Lawyer’s Taunting Leads to Legal Arena
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SAN FRANCISCO — Federal prosecutors, angered by a defense lawyer’s taunts and challenges to brawl, went to court Wednesday hoping to wipe the smile off his face.
U.S. Atty. William T. McGivern contends that Sausalito lawyer Michael H. Metzger challenged a prosecutor to a fistfight outside the courthouse--but only if the prosecutor would sign a waiver promising not to sue for medical bills.
Metzger then mounted a nationwide letter-writing campaign in which 36 lawyers urged the prosecutor to sign the waiver and fight, according to the complaint.
“This bizarre and unseemly conduct is extremely unprofessional,” said McGivern in court papers requesting that Metzger be punished.
Metzger denied any misconduct and said through his lawyer that the U.S. attorney’s office was being thin-skinned.
U.S. District Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong took no action Wednesday.
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