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Richard "Dickie" Scruggs was hired by Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore to assist with a lawsuit against thirteen tobacco companies in the 1990s. Prior to that he was known for his class action lawsuits against the asbestos industry. Settlement of the state's case against the tobacco companies was for 368 billion dollars (USD). His performance in this case was portrayed in the movie The Insider by Colm Feore. Scruggs also would lead and become a spokesman for the plaintiffs in the Ritalin class action lawsuits. He asserted that the Ritalin defendants, "manufactured a disease"...and "it has been grossly over-prescribed. It is a huge risk." All five class actions in five separate states were dismissed before trial.
Scruggs attended law school at the University of Mississippi with Mike Moore. He practiced law in Jackson, Mississippi and New York before opening his own private practice in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Scruggs and his wife Diane are ardent supporters of the University of Mississippi, having made large donations to several organizations on campus. Scruggs Hall was named in their honor. It currently houses the Music department.
Scruggs' brother-in-law is Senator Trent Lott, former Majority Leader of the US Senate. Scruggs is currently representing Lott through the Scruggs Katrina Group in a lawsuit against insurance company State Farm because of damage stemming from Hurricane Katrina.
On June 15, 2007, U.S. District Court Judge William Acker issued an order asking the U.S. Attorney to prosecute Scruggs and his law firm for criminal contempt after Scruggs failed to return internal State Farm documents.
References
- Richard Scruggs, Frontline: Inside the Tobacco Deal
- Music Department Facilities, University of Mississippi Web Site
- LA Times story on Lott's suit
External links
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