Cincinnati Enquirer: What Chesley Stands to Lose

The Cincinnati Enquirer offers its view of what Stanley Chesley stands to lose.

I find this article extremely beside the point.  Whatever Chesley stands to lose, he's already lost it.  Money? Chesley has so much that it's superfluous whether he gives up millions as ordered by the Kentucky Bar authorities.  Reputation?  Already gone.  Influence? Now this is where the Enquirer seems to be casting its eye--Chesley having long been a Democratic player, an FOB (friend of Bill.)  President Clinton appointed Chesley's wife Susan Dlott to a U.S. District judge slot.  Chesley made former Ohio Treasurer,  Cincinnati-area prosecutor, and  Republican operative, Joe Deters, a law partner. But as we saw last week, that was no prophylactic to loss of Ohio's Class Action business.  So reporters Jim Hannah and Dan Horn at the Enquirer think Chesley stands to lose political clout.  Or maybe influence in Jewish or charitable circles.

A friend standing over my shoulder while I write this says Chesley should go to prison.  My friend, a noted Class action lawyer in his own right, says Chesley should lose his freedom.  Chesley participated in a criminal venture that stole millions from clients--amazingly the recommendation of the Kentucky Bar authorities is that Chesley should only disgorge a relatively small portion of the fees he and his conspirators claimed as a part of this heist.

What does Chesley stand to lose?  Who cares.  What did the legal and client community lose by Chesley's crime?  A champion, a hero, some one who symbolically stood for little guys against corporate culture of greed and negligence.

Chesley Loses Class Action Client: Ohio, In Wake of KY Bar Decision to Disbar



Chesley in his office

One of the curious things about the Stanley Chesley case was that the State of Ohio employed Chesley to represent it in a Class Action case arising out of the Fannie Mae mortgage meltdown.  Stories quoted Chesley on the subject all while the fen-phen scandal clearly implicated him in the historic rip off the of fen-phen class and cover-up that resulted in the long imprisonment of his co-counsel and disbarment proceeding against him and others.  In other words, Chesley continued to represent one of the largest states in the union in a major piece of litigation under both democratic and republican Ohio governments.  Chesley received the work under former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, a democrat, but he kept the work when former US Senator and Lt. Governor, Mike DeWine, a republican, took over the Attorney General's office during the last general election.  Perhaps the status quo remained under the republicans because Chesley et al. hired former republican operative, and treasurer Joe Deters?

This all changed, yesterday, when Mike DeWine finally brought the axe down on Chesley as it related to official Ohio representation.  Chesley who is facing permament loss of licensure is no longer representing the State of Ohio.  Here's a link to the Cincinnati Enquirer story.

Stanley Chesley, Disciplinary Update

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that legendary Cincinnati Class Action attorney, Stanley M. Chesley faces a disbarment hearing in Kentucky next Tuesday over his role in the Fen-Phen scandal that resulted in several disbarments and lengthy incarcerations of Chesley's co-counsel.



Chesley and Wife, Hon. Susan Dlott

I told you about Chesley at length and Chesley's historical significance and the lead lawyer in the famous mass tort arising out of the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire which occurred in a Kentucky night club on the night of May 28, 1977 killing 197 people.  Chesley also represented victims of the Lockerbie bombing as well as Jewish holocaust survivors in claims against Swiss and German banks. You can read about all about Chesley at this link.
As I pointed out in regards to a far less impressive attorney, Eric Deters--disbarment in Kentucky will result in reciprocal discipline in Ohio.  As the Enquirer article says, disbarment in Kentucky is the professional death sentence for Chesley.  Chesley and co-counsel are accused of stealing millions in an elaborate scheme relating to the funneling of class action funds into a foundation operated by the attorneys for as it turns out, the benefit of the lawyers.

Stanley Chesley is married to federal judge, Susan Dlott.