Big Gun Plaintiff Lawyer/Democrat Kingmaker Mikal Watts Under Federal Investigation
Seven months after hosting a private $35,800-a-plate fundraiser for President Barack Obama at his home in The Dominion, nationally recognized plaintiff's lawyer and Democratic Party stalwart Mikal C. Watts finds himself under federal investigation over the legitimacy of his client list in a case stemming from the 2010 BP oil spill.
Earlier this month, Secret Service agents, who not only protect the president but investigate cases of fraud, counterfeiting and identity theft, served search warrants at Watts' two law offices on the Northwest Side, the San Antonio Express-News has confirmed with federal officials and Watts' attorney. Records reviewed by the Express-News indicate the probe is centered in Jackson, Miss., and is related to claims against BP and a compensation fund stemming from the oil company's Macondo well and Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
As first reported by the New York Times in 2011, Watts previously has been accused of discrepancies in the litigation against BP as he made his way onto the plaintiffs steering committee, an exclusive group of lawyers appointed to manage their side of the litigation.
According to its website, Watts Guerra Craft, LLP
has 150 employees, and three full time pilots to fly their lawyers and investigators around the country. The firm can pour millions of dollars into cases.
This story could be straight out of a Grisham novel.
Jury to soon get corruption trial of Austin lawyer
The Associated Press
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A federal jury in Corpus Christi is poised to begin deliberations in the trial of an Austin lawyer charged in a South Texas judicial corruption case with racketeering.
Marc Rosenthal's case could go to the jury in Corpus Christi as early as Wednesday.
The prosecution completed presenting rebuttal witnesses Tuesday to respond to Rosenthal's own testimony. Prosecutors had originally rested last week.
Rosenthal is accused of bribing former state District Judge Abel Limas, who failed to advance beyond the primary in his 2008 re-election bid. Rosenthal allegedly sought favorable rulings from Limas before the jurist left the bench at the end of 2008 and also offered Limas a job.
Limas has already pleaded guilty to racketeering and awaits sentencing.
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