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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    The land of Genesee Cream Ale and homemade pierogies!
    Posts
    2,105

    Idea for a reality show, lawyers assaulting other lawyers!

    Two lawyers assaulting each other inside a courthouse over their own negligence lawsuit. I don't watch reality TV but this might change my mind.

    I like how the deputy was giving a play-by-play on a security video replay to the reporter.

    What's not to like in this?

    Link: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/law...house-1.892077

    Ouoted for posterity:

    Lawyer charged for assaulting opposing counsel inside ... Courthouse

    By Joe McDonald (Staff Writer)
    Published: July 16, 2010

    A civil suit turned into a criminal case at the Lackawanna County Courthouse on Thursday when a Philadelphia-area lawyer punched opposing counsel in a profanity-laced exchange that started in a hallway and spilled into a stairwell.

    Attorney Michael Rauch, 46, of Cherry Hill, N.J., allegedly shot three roundhouse punches, right, left, right, to make his point to Scranton attorney John Fisher of the firm Rinaldi & Rinaldi.

    "So much for the civility in the practice of law," quipped Senior Judge Harold Thompson as details of the fight filtered through the courthouse.

    Mr. Rauch did not score a knockout, but the punches landed him behind bars, at least for a few hours. He was charged Thursday with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.

    "He was just swinging roundhouse punches," said Dominick Manetti, the chief deputy in the Lackawanna County sheriff's office, who provided a blow-by-blow commentary after watching the video caught by a surveillance camera. The video and a digital recording will be used as evidence in the criminal case against Mr. Rauch.

    According to court papers, Mr. Rauch told sheriff deputies that he had told Mr. Fisher to "leave him alone and cease all communications with him," but Mr. Fisher refused to do so and continued to harass him.

    The pivotal moment that escalated the fight was apparently triggered by Mr. Fisher calling Mr. Rauch a "stupid, bald (expletive)," according to court documents.

    "At this time, Mr. Rauch stated that he had enough and struck the victim, Mr. Fisher," court papers state.

    Mr. Rauch spent the morning in a holding cell waiting to be arraigned. And, about three-and-a-half hours later, was shuffled into court in leg chains and handcuffs. He answered all questions from Magisterial District Judge John P. Pesota and later walked out of the courthouse a free man on $10,000 unsecured bail.

    Prior to the fight, Mr. Rauch and Mr. Fisher were in court over a civil suit involving a 2003 Porsche Carrera that Mr. Fisher bought and later crashed in an accident he argued was caused by the negligence of Knopf Automotive Inc., a Lehigh Valley car dealership that sold him the car and later inspected it. Mr. Fisher's suit, which states he suffered a head injury in the crash, seeks damages in excess of $50,000.

    Mr. Fisher, who represents himself in the suit, claims Knopf reinstalled bald tires on his car during an inspection on June 18, 2004, when the car had "exactly 6,721 miles on the odometer."

    On Aug. 1, 2004, the car hydroplaned due to "bald rear tires" while traveling south at 55 miles per hour on Interstate 81 in Lackawanna County, the suit states.

    Back at his law office Thursday afternoon, Mr. Fisher declined to answer questions about the incident.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    1,857
    Anybody think to give em guns?

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