Possible new light on the sudden announcement that Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) plans to retire before year's end. His brother-in-law, Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, was indicted on bribery charges Wednesday.
The 13-page indictment (pdf) details "a bribery overture" ($40,000) made to Judge Henry L. Lackey; Lackey reported the act to the FBI.
Lackey's court was overseeing a claim against Scruggs over the "division of $26.5 million dollars in attorneys' fees." The case involved State Farm insurance settlement funds in Katrina claims. Scruggs represented Lott in his recovery fight; Lott has not been mentioned by the grand jury.
The grand jury also indicted his son, Zach Scruggs; Scruggs law firm attorney Sidney A. Backstrom; attorney Timothy Balducci; and former state auditor Steve Patterson.
Now we have one more possible reason for Lott to step down.
See American Enterprise Institute analysis of the lawsuit against State Farm.
Comments
The AEI article is the biggest piece of insurance industry propaganda I have ever read. All of you are invited to come down to MS and see what the fraud perpetrated by State Farm.
“The adjusters couldn’t get down the streets.” What about the people that lived on these streets. The adjusters were making up to 2% of the claims paid. They didn’t mind stepping over debris to get down here.
“Now we have one more possible reason for Lott to step down”
And what reason would that be? I guess I missed the connection there?
C