Lawyer admits bribing judge
- Share via
JACKSON, MISS. — A lawyer has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bribe a judge and is assisting federal prosecutors in a case involving a prominent trial attorney, according to court documents.
Timothy Balducci entered the plea late Tuesday after initially pleading not guilty.
According to court papers, Balducci was accused of delivering $40,000 to a judge at the behest of lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs for a favorable ruling in a civil case.
The case before the judge involved a dispute between Scruggs and other lawyers over $26.5 million in fees from a mass settlement of lawsuits that homeowners filed against State Farm Insurance Cos. after Hurricane Katrina.
Scruggs and the other lawyers appeared in court a week ago and pleaded not guilty to charges against them.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
