Buxom Woman Intended as Jury Distraction

May 25, 2011
By Debra Cassens Weiss of the ABA Journal

Motion Claims Buxom Woman with Opposing Counsel Is Intended as Jury Distraction

A Chicago lawyer wants a judge to exclude a buxom woman from the opposing counsel’s table at an upcoming trial over a car dealership’s warranty on a used Cadillac. A motion filed by the lawyer for Exotic Motors, Thomas Gooch, asks the judge to order the woman to sit in the gallery, according to the Associated Press and Above the Law, summarizing articles by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (sub. req.) and Jezebel.
Jezebel has the motion, making the rounds in email discussion groups. “Defendant’s counsel is anecdotally familiar with the tactics and theatrics of plaintiff’s counsel,” it reads. “Such behavior includes having a large breasted woman sit next to him at counsel’s table during the course of the trial. There is no evidence whatsoever that this woman has any legal training whatsoever, and the sole purpose of her presence at plaintiff’s counsel’s table is to draw the attention of the jury away from the relevant proceedings before this court, obviously prejudicing the defendants in this or any other cause.”
Dmitry Feofanov, the lawyer for the plaintiff who bought the Cadillac, claims in response that the woman is indeed a paralegal assistant and the motion to exclude her is without merit.

related stories:

The Chicago Tribune

AboveTheLaw.Com

Jezebel