Legal News

Lerach Asks to Enter Prison Alcohol-Treatment Center

By Ashby Jones

Bill Lerach, the famed plaintiffs lawyer currently serving a 24-month prison sentence, is seeking to enter a prison alcohol-treatment center. Here’s a copy of his motion, filed today; click here for a story from the NY Sun’s Josh Gerstein.

According to the motion, filed by John Keker, his lawyer: “Lerach has struggled for years with severe alcoholism and faces the substantial possibility of relapse without the type of treatment offered by the BOP’s residential drug program. . . . Lerach suffered from alcoholism for more than 20 years. The extent of Lerach’s alcohol abuse and his need for continued treatment is documented in detail in the four letters from his doctors filed herewith under seal.”

Last October, Lerach pleaded to a conspiracy charge for agreeing to conceal from judges kickback payments made by his old firm, now known as Milberg LLP. In February, he was sentenced to two years in prison, which he is currently serving at a facility in Lompoc, Calif.

Photo: AP

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on June 05, 2008 (boomark / email).