In a recent case, a federal judge in Virginia revoked out-of-state counsel privileges for a California-based attorney, citing unprofessional conduct and “backdoor attempts” to introduce evidence contributing to a subsequent mistrial. The attorney had been representing a plaintiff in a high-profile slip-and-fall case against Outback Steakhouse.
The plaintiff, JoAnn Wright Haysbert, filed her suit against Bloomin’ Brands Inc. and Outback Steakhouse of Florida, claiming she experienced a slip-and-fall incident at an Outback Steakhouse restaurant in Chesapeake, Virginia back in May 2018. The case went to trial due to disputes over Outback’s alleged negligence relating to the incident.
Ultimately, the Judge declared a mistrial, attributing it to the cumulation of misrepresentation, rules violations, and other misconduct by Plaintiff’s counsel. He expressed strong belief that the existing prejudice could not be remedied by a mere cautionary instruction.
For those interested in reading more detailed proceedings of this case, you can visit Law.com.