Grand jury probing new case involving wealthy lawyer accused of bribery

Grand jury probing new case involving wealthy lawyer accused of bribery

One of the cases apparently being looked into by federal authorities is a 1994 lawsuit in which two of Scruggs’ former associates, attorneys Alwyn Luckey and William Roberts Wilson Jr., sued Scruggs for a bigger cut of millions of dollars that the attorneys had won in asbestos litigation.

Hinds County Circuit Clerk Barbara Dunn said Thursday that the 1994 file was not available because federal investigators took all 7,001 documents related to the case earlier this week.

The judge who presided over the 1994 case was Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter, a former prosecutor renowned for successfully prosecuting Byron De La Beckwith in the 1990s for the 1963 murder of NAACP field secretary Medger Evers.

During a telephone interview with the AP on Thursday, DeLaughter said he could not comment on reports of the grand jury probe but challenged anyone who doubted his judicial integrity to read his ruling in the case.

“I have not taken any bribes of any sort. Have not issued any rulings in exchange for money or anything else,” DeLaughter said. “If one were to go back and look at my very lengthy and detailed ruling, I think it would be very evident … they are on a solid legal basis and would stand any scrutiny.”

Numerous calls to U.S. Attorney Jim Greenlee’s office in Oxford this week have not been returned. Attorneys for Scruggs have not responded to repeated requests for comment.

Two of Scruggs’ attorneys, Joey Langston and Billy Quin of the Langston Law Firm, both withdrew from the case this week. The Langston Law Firm in Booneville was searched by FBI agents on Dec. 10.

Sun Herald
1/10/8