Legal News

'Girls Gone Wild' in the slammer

By Jonathan Hayter

"Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis landed in federal custody Monday after missing a court hearing regarding his attorneys' request to withdraw as counsel in his tax evasion case.

U.S. District Judge S. James Otero of the Central District of California issued the warrant after Francis, 35, did not appear at the hearing and failed to return a telephone call from the judge's clerk inquiring to his whereabouts. Defense attorney Robert E. Barnes, accompanied by co-counsel Robert G. Bernhoft of the Milwaukee-based Bernhoft Law Firm, said he couldn't "present a defense as to what the situation is" regarding Francis because they had not talked to him since late November or early  December.

"We've terminated him," Barnes said.

Mark J. Werksman, who has represented Francis in other matters, said his office "probably will" represent him in the tax case and said Francis' tardiness was "a good-faith honest mistake" regarding the date and timing of the hearing.

Melissa Weinberger, an associate who works in Werksman's office, said Francis was "as sick as can be," with what sounded like the flu, and appeared for the hearing four hours late.

Full story on dailyjournal.com.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on February 03, 2009 (boomark / email).