CL – Scruggs takes 5th in Katrina deposition

A federal judge has made public a Hurricane Katrina deposition with disgraced attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs.

Scruggs is the once powerful lawyer who must report to prison by Monday for his role in an unrelated judicial bribery scandal.

He was forced to submit sworn testimony last week in a civil lawsuit involving State Farm Fire & Casualty Cos.

Scruggs invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination on every question, even routine inquiries such as his birthday or where he went to law school.

State Farm suggested that Scruggs orchestrated an elaborate ploy after Katrina to make it appear that State Farm was covering up fraud in its handling of homeowners’ claims.

Clarion Ledger
7/30/8