I've previously reported on the S.D. Florida Shaygan case, which resulted in not guilty verdicts on all 141 counts after a trial at which defense attorneys learned the U.S. Attorney's office had authorized witnesses to tape their conversations with defense attorneys during the defense's pretrial investigation of the case. After the trial, U.S. District Judge Alan S. Gold held a 2-day hearing on a motion for sanctions under the Hyde Amendment, after which the government admitted misconduct and agreed to (limited) attorney fees as a sanction. Download Shaygan - Govt Response Misconduct. Shaygan's attorneys, including former Judge Karlton clerk Marc Seitles, filed an excellent response calling for much more extreme sanctions. Download Shaygan - Reply
Today, Judge Gold awarded the Full Monty! Download Shaygan - Order on Defendant's motion for Hyde Amendment Sanctions: $601,795.88 in attorney fees and costs, an injunction against the SDFLU.S. Attorney's Office against "future witness tampering investigation of defense lawyers," a public reprimand against the US Attorney's office and individual prosecutors, and a referral to the appropriate State Bar's disciplinary board for possible sanctions. Oh, and in case he forgot something, the judge reserved the right "to impose any further sanctions and/or disciplinary measures against AUSAs Cronin and Hoffman after reviewing the results of the Department of Justice's Investigation." Congratulations to SDFL attorneys David Markus, Marc Seitles, and the whole gang!