Former Jack Abramoff business partner Michael Scanlon cannot challenge a law firm’s demand that he pay almost $17.7 million in restitution for money they gave to victims of his fraud scheme, a federal judge ruled last night.
Scanlon, a former public affairs specialist who pleaded guilty to crimes committed during his work with Abramoff to fleece American casino interests, didn’t want to hand over cash to Greenberg Traurig.
Mike Scarcella of the National Law Journal reports:
The Native American tribes that Greenberg Traurig paid in recent years had either sued the firm or threatened to sue over the kickback scheme Scanlon and Abramoff orchestrated. Scanlon’s attorneys at Ropes & Gray argued in recent months that Greenberg Traurig had contemporaneous knowledge of certain fees Scanlon was paying Abramoff.
The judge’s ruling is available here.
