Scott Rothstein Vs. Joel Steinger (UPDATED)
It's like the Broward scandal sheet version of Godzilla meets Rodan.
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UPDATED: A source tells me there was a meeting of camps between monster Ponzi schemers Scott Rothstein and Joel Steinger. Steinger sends word to me that it never happened. But whether it did or not, I think it's time to compare the two men, namely to determine which is greatest villain.
Steinger, of course, was the man behind the Mutual Benefits Corporation, the gigantic fraud that bought insurance policies from AIDS patients. Steinger is now living in his mansion on the New River while awaiting federal fraud and money laundering charges. (And people are upset that Rothstein is out smoking cigars and drinking martinis -- yesterday he supposedly had lunch with Kimberly).
Let's look at the similarities and differences between the two men and decide which is the most diabolical:
-- Rothstein stole his money from a small pool of rich society types, clients, and friends looking to make big turnarounds on large sums of money. Dude definitely stole from the rich. Steinger, on the other hand, ripped off his money from
hundreds and hundreds of regular hard-working folks across the country looking to make a large return on their savings. Some of the stories are heartbreaking with retired couples losing everything they had. Steinger's villanous ways win handily here. Steinger +1
-- Both men courted Charlie Crist with hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign cash. The difference was that Rothstein did it face to face, creating a trail of photographic evidence to show how chummy he was with the governor. Steinger, because he was already a convicted felon known to be under state investigation, had to use an intermediary, GOP fundraiser and Crist buddy Alan Mendelsohn, who has also been hit with federal charges. Rothstein seemed to have wooed Crist mainly to bolster his image to help lure in the suckers he was bilking, though he also apparently tried to use his influence with Crist to get a break for an accused swindler he was representing, infomercial guru Russ Whitney. For Steinger, it was all about business. Through Mendelsohn, he wanted to bribe Crist, then Attorney General, to stop the state investigation of himself and MBC. On the Crist angle, I have to give the edge to Rothstein, for sheer brazenness. Rothstein +1
Steinger (left) with his indicted attorney Michael McNerny
-- Both also had ties to numerous local politicians and did wonderful jobs exposing the rampant culture of corruption in Broward County. Rothstein kept close with Sheriff Al Lamberti (though he crossed him when he pumped $170,000 into Scott Israel's campaign via Stuart Rosenfeldt and David Boden). He sponsored Broward Mayor Stacy Ritter's recent Mayoral Ball with $50,000, gave a lot of money to politicos like Steve Geller and state Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff and many others. Geller, incidentally, is central nexus between Rothstein and Steinger. The former state senator and current Broward commission candidate was tight with both men, a close friend with Steinger who more lately became friendly enough with Rothstein to gift him the Jewish Avenger suit. It was Geller who introduced Steinger to lobbyist Russell Klenet, the husband of Mayor Ritter. Steinger used $100,000 of his ill-begotten loot to renovate the mayor's home. Steinger also had Ken Keechl, prior to his becoming a county commissioner, working for him as a lawyer to help fend off his fraud victims. I have a feeling Rothstein will ultimately outdo Steinger in terms of bringing down local politicians, but right now, the edge goes to Steinger for Ritter's grand piano alone. Steinger +1
-- So what about their lives before the Ponzi schemes? Rothstein was an attorney, specializing in employment law, for about 15 years in town prior to crime spree. And from what I hear he was a pretty good one. Steinger, on the other hand, seems to have been born to be a con artist, getting his start with organized crime figures, including Meyer Lansky, about three decades ago. He's been involved with one scam after another during all those years, selling fake commodities, fake diet pizza, and fake oil wells among other things. In short, Rothstein was actually legitimate at one point. Steinger never was, which sort of makes him what is called an honest thief. Rothstein's dramatic turn to the dark side earns him this one. Rothstein +1.
Stephan Maloman
Rothstein in more gallant times
-- Let's talk damage to the local economy. Rothstein's collapse is going to affect a slew of businesses, including his 70-member law firm, the Versace mansion (where more than 50 employees lost their jobs when he imploded), local restaurants, and others. It's like wrecking ball. Steinger's fall really only meant the end of MBC. Rothstein +1.
-- When you are trying to influence people to give you money, it's important to win big-name friends. So who had the more famous friends? Well, when you look at Steinger, you have to point to one of his best buds, famed Washington attorney Richard Ben-Veniste, who played roles in Watergate, the Clinton impeachment, and served on the 911 Commission. Then you have Al Malnik, a fabulously wealthy organized crime figure and owner of The Forge restaurant in Miami. Malnik's latest claim to fame was his rather dicey relationship with the late Michael Jackson. He's also like a second father to big Hollywood producer and director Brett Ratner. Other than Ben-Veniste and Malnik, it's a shallow pool for Steinger. Rothstein's Big Friend was Dan Marino, whom he shared a billboard with and socialized with on numerous occasions. As mentioned, he was also friends with Charlie Crist and had soirees with John McCain, Arnold Schwartzenegger, Arlen Specter, Dwyane Wade, Ronnie Brown, and others. Oddly, he even has a couple photographs of comic and game show host Howie Mandel in his office. Rothstein +1.
-- Then of course you have the money game. Steinger ripped off more than $800 million with MBC, but the company raised more than $1.6 billion in its existence. Right now it looks like Rothstein stole about $500 million, maybe $600 million, and raised a total of about a billion. That gives the edge to Steinger. Steinger +1.
Final Score: Rothstein 4, Steinger 3
For his victory Rothstein doesn't win Tokyo, but he earns the label of the most notorious man in Broward County history.
73 comment(s) / Post a Comment
If I'm not mistaken, RRA was RRD when it first formed. Wonder why Susan Dolin left the firm?
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 9:13AMSusan is a REAL lawyer---here is her bio when it was on the RRA site before she left.
Dolin
Shareholder
954.315.7206
sdolin@rra-law.com
Download Bio
Lawyers
Member: Broward County (Past Vice Chairperson and Steering Committee, Section on Labor and Employment Law), and Federal (Member, Labor and Employment Section) Bar Associations; The Florida Bar (Past Vice Chair and Current Member, Certification Committee on Labor and Employment Law; Executive Council; Co-Chair, Labor Relations Committee; Past Co-Chair, Publications Committee; Chair, Labor and Employment Law Section).
Biography: Prior to becoming a Shareholder with RRA, from 1994 through 2002 she was a Senior Partner and head of the labor and employment practice group with Muchnick, Wasserman, Dolin, Jaffe & Levine; from 1984 to 1987, Ms. Dolin was Assistant Professor of Law, Nova University Law Center teaching employment and labor law matters; and prior to that, Ms. Dolin served as a trial attorney with the National Labor Relations Board, Division of Enforcement Litigation, Appellate Court Branch in Washington, D.C., handling enforcement and review proceedings for the NLRB in all United States Courts of Appeals and participating in appeals to the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Dolin also served in the NLRB's Baltimore, Maryland Regional Office, and participated in special and contempt litigation proceedings on behalf of the NLRB.
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Susan L. Dolin is a Shareholder of the firm of Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler located in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Ms. Dolin's practice focuses on labor and employment law, with sub-specialties in employee benefits and labor-management relations, wherein she primarily represents management but also handles a limited number of cases on behalf of deserving employees.
Admitted: 1978, Ohio; 1979, U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth and Seventh Circuits; 1980, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 1981, U.S. Court of Appeals, First, Ninth, Tenth and District of Columbia Circuits; 1987, Florida; 1988, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida including Trial Bar; 1990, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida; 1996, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. District Court, Northern District of
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 9:18AMCommon links between Rothstein and Steigner: politicals who protected them like Charlie Crist and Steve Geller.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 9:18AMGeller is a fat pig who can't be trusted. Klenet isn't any better and it is my hope that one day his Steinger decorated Parkland home will be seized and that he and his unethical wife be tossed out with the rest of the corrupt garbage in Broward!
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 9:32AMToo bad MTV stopped producing Celebrity Death Matches.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 9:36AMBob Bob Bob.....the fat faced fucking beaver toothed "Steinger" never had anything to do with Lansky....Lansky couldn't stand him! The only link he had to Lansky was his pillow bitting bum brother Steven was Teddy Lanskys interior decorator.
You have to dive deeper into this thing...Joel is the mastermind Rothstein was only the vessel
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 9:39AMHate to say it, but Bob Norman is getting completely out-scooped by the Sentinel and Herald both of whom are much further ahead in their investigative journalism. But sure...if you want unsubstantiated rumors...and who was banging who...i guess this is the place
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 9:55AM@ the valet
Agreed! Sun-sentinel home page has a story about "Man calls 911 for sex, Tampa police say".
Can't see how the fuck Bob missed that piece... Tsk tsk Norman. And you call yourself a reporter...
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 10:19AMPulp - why do you keep referring to boden as "mark"? Gc of rra was "david boden" unless you know more than us
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 10:29AMBob, your doing a fantastic job. Can't get enough of your stuff. Don't slow down, keep it coming - we're glued to your website. What you're doing will change the power dynamics in Broward from here on out. Broward's political establishment is falling apart and rightly so. Maybe, in our wildest imagination - we'll get some honest pols. out of this. It's doubtful but a wish. One thing for certain, we'll be looking at so-called lawyers differently for the rest of our lives. They're absolutely a horrible lot.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 10:43AMWhy doesn't anybody care where the money went?
Just like bernie madeoff, steigner, rothstien and klenet are all from the same tribe and they are beholden to the same loyalties, which is to send as much money to Israel as humanly possible.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 10:44AMThey say it cost Scott about $85,000 for the private jet to Morocco...
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 10:49AMMaybe Chief Judge Tobin should send out another email to the judges of Broward County directing them to go easy on Mutual Benefits, Mendelsohn or anyone associated with them. Did someone connected with them call the Chief Judge too?
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 11:02AMAgree Susan Dolin is real lawyer.
Rob Bushel mentioned in another article, also real lawyer. I've seen him in action and he's the second coming of Jonnie Cochran!
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 11:20AMThe point about Boden is well-taken. It's a strange fact that the general counsel of a major law firm, RRA, isn't licensed by the Florida Bar (and that is a fact easily confirmed by the Bar's website). Boden was knee-deep in the investment scheme ... we'll see.
By the way, if you want to read a chilling tale in which RRA attorney Robert Buschel plays a key role (prior to joining the firm), check this out:
http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/1999-09-23/news/lady-killer/
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 11:25AMLay off Buschel. He is a real lawyer. Has been in the press over the years representing many different types, has done appellate work, and actually goes to Court, unlike Rothstein (except now he will be spending a lot of time in Court -- probably more so than he has in the last 10 years).
The fact that Buschel even gets mentioned in
this blog (attached to a story WHOLLY unrelated to him in any conceivable manner)is concerning and yet another example of how Rothstein has hurt so many -- now those who were just doing the best they could do to represent clients and do the work on their desk and advocate vigorously in Court are dragged into an unrelated discussion because they attorney was at the firm. Very sad indeed.
I would think both crimes are troubling due to the people involved. Rothstein is a officer of the court (as all attorneys are) so that would be a key point when sentencing him.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 12:00PMOh yeah I forgot about him, mendelsohn, another "Tribe Memeber".
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 12:29PMwho are you kidding saying buschel and others are innocent please the firm blows through money like nothing buschel is a partner any lawyer in their right mind can't litigate against ignorance who are you kidding they all knew what was up and participated in some way or other
Milliesse: What does that mean? "Tribe Memeber" (sic)? Is that yet another anti-semtic remark in blog-o-sphere as a result of Scott Rothstein? Or, was there another interpretation you were intending of that description?
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 12:38PMRothstein was born on the dark side....I knew him in law school. And for the record, watch out Kimberly....you aren't the first KIM whose life he tried to wreck...
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 12:39PMAnyone taking bets on who is the Piano Player?
I'll start. Ken Jenne.
Piano knows a lot about the sheriff department's leadership, including the bafoons now in place who, as he makes clear, worked at various branches around Broward. When? When Jenne was their boss and would know exactly where they were.
He also believes he was a much better and smarter sheriff than Lamberti (except for that little prison thing) and very resentful.
Then of course Piano knows a ton about RRA, and has a very strong knowledge of its clients. Who better than defrocked lawyer/paralegal Ken Jenne to know such information?
He would have done many of the initial client interviews.
Of course, he also knows a lot about the feds' doings, so it can't be Jenne, you say? Well, he was in charge of the regional terrorism task force and worked directly with the feds for years. Many liked him and respected his abilities, and didn't walk away when he went away.
And of course, maybe he's now singing like a bird (as a probationer, I don't believe he has any choice legally), which would give him even better access to the feds and their line of thinking.
And he wouldn't mind other Broward hot shots/political kings joining him in the Hall of Shame.
Sound good?
Then again it could be former FBI SAC in Miami/Jenne underling Hector Pesquera ...
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 12:44PML-A-Liars: Much much easier to just convict EVERYONE in the firm, huh. That way, you do not burn out the limited synaptic power you were given. No need to get the facts.
Combined with the fact that you find it more expeditious to avoid all punctuation and basic grammer rules, I assume you apply the same rushed, broad-stroke, small-minded view to all matters of life. For the sake of all of us, I hope you are not a judge, juror, boss, supervisor, teacher, voter or really anyone who has any responsibility for applying intellect, curiousity, or fact- based judgment to even the least complex decisions involving anyone else in the world. Please tell me you do not ... so I can rest easier
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 12:53PMIt seems, even accounting for average atrocious grammar that Jenne would at least know that the term is "would HAVE" not "would OF."
Not saying Jenne is any kind of scholar. But "Would of" used as standard indicates some big educational gaps. Unless that's all part of the act.
"former bodyguard and lover" is obviously Joel Steinger. Mr. Steinger, maybe you should stop spending your time slandering your ex-wife and mother of your son and start paying chid support and alimoney. Along with having children comes responsibility that you have managed to avoid.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 1:00PMSince I didn't get paid the first time they had a problem and now they really don't have any money. This is what I can do. I'll conduct interviews for a flute player.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 1:04PMAll the Ponzis happened at about the same time. Isn't this treason?
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 1:22PMOH YEAH -- THE PARTNERS DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING AND THEIR WIVES WERE NOT BUSY SOLICITING NEW CLIENTS FOR SCOTT!!
Alan Berger You got it!
January 14 at 10:08pm
Lori Howard Boden Hey Alan,
I told David you said thank you. He was happy to get you upstairs although his boss asked who you were. Apparently he knew everyone on the list so David said you were a potential client. Maybe you will be or keep your ears and eyes open for possible clients. Then you can come to many more parties!!!
January 14 at 9:33pm
Alan Berger Hey! Thanks very much to you and David for getting me into the upstairs part. I see you already posted your picture with Adrian Grenier. I should have paid attention to his band but I was too busy eating, drinking and chatting. Great event.
January 14 at 12:13pm
Lori Howard Boden Hi Alan,
So much fun to hang out with you last night. What a blast! Glad we bumped in to you. See we didn't have to wait until Dec. 2009! Hope to see you again soon!
January 14 at 10:41 am
Karmaruchi -- no doubt there will be some (or maybe) many who were soliciting clients for the investment project. Doesn't mean they automatically or per se have criminal responsibility.
Do you really think Rothstein trusted anyone (many) down the chain with the details? There is an old saying "a conspiracy of two is one too many to succeed". Of course, as the FBI says, there had to be others involved.
Just not ready yet to say every "partner" knew enought to say they should be caught in the criminal net. But, watch out for the civil lawsuits cuz the standards and principles will be different, and soliciting may be enough for civil judgment.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 1:49PMSince we're speculating as to Piano Player's true identity, I believe he is none other than ....... Wait for it ..... Ron "chicken man" Cacciatore. Think about it he still has close ties to the BSO. Involved in politics, had a vested interest in Scott Israel (bad blood with lamberti). Knows all of the downtown gossip. Come on it has to be you chicken man. No Way its Jenne. I know them both and RC over KJ and there is no way its Pasquera.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 2:00PMRC is scummier than Ken Jenne, and that ain't easy. I'm just thinking the posts are too accurate to be Ron.
Either way, that is an interesting idea. And since he hasn't spouted about Lori Parish's ethical woes (and Lord knows somebody should), you may be on to something.
It's all for nothing anyway, but interesting. I'll stick with Jenne, and threw in Hector just to spice things up. It's not him.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 2:07PMBTW . . . Madoff's computer programers were arrested today. You see . . from a basic administrative prospective Scott Rothstein could not operate on his own. Many, many layers of people involved.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 2:11PMPlease dont say Piano is Jenne or I'll be crushed!
Piano please where are you? Speak up!
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 2:42PMIt's ridiculous to call anyone who was a partner at RRA and a buddy of Scott's a "real lawyer." Real lawyers can read into the character of the people they spend every day with. Real lawyers are aware of their surroundings. If the RRA partners were so unaware of what was going on right under their noses, how are they supposed to protect/advise a client? Stu Rosenfeldt himself said "I caught Scott "in little white lies over the years," but nothing to make Stu think he was capable of this. Head in the sand, much? Same goes for all of the other RRA "real lawyers" who stood around, collected unrealistic paychecks for what they were doing, watched the money being spent, and unlike everyone else in town who was suspicious, blissfully figured it was all legitimate. RRA's "real lawyers" are real dopes. Their clients should be running away from them ... fast.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 2:42PMPulp,
I am sure that you believe freedom of speech is paramount but can you stop letting the racist and anti-Semitic remark through. When reading through the comments on your blog, when one of those items presents, it ruins the dialog and destroys the civil discourse. It's like stubbing you toe in the surf. HSmarts like hell and makes you want to leave.
@2:42: Where did you get "buddy" from? Are you assuming in your indictment of 70 lawyers that they were all "buddies" with Rothstein. That is just plain silly and ignorant. You have no idea about the facts and how much time any one lawyer spent with him. You have no idea who knew what when. Yet, you cast all the lawyers in a 70 lawyer law firm to wind, suggesting they all are as guilty or not real lawyers. But, the great thing about guilt by association it does not require any mental strength. Easy. Bumper sticker treatment of an issue. You and L-A-Liars are cut from the same cloth (though I will admit you believe in punctuation and grammer). Maybe you could be his scribe for more silly rantings.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 3:27PMTo "real lawyer": the premise of the first sentence is (1) anyone who was a partner at RRA and (2) a buddy of Scott's. Don't forget the "and." Certainly many of the RRA partners were just "partners." Many others were, to all appearances, Scott's "buddies." Or lap dogs. Or enablers. Certainly more of them in Ft. Lauderdale than in the other offices. But, your response is not surprising: we all expect that RRA's 69 other attorneys are all going to say they barely knew Scott Rothstein. That's the point: they were, as a group, pretty clueless -- especially those in Ft. Lauderdale. Keep denying it. It only makes you sound silly. Most of us recognize it for what it is: a hollow excuse for blatant ignorance (that's being charitable) of what Rothstein (one of your "partners," and one who most RRA attorneys were proud to say they were affiliated with just a few short weeks ago) was up to.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 3:36PMHey, dont get me wrong, I agree the lawyers at RRA were riding the wave of connections and very public philanthropy. And, to be sure, EVERYONE in town was wondering how the house of cards was bonded together. No question many were surely told that there was something a-miss and it would never last. I get that. No dispute.
But, just cause a lawyer worked there and had an (illogical) belief the firm is actually producing $$, doesnt mean they are guilty. Are you even willing to accept that basic premise. Remember, the only one with true access to the books was supposed to be Rosenfeldt, and he claims he didnt look at the books -- all others were "partners" for the business cards. Do you really think every one of those 70 lawyers could have cross-examined Rothstein on where he was getting money from?
You have now added the conjunctive Partner+Buddy=guilty. That is perhaps closer to a factual basis, but I still suspect you will find that relatively few of the 70 had access to even talk to the guy, no less call him buddy. Under your (simpleton) analysis EVERYONE of the 70 lawyers should have known he constructed a ponzi scheme -- that is what I would call silly and clueless.
You misunderstand me. Who said anything about "guilty?" I'm not suggesting everyone who worked at RRA was involved in the scheme. I'm questioning their awareness. The really good lawyers I know are pretty sharp, and good judges of character, and hard to fool. The RRA lawyers who weren't in on the scheme -- surely some (maybe most) weren't -- still have to be questioned about why they were blind to it. Their judgment has been called into doubt. If I needed a housekeeper, I wouldn't hire one who couldn't keep their own house clean.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 3:54PMWhen the wanna be Semites realize their TRUE ethnicity is that of the Khazars 9th Century Turks converts to Judaism perhaps then and only then will they submit to the TRUTH of who they are....GOY.
Jesus the TRUE Jew you make mockery of is watching over YOU ....Madoff clones
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 3:57PMAllow me to say that I am absolutely appalled by all of the anti-semitic remarks that have been posted here each day. It diverts our attention from the real issues and the real solutions to our country's problems.
I am especially offended by this video that someone posted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb3IMTJjzfo
A while back, someone asked me the meaning of Psalm 119:165. What does it mean that those who love the love of God shall not be offended? Are hurt feelings proof that someone does not love God's word? Let's look at the scripture and study it for a bit.
Psalm 119:165 - "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."
http://www.learnthebible.org/Nothing%20Shall%20Offend.htm
@ Real Lawyer
Thus is the problem with the law and lawyers. Your adherence to the law says these lawyers @ RRA did nothing wrong. Legally, you are probably mostly right (a few will have had mens rea). But with the standards most americans live by or want to live by, MORALLY a good number of them will be judged as guilty the same way the execs at Enron and MCI who weren't officially in on the scam but should've known something was up. They instead chose to turn a blind eye and cash their checks and accept their bonuses based on fraud. In this case most of the lawyers at RRA are those executives who turned a blind eye. These lawyers were purported to be the best and the brightest. I know Ken Padowitz is an excellent lawyer. So they should've used that keen intellect and asked themselves the question, "is this too good to be true?" and then did what their heart said not their legal mind. Unfortunately these lawyers didn't do that and they'll be forever linked to the billion dollar ponzi scheme and SR. So do I understand this is a mischaracterzation of most of these lawyers I also understand why. Its easy to say hey " I didn't even know but
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 4:14PMPerhaps we should discuss all the ANTI GOY rants the Jews spew out on a daily basis about the GOY....You who claim to be offended needs to crucify your fragile ego ...That Scott Rothstein obviously has chosen not to do in his search of trying to be the chosen one....Chosen to show the world what NOT to be. To the 10000000000000th Degree. Think of the impact his actions are having on thousands of people all over the world connected to this pitiful scam-fraud.
Get with the program putz.
Have a wonderful Shabbos....its almost time to light candles.
Shalom
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 4:16PMObviously, "just a point of view", you do not know how a law firm of 70 lawyers works. Do you really believe that Rothstein let every lawyer that was hired in on his scam? It was still a working law firm that had real clients and brought in real money. Let's reevaluate who we are calling clueless. To those who think this is all a joke, there are more than just the investors who are affected. There are secretaries, office staff and even ethical lower level attornies that did not get a paycheck this week and still have bills to pay and families to take care of.
It wouldn't kill you to do your homework and get a clue.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 4:16PM"Hello" and "Real Attorney" obviously work(ed) at RRA, or are trying to rescue a friend who did. Its unfortunate neither of you have strong reading comprehension -- my original comment was (1) partners, and (2) buddies were ignorant. Now you've turned it into "guilty" and include all secretaries and office staff. So, you either can't read well, or you're very defensive and have a guilty conscience. Either way, you can rest assured that your protests appeal to a small minority of people. The rest of us are just amazed -- at least at the scope of it. Word on the street for years was that RRA must have been embezzling, or money laundering. How is it that all the folks inside were caught totally unaware, when everyone on the outside knew there was something very wrong?
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 4:27PMContinued ... They could've asked the question instead of hide behind "I didn't know" I do feel for the lower level attornied and the admin staff but they were all paid well during their employment and will have to get jobs like the other 10% of Florida's unemployed. But the rest haven't been riding the RRA gravy train
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 4:28PMIsn't it about time for that bitch Goldilocks to chime in about how this forum has gone to hell because someone said something she disagrees with?
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 4:32PMHey Real Lawyer: You and your cohorts were riding a wave alright. A wave of stupidity. There is no good excuse for being a part of that SCAM. You all should be embarassed.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 4:38PM@ Wayoutwest ,
Me believes thou protestes too louder.
Not everybody in this country is as ignorant as you would wish them to be.
"If Israel is guilty of committing systematic war crimes across Gaza and the West Bank, then the US, which supported, funded and armed Israel during the war, is an accessory to those crimes.
Put simply, if there is blood on Israel's hands, than it is has dripped all over America's shirt."
It takes an awful lot of money to fund this nation called Israel.
Everybody in Europe,Central Asia, the Middle East and Asia are wise to your tricks so unfortunately this "Tribe" has dug its shithooks deep into the United States and we are terminally embedded with the "sickness".
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 5:01PM
my friend you are mistaken. America chose to be involved with the "tribe". let me explain. in 1967 Israel went to war armed with very few American weapons, only a few old WWII sherman tanks. the vast majority of armmaments were British and French, mostly the British centurian tank & the french mirage III fighters. after Israel KICKED ASS in a 6 day war America "chose" to be on the winning team a/k/a "the tribe". in 1978 America started to arm Israel with modern weapons as they saw the "tribe" being their ally against the Russians who were trying to gain a foot hold in the middle east in order to control the oil fields. can you imagine if Russia controlled the oil. can you imagine how much you would have had to pay for a six pack of BUUUUUUUUD. if you choose to be a bigit then at least be a smart one you dumb goy. now that Russia is no longer a threat it is politically correct to ...... SR is the lowest of the low. he did not care who he distroyed however, sir, one thing is a fact and that is that he feared escaping to Israel because he knew he'll be back here sooner then later. remember that meyer lansky tried same in the past and the Israeli courts refused him citizenship even though he offered 1 million dollars for citizenship. go have a buuuud you'll understand this better.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 6:17PMI am not the ex-Mrs. Steinger, but am very familiar with you and your case. There are many things that indicate you are not who you claim to be "former bodyguard and lover" and that you are in face Joel Steinger. Regardless of your thoughts about your ex-wife Mr. Steinger, you should try being an adult and good parent by taking responsibility for your own child; pay child support and alimony, regardless of the courts ruling not requiring you to (a sin in itself).
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 6:22PMPrices were always high in Europe. Now everything is expensive for us. It makes it much easier to attach America to the rest of the world.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 6:28PMI have given everyone great inside information and you are giving the credit to Jenne or Cacciatori. Those two stooges don't deserve any of my credit.
Godfather 3 you owe the piano player an apology. My little Michael Corleone apologize at once or I will cut you off from this blog.
@Edward Millieese,
You forgot the tri-lateral commission, the Bilderbergers, free masons, the build a bears, Barbie, Ken, and Plankton in your ridiculous conspiracy. Oh and I know, you study history. All that still does not justify your racism. Have you lit the cross yet, it's a might cool tonight.
follow the money:
coconspirator one:
1. stu rosenfeldt spent money like a drunken sailor. everyone in town knows he had a hooker habit that cost him thousands a week---cash money
2. stu rosenfeldt bought a yacht from morse and rothstein.
3. stu rosenfeldt bought a 200 thousand dollar mercedes from rothstein
4. stu rosenfeldt took a ferrari from rothstein
5. stu ran around town telling everyone that he owned half of all of rothsteins businesses
6. stu was the king of the firms employment law group--check out their old website and his bio--rothstein was selling employment settlements
7. source inside the firm says rosenfeldt was making a million plus in salary and a neverending expense account. lets see your tax returns stu.
coconspirator two:
1. boden was general counsel and rothsteins confidante
2. boden sat in on many investor meetings
3. boden brought in many investors
4. boden was living in one of rothsteins multimillion dollar homes
5. someone inside the firm told me boden was making half a million a year representing NO CLIENTS
6. according to a reliable source boden was running his own little ponzi sub group
coconspirator three
1. villegas was rothsteins confidante for more than 15 years. her fingerprints are all over this.
2. she helped him run the firm
coconspirator four
1. adler was making a fortune bringing in far less than he took out
2. adler recently bought an apt in manhattan
3. the loan for the apt was from a company owned by rothstein
4. adler was known to borrow hundreds of thousands of dollars from the firm without repaying a penny
5. adler tried to bring in investors--but he couldnt close a door
6. adler pushed certain investments on the firm and knew the firm did not have legal client sufficient to pay for the investments yet knew the investments would be made
7. adler had at least one, maybe two mistresses, all paid for by the rothstein firm
8. adler was running another scumbag collection business behind his partners backs out of boca---he spent a ton of time there instead of practicing law--why practice when ponzi is your middle name
coconspirator five
1. the folks at banyon, george levins companies that are crying foul and saying rothstein did this all himself are all dilusional. anyone who has done business with levin knows he is a crook. and his henchman, i mean family office manager who handles all his investments had several significant run ins with the law during his banking career.
2. levin's companies that were raising money for rothstein are under investigation by the sec and others
3. levin was telling everyone he was investing his own money when in reality it was other peoples money.
4. levin and preve had a regular road show going on to raise money....offering 20 percent plus on investments and keeping 80 percent plus plus plus for themselves
5. levin had a nice fraud with a kit car company years ago....fraud experience
6. levin was known to spend every penny he made...preve had to steal investor money to pay levins bills
7. levin, like rothstein, hung with a crowd way over his head financially, bennet lebow, howard lorber and the like...he needed the money to appear to belong
8. preve was a banker and levins due diligence guy....lets see what diligence he really did....the greed blinded them all and they all knew what was going on.
9. levin regularly bragged that he made tens of millions of dollars with rothstein.
coconspirators six and seven:
1. td bank and gibraltar banks---did they not think it was strange that all this money was going in and out of their banks each and every day from a law firm.pleeeeeeezzzzz
2. i heard someone at gibraltar bank was onto rothstein and friends---that was until he invested millions in the bank
coconspirator eight
1. david benjamin---rothstein and friends chief protector
2. helped rothstein move money
3. provided beatings to anyone that got in rothsteins way
coconspirator nine
1. morse was rothsteins best friend
2. morse needed secret cash to keep his mistresses
3. morse was an investor in the scheme for years and made millions
4. morse and rothstein were about to open bova smoke together
5. morse knew what was going on with rothsteins ripping off morse's father
6. morse neglects to tell anyone that rothstein paid back most of the money ripped off from the senior morse to make rothstein look worse(as if he could look worse) to keep all eyes on rothstein
7. morse's car dealerships were kept alive with money morse was earning from the ponzi scheme
8. not only was morse himself and investor but so was the main car company...the ponzi scheme was a feeder for money into the dealerships
9. morse helped rothstein launder some of the proceeds by having him buy and sell cars in a matter of months. money in and money out.
10. morse told several people close to him that he knew what rothstein was doing
coconspirator ten
1. RL pearson was bodens best friend
2. RL and boden brought in millions in investors to rothsteins deals
3. RL and boden also had their own little scheme ripping off their investors. just heard this and i will provide more as i hear it.
4. RL is a canadian citizen with ties to the UBS scandal
5. RL and Boden spent alot of time together meeting with investors in RL pearsons offices
6. RL's right hand, a guy named nabil, was in morocco the same time rothstein was.
7. RL did not lose one penny....but made millions.
stay tuned for the next set of coconspirators. my guess----rothstein buries them all when he finally meets with the feds. if i were his coconspirators i would try to beat him to the fbi.
@ areyoukiddingme
you just ran the table. time for a re-rack!
piano- how are you?
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 7:31PMPiano, I didn't start the speculation into your alter ego. Just speculating... But I apologize
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 7:57PMIs this Levin the same guy from the Classic Motor Carriages that was located off the palmetto and 27th avenue? He's getting ripped off by Rothstein?! PUHLEEZE!
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 8:05PMI understand Nigeria has offered Scott political assylum if he can streamline the rag tag group of Lagos e-mail scammers into an effective marketing machine.
They are only asking for his customer list of fools in exchange.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 8:43PMMr. Steinger, it is interesting how you continue to slander your ex-wife behind the name "former bodyguard and lover," but refuse to comment on your not paying child support. Your youngest will suffer greatly because of his exposure to you, just like your eldest son Michael Steinger and stepson Michael Rosen. Many in the community are aware of your abuse towards your ex-wife and continued abuse of your son. What kind of father with financial resources like yours doesn't pay child support????? Your pockets run deep and list of payoffs long.........
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 11:22PMWhere does Melissa Britt's murder and Tony Villegas fit in?
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 13 2009 @ 11:33PMEvery attorney who falsely held him or herself out as a partner or shareholder in RRA helped contribute to this fraud. Each of them gave the business credibility that it did not deserve. Each of them made client's, such as Mr. Morse, believe this was a traditional law firm, instead of a scam being run by an egomaniacal crook. How could so many people work in a system that had no checks and balances? All of them should accept the blame for the result of their mutual misrepresentation to the public and their client's. The head of their litigation group, Steve Lippman, should have had controls in place so that the status of litigation could not be misrepresnted to client's, like Mr. Morse. Every attorney who falsely held him or herself out as a partner or shareholder in RRA helped contribute to this fraud. Each of them gave the firm credibility that it did not deserve. Each of them made client's, such as Mr. Morse, believe this was a traditional law firm, instead of a scam being run by an egomaniacal crook. Real law firms have checks and balances that prevent this sort of behavior. Committees exist to inquire into things that are going on in the office. Partners in real firms cannot run unrelated busineses from the firm's premises without real oversight so that client's are not injured and the firm's reputation isn't being used to lure victims into a Ponzi scheme. How could so many people work in a system that had no checks and balances? All of them should accept the blame for the result of their mutual misrepresentation to both the public and their client's. What controls did the head of their litigation group, Steve Lippman, have in place so that client's could not be misled in the manner in which Mr. Morse was misled. Grant S. held himself out as the managing partner of the firm, what did he do to manage? If, as they now tell the story, no one but the crook Rothstein saw any of the books and records and falsified pleadings without any supervision, then each of the attorneys who falsely held themselves out as shareholders or partners should look closely in the mirror and admit they looked the other way and contributed to this disaster by making the crook Rothstein and the firm look like a legitimate enterprise when it was merely Rothstein's false front. Time will tell how many of Rothstein victims were both clients and investors. What procedures did the firm have in place to ensure client's got independent legal advice before entering into a business transaction with the crook Rothstein? What procedures were in place to ensure client trust funds, like those of Mr. Morse, were received for a proper purpose and disbused for a proper purpose? When each attorney signed their Florida Bar dues statement each year, did they read the part about ensuring that proper trust accounting procedures were being maintained at the firm? Hindsight makes clear that all of these failures to follow universally accepted good practices, enabled this con man to appear to be a legitimate member of the legal community and someone people should trust. The firm was a fake and its fake shareholders and fake partners owe an apology to this community.
Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 14 2009 @ 1:57AMAND HE TOLD ME THEY WERE "UNHAPPILY" MARRIED AND STAYED HOME TO WATCH TV!!
Lori Howard Boden Hi Alan,
Hope u r doing well. Have y been to Bova's lately? It is really fun on Thursday night. We need to make plans soon. Happy and healthy New Year!! Say hi to Michelle too.
September 12 at 9:50am
Lori Howard Boden Missed a great party! Hope u had a great fourth! Need to make plans soon!
July 5 at 12:11pm
Alan Berger When's the next one!?!
July 7 at 11:11pm
Alan Berger How's the East side Lori? Say hello to David for me.
June 25 at 10:01pm
Lori Howard Boden Yummy! That was fun. Have to get together again soon!
April 12 at 9:33am
Lori Howard Boden Looking forward to an adult night out on Saturday!!
April 7 at 8:37pm
Lori Howard Boden Great! Haven't been there in years! Looking forward to it! Better start dieting NOW!
March 21 at 10:16am
Alan Berger Hey Lori, Kip & Joey are in now too and we switched it to Cafe Martorano.
March 21 at 9:57am
Lori Howard Boden Hey Heard u partied with Dennis!!!! Sorry we missed you guys. Next time!
January 25 at 9:27pm
Alan Berger You got it!
January 14 at 10:08pm
Lori Howard Boden,
Hey Alan, I told David you said thank you. He was happy to get you upstairs although his boss asked who you were. Apparently he knew everyone on the list so David said you were a potential client. Maybe you will be or keep your ears and eyes open for possible clients. Then you can come to many more parties!!!
January 14 at 9:33pm · See Wall-to-Wall
Alan Berger, Hey! Thanks very much to you and David for getting me into the upstairs part. I see you already posted your picture with Adrian Grenier. I should have paid attention to his band but I was too busy eating, drinking and chatting. Great event.
January 14 at 12:13pm
Lori Howard Boden Hi Alan,
So much fun to hang out with you last night. What a blast! Glad we bumped in to you. See we didn't have to wait until Dec. 2009! Hope to see you again soon!
January 14 at 10:41am · See Wall-to-Wall
"Steinger's fall really only meant the end of MBC"
1. MBC employed a lot more than 50 people
2. As a vendor of printing services to MBC, I can tell you that not only did shutting down MBC cause 10 plus employees at the company I worked for lose their jobs, it took about 75k a year in commissions out of my pocket. There were numerous other vendors who did a lot of business with MBC that also had to lay off employees. I'd say that shutting down MBC took more of a toll on the local economy than you think.
