Story Created:
Jan 23, 2009 at 5:13 PM PST
Story Updated:
Jan 26, 2009 at 2:48 PM PST
Robert Shapiro turned down opportunities to represent Robert Blake and Scott Peterson when Phil Spector asked him to be his first lawyer in the fatal shooting of actress Lana Clarkson, the attorney states in a sworn declaration.
Spector, now 68, paid Shapiro a $1 million retainer within days of the music producer's Feb. 3, 2003, arrest on suspicion of murdering the actress and House of Blues VIP hostess at his Alhambra mansion, according to the suit that
Spector filed in December 2007 against Shapiro and his law firm, Christensen, Glaser, Fink, Jacobs, Weil & Shapiro.
Spector fired Shapiro in January 2004. The lawsuit alleges Shapiro "chose to devote his time to other matters, instead of doing work on (Spector's) defense, which suffered as a result.''
The suit also alleges Shapiro ``decided to use Mr. Spector's arrest as an opportunity to make a financial windfall and garner publicity for himself.''
But in a sworn declaration filed in support of a motion to dismiss Spector's breach-of-contract lawsuit, Shapiro says he limited his acceptance of other cases in order to represent the ``Wall of Sound'' creator.
"After being retained by Mr. Spector, I received an inquiry as to whether I would interview with the family of Scott Peterson for the position of Mr. Peterson's defense counsel in the Laci Peterson murder case,'' Shapiro states. ``I turned down the requested interview because of my representation of Mr. Spector and my commitment to Mr. Spector.''
Scott Peterson was ultimately convicted of murdering his wife.
Shapiro also said he was approached about defending Blake on a murder charge stemming from the shooting death of the actor's wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley.
"I turned down that interview for the same reasons,'' Shapiro's declaration says.
Shapiro denied any attempt to take advantage of Spector, calling him a "very bright individual'' based on his meeting with him three days after Clarkson's death.
"He asked several questions and attentively listened to all my answers,'' Shapiro states. ``There was no question in my mind that he was totally in control of himself and clearly understood the retainer agreement. I never pressured or coerced Mr. Spector to sign the retainer agreement.''
Spector was ``always free to retain someone other than myself,'' Shapiro
added.
Shapiro also says that he obtained Spector's freedom on bail the day of his arrest because he immediately arranged contact with a bondsman and worked closely with Alhambra police.
"As a result, Spector was free on bail on the very day of his arrest and has remained free on bail to this day almost six years later, which is highly unusual in any murder case ...,'' Shapiro states.
Shapiro's other famous clients have included O.J. Simpson, Christian Brando, Robert Evans, Darryl Strawberry and Jose Canseco. A hearing on his motion to dismiss the Spector case is scheduled for April 1.
Spector's current complaint is a new version one he filed in July 2004, but a year later asked to be dismissed.
Spector's first trial on criminal charges in the death of the 40-year-old Clarkson ended with jurors deadlocked 10-2, prompting a judge to declare a mistrial on Sept. 26. The second trial is ongoing.
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