99 F. Supp. 2d 1019 - Mandanici v. Starr’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

1 district ·

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 2 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Mandanici contends that Starr’s representation was improper in light of the tobacco industry’s alleged ties with the Republican party and the industry’s “campaign to get Clinton.” ... The Court finds this allegation to be nonsense. There is no indication that Starr tailored his work as Independent Counsel in an attempt “to please the tobacco companies.” Further, there is no evidence that the tobacco companies represented by Starr attempted to influence his investigation. Even assuming that the heads of the tobacco companies are totally Republican (an assumption which the Court finds absolutely ridiculous), they are entitled to hold their own political beliefs, as is an Independent Counsel (and as is one who brings grievances before this Court). The Court, however, rejects the inference, absent any specific evidence, that political beliefs caused the representatives of Brown & Williamson or Phillip Morris to attempt in any manner to influence Starr’s investigation or that those political beliefs caused Starr to tailor his investigation “to please” an outside party. In this country, tobacco companies, like other persons or businesses, are entitled to legal representation. Likewise under the Independent Counsel law, Starr was entitled to practice law, representing private clients.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 269 F. Supp. 2d 1024 - Tucker v. United States

2. “Merely because Starr intended at the time to accept a deanship with a school that had conservative backers does not suggest that he was incapable of carrying out his duties as Independent Counsel without bowing to the political desires of contributors whom he had never met. To adopt Mandanici’s argument would prevent an Independent Counsel from accepting any future employment in academia, because most schools are financially supported by either liberal or conservative contributors, or both.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 269 F. Supp. 2d 1024 - Tucker v. United States

3. “Unlike a party to a civil action, a person who files an ethics grievance has no standing as a party, and the mere allegation of misconduct does not need to be accepted as true. The initiation of a disciplinary investigation against a lawyer is a serious matter that should not be initiated by the Court based on innuendo or rumor. Requiring a citizen to substantiate an allegation of misconduct protects the courts and the Bar from the disruption caused by investigations of a frivolous nature.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 275 F. Supp. 2d 177 - Romero-Barcelo v. Acevedo-Vila