Fat Joke Costs Lawyer $2,500

Taking cheap shots at the overweight prosecutor in court can be costly: Defense lawyer Raphael Scotto, 62, has been fined $2,500 and barred from city administrative court for mocking husky prosecutor Victor Muallem and making other inappropriate remarks. According to court papers obtained by the Post, Muallem was squeezing between two desks during a sexual-harassment hearing when Scotto cracked, "Tough fit, there, huh?" Real mature.

And when judge Joan Salzman warned Scotto to stop picking on Muallem, she heard Scotto drop an F-bomb! What's next for Scotto, sneaking into the courtroom early and squirting water on the judge's chair? Salzman fined him $2,500 and barred him from city administrative court, but stopped short of making Scotto shake hands with Muallem and apologize. In his defense, Scotto says Muallem was deliberately trying to annoy him with his plus-size rear: "The guy would... rub his buttocks right in our faces."

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By John Del Signore in News on November 3, 2009 12:31 PM

Comments [rss]

ides_of_march

Food Court TV...

ValorIn8

I agree with Kojak. "Tough fit" is a harmless observation with a grin. If the judge can't take it the right way and decides to fine such a comment it seems to me an abuse of his power.

just saying

That's is not the whole story. After the judge warned Scotto about making inappropriate comments, Scotto said,

"F - - -" and that is what prompted the fine.

Apparently he had also been consistently acting up during the session. From the NYPost:

"Raphael Scotto, 62, screamed at a city administrative judge, abused witnesses and, when handed a subpoena, crumpled it and tossed it in the trash, according to a court ruling issued last month. 'This dramatic use of the trash bin to signify his scorn would become a signature move for him,' Judge Joan Salzman wrote."

What do you expect from a lawyer who has defended mobsters?

areacode212

I can't believe JDS missed the best quote of the story:

"Scott insists Muallem was deliberately trying to annoy him when, while squeezing between desks, his backside passed inches from Scotto's mug.

'The guy would...rub his buttocks right in our faces,' Scotto said."

John Del Signore

Ha, that's actually why this interested me in the first place, and then I somehow forgot to include it. Thanks.

valeriob

So worth it.

Wza

$2500?

No free gift card to Dunkin Donuts or something?

felixthecat2

Why was he trying to squeeze through? Too lazy to go around? I don't understand why the judge weighted in and dealt such a huge punishment. Did the prosecutor make a big deal about it?

Kojak

"Tough fit, there, huh?"

I don't think its a fat joke. The lawyer was mearly stating the obvious, that Mr Muallem was indeed having a hard time squeezing between two desks.