Judge Tosses California's Civil Suit Against ex-Bell Leaders
L.A. County Superior Court Judge Ralph W. Dau rules that legislators cannot be sued for passing ordinances that award themselves high salaries. Last year, then-Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown sued to recover funds from Bell officials whose salaries were among the highest in the nation |
Rizzo, Other Bell Officials Won't Receive Pensions to Match Huge Salaries
Because the city could not document a series of pay increases over the years, Rizzo will be entitled to retirement benefits on a salary of only $85,200 — or about one-tenth of his last yearly pay as city administrator, according to a California Public Employees Retirement System audit report. |
Robert Rizzo's Lawyer Says No Laws Were Broken in Bell Scandel
As Rizzo's preliminary hearing on 54 corruption charges began Tuesday, James Spertus told Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Henry J. Hall that the question was "whether the core facts constitute a violation of the penal code." |
District Attorney Investigating Business Fees in Bell
Los Angeles County prosecutors are investigating Bell’s practice of arbitrarily requiring some business owners to pay thousands of dollars in fees, marking the seventh outside investigation into alleged wrongdoing at City Hall. |
City of Bell Counsel are Former Prosecutors (National Law Journal)
Counsel representing former City of Bell Defendants are former federal prosecutors. |
Los Angeles Art Dealer Accused of Fraud
FBI Investigators targeted a Los Angeles art dealer for selling a Pablo Picasso painting, "La Femme Au Chapeau Bleu," to an art collector for $2 million. According to a federal criminal complaint filed in district court, the art dealer purportedly arranged to have the painting recreated by an art restorer, and then sold the painting as as original to a collector. James Spertus successfully defended the art dealer against these charges.
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Computer Crimes Expertise Brought to Bear in Complex Cases
As a founding member of the Computer Crimes Section in the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, Mr. Spertus gained invaluable training and experience that he brings to bear in high profile cases requiring technical expertise. |
Terrorism Case to Be Governed by French Law
Prevailed on appeal to DC Circuit Court arguing that grandson of murdered Iranian General Gholam Oveissi has standing to pursue claims for damages against Iran resulting from the murder on the streets of Paris, France in 1984. |
