on January 28th (checks payable to the "Sandra Perlman Campaign For Judge"); Conflict for Bogie? - should David Bogenschutz represent Stuart Rosenfeldt, after having represented RRA employee Ken Jenne? And does anyone know if Ken is still on probation?; Don't miss out on the Stripper and BSO Rothstein stories over at The Daily Pulp.
See ya!
Anyone could tell where the Rothstein case is going. They are all going to jail for a very long time.
What a blatant political display, reading from a script -- so which one of the "Team Seidman" folks wrote the "human torch" line? Kulick? Crass and disgusting, and Gordon Weekes was right, it diminishes the injuries actually sustained by Michael Brewer and makes a mockery of what happened.
And he thought that would win him points? Go Jahra! Go Nate! Go Unnamed Jewish Female!
LEE JAY MAY AS WELL RETIRE NOW. HE'S GONNA FEEL WORSE WHEN HE GETS VOTED OUT.
Mike Satz can dance?
Wow, maybe Judge Seidman should spend less time trying to get free TV ads (I hear his contributions from people other than the lawyers that are regulars in his courtroom have dried up since it became a 3-way race) and a little more time in his own courtroom.
How about actually trying a case or two this year and earn a little of the taxpayer money that you're getting paid every month.
Having to actually work for the money he's getting? That's not something judges do here in this county.
Hurley isn't going to give up his TV spot to Seidman or anybody else He's going to need the exposure. Pretty pathetic.
That's a lot of ifs if you ask me. Rothstein and Co. are in a tailspin that's going to incorporate quite a few people.
Who's going to be first to call Michael Brewer's mother and get her to denounce Seidman's comment about her kid being a "human torch" and get her to sign an edorsement card -- Nate or Jahra?
In the same way Elaine from "Seinfeld" can dance.
i HEAR mardi levey cohen is putting in for lee jay's seat. is she the unknown jewish female. i thought backman and lee jay were friends.
Is that you.... jeff or paul or arlene backman? Sorry, it won't work- Mardi's not moving seats. Nice try though... and you get an "A" for being persistent.
mike see no evil partys with crooks dance the night away mikey
Hey, the North Carolina Bar Association website says they are accepting applicants for Small Claims Court in the Ashville area.
I wonder if any of our judges might be on "vacation" up North brushing up on their resumes this weekend to send in.
Human Torch? Really?
Amazing insensitivity to a kid who's lying in a intensive care unit and is going to be going through months or years of treatments in order to function again, if he makes it through that at all.
"To refer to Michael as a 'human torch' diminishes the injuries he sustained," said Bent's public defender Gordon Weekes, "It also diminishes the seriousness of punishment of the other children in the criminal process."
FLAME ON!!!
Was Satz at the Rothstein party last year too?
He can't lead, but he sure can dance around the facts.
I would much rather see Seidman in 1st Appearance Court on TV than HURLy.
At least Lee Jay won't look like a bafoon wearing a bow-tie and make stupid comments to defendants.
GO L J S!!! Don't let the envious fools get you down! You'll be in again...
Don't care where Seidman goes so long as it is not on the criminal bench.
Then you won't mind if you run into him working out at the Sawgrass Mills Mall
maybe doing Judge Judy skits opposite Seidlin.
It doesn't take rocket science to figure where RR & A are going. Allot of people have already left weeks ago.
Unwitting participation spells trouble.
Tobin puts Seidman in F/A?
Are you kidding me?
Seidman would be an unmitigated disaster. The "torch" comment merely confirmed that Seidman cannot be trusted in front of a camera.
Thanks Jay. We know you are sh-t scared of getting an opponent because as a true red republican you will go down hard in this democratic county, like you did in 2000.
What's up with Ana? Is she in the bunker? Has anyone seen her out lately?
Adj. no need to be pissed off at Hurley. This one is all on you baby!
I think Mike was there last year too. I guess he's going to skip this year's soiree.
I hope the FBI is called in to investigate the SAO on Brady. I also think OSHA should investigate whether there were violations on smoking. For instance, did Mike and Monica know Mark Springer smoked in his office? Did they do anything about it? Why are there so many double standards?
Will one of the new judges hire Maria D?
Springer had an automatic type of lock on his door so no one could bust him smoking in there.