Recent Law Grad Got $3M Bonus, Plus Porsche, in Fen-Phen Case
A recent law grad working on a massive diet drug case got a $3 million bonus and a Porsche when the civil fen-phen litigation settled for $200 million in 2001.
David Helmers testified today about his lavish bonus in the Covington, Ky., federal fraud trial of three senior lawyers accused of stealing money from 440 clients in the underlying civil case, reports the Enquirer, a Cincinnati newspaper. Plaintiffs say they suffered heart problems as a result of taking the diet drug combination.
Shirley Cunningham Jr., William Gallion and Melbourne Mills were entitled to about $60 million in fees from the civil settlement, according to prosecutors, but are accused of having kept $45 million more. They also allegedly put another $20 million in a charitable trust, which each of the three was paid $5,000 monthly to manage.
A lawyer for at least one of the three is now accusing Helmers, 39, of having been the principal architect of an inappropriate funds transfer to legal counsel, according to the newspaper. However, Helmers, who says he was not granted immunity for his testimony, testified that he was merely a fledgling lawyer working on the case under the direction of his seniors.
Meanwhile, lawyers for two of the three defendants are pointing the finger of blame at a judge and another lawyer in the fen-phen class action, a second Enquirer article says.
Each of the three defendants could get up to 20 years in prison, and be ordered to pay millions of dollars in restitution, if he is found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Previous coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Plaintiffs Win Right to Lawyers’ Championship Horse”
ABAJournal.com: “Counsel: PI Lawyer’s Aide Was FBI Mole”
ABAJournal.com: “Shackled Fen-Phen Lawyers Seek Release, Judge Says No”
