Federal judge reprimands class-action lawyers, says they abused judicial process

A federal judge reprimanded several class-action lawyers Wednesday, finding that they abused the judicial process and acted in bad faith.

In his order, Chief U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes of Fort Smith cited plaintiffs' attorney John Goodson of Texarkana, husband of Arkansas State Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson; his law partner Matt Keil; Jason Roselius, with the Oklahoma City firm of Mattingly & Roselius; and R. Martin Weber Jr. and Richard E. Norman, a partner of Crowley Norman LLP of Houston.

Holmes found that other attorneys had abused the judicial process but had not acted in bad faith, so those were not sanctioned. The judge also found that one lawyer, Stephen Engstrom of Little Rock had not abused the judicial process. He also was not sanctioned.

[DOCUMENT: Click here to read Judge P.K. Holmes' full order]

The judge's order stems from a class-action lawsuit against automobile insurers and how they calculated property damage claims. The suit originated in Polk County Circuit Court and was moved to federal court. Lawyers for the plaintiffs and the insurers agreed to dismiss the case from Holmes' court, then almost immediately filed a settlement in Polk County state court.

Holmes charged that the move amounted to "forum shopping" to avoid an adverse decision from his court and to benefit the attorneys financially at the expense of the plaintiffs.

Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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