We already know Larry Klayman is a sue-happy defamer. Now it appears he is so bad at being a sue-happy defamer that he can’t even make an actual living at it.
The Miami New Times reports that Klayman — a WorldNetDaily columnist who is representing WND in its defamation lawsuit against Esquire magazine — has been reprimanded by the Florida bar for taking a $25,000 payment from a woman to represent her in a criminal case but failing to do any legal work for her. After he was ordered to return $5,000 of the money as agreed to in mediation, he failed to keep up the payments.
In a 2010 letter to the Florida bar explaining why he hadn’t kept up with the payments, Klayman wrote:
I have and have had very little funds, as my financial situation continues to be dire. I do not own any investments or retirement plans and just have a few pieces of jewelry and clothing, a television, a radio, a bed and clothing and shoes. I rent my apartment. The jewelry is a watch which is of negligible value, and consists of a watch and a ring valued currently under $200.00.
I am in the process of gathering my financial information which is scattered about three states, where I formerly resided in whole or in part, and will soon file for bankruptcy pro se. I cannot afford bankruptcy counsel, having been asked for a $5000.00 retainer which I cannot afford. I will not use this bankruptcy to discharge my obligation under the mediation agreement as I am committed to honoring it. Its just that my financial situation has been so poor.
Klayman told Miami New Times that he has since paid the woman the $5,000 he was ordered to repay her.
Meanwhile, Klayman’s license to practice law in Pennsylvania is on “administrative suspension.” And as we’ve previously noted, Klayman’s $10 million lawsuit against the White House Correspondents Association as part of WND’s snit fit over not being able to buy as many seats as it wanted for the White House Correspondent’s Dinner was essentially laughed out of court. (When we asked Klayman about it, he huffed that “we decided not to pursue that.” So why file the lawsuit in the first place if you have no intention of pursing it? Aside from the publicity-stunt aspect, that is.)
Great choice of a lawyer, WND.
(h/t TPM)