Articles Posted in Firm News

Barone Defense Firm associate trial attorney Keith Corbett knows a thing or two about RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act).  As a former Federal Prosecutor, he lived and breathed RICO for several decades, and even used this powerful and far reaching law to to bring down some of the most notorious crime families in Detroit.  Now, he’s applying that experience to help the news media make sense of the civil RICO lawsuit recently filed by General Motors (GM) against Fiat Chrysler (FCA).

In a recent interview with Channel Four News, Rod Meloni, Mr. Corbett opined that on the one hand GM’s legal task is an easy one because in a civil case the RICO allegations need only be proved by a “preponderance of evidence” roughly meaning that 50.1% of the evidence is in GM’s favor.  This is a far lower burden of proof then Corbett became accustomed to as a Federal prosecutor.  When he took down such notorious crime families as the Zirrilli’s, the Toco’s and the Giacalone’s, Corbett was bound by the Constitution’s much higher burden of proof in criminal cases, beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the highest burden of proof in our entire legal system. By comparison, GM’s task seems easy.

On the other hand, according to Corbett, GM’s case will rely on whether they can prove that the Fiat Chrysler CEO Marchionne was directly involved.  Showing that a few miscreants working independently of the Fiat Chrysler CEO will not be enough. Partly because of this difficulty, the civil RICO litigation will take years to conclude.  However, since both parties have “deep pockets” there will be no shortage of funds to pay high-powered and influential lawyers like Corbett to get to the bottom of what happened. Unfortunately, according to Corbett, the United Auto Workers (UAW) could bear the brunt of the spoils of this auto war because if Fiat Chrysler goes down, 1000s of auto workers could find themselves without a job.

Effectively immediately, Keith Corbett, Senior Trial Lawyer at the Barone Defense Firm, will be focusing his practice on the Federal defense of complex financial crimes, including, prescription fraud, billing fraud and Medicare fraud. He will also continue to handle other matters at the Firm, such as the defense of intoxicated driving cases and other state crimes.

Prior to joining the Barone Defense Firm in 2013, Keith had a long career as a prosecutor which began at the State Court level with the Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney‘s office in 1974. However, much of Keith’s wide breadth of knowledge and experience was gained in the Federal Courts while prosecuting the major organized crime families in Detroit. These prosecutions were most often based on various proven violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1980, also known simply as the RICO Act.  This Act defines and sets forth various kinds of prohibited activity and is most often applicable when such activity is performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. The act also provides for criminal penalties. Among other things, RICO allows for the prosecution of leaders for crimes they ordered others to do, such as murder or other unlawful activities related to the criminal syndicate, such as various financial crimes.

During his tenure with the U.S. Attorney’s Organized Crime Unit, Keith was involved in the prosecutions of 17 members and associates of the Detroit La Cosa Nostra (LCN), and some of the most well-known figures involved in Detroit’s organized crime, including the Zerilli, Tocco, and Beckham families.

Birmingham Michigan DUI lawyer Patrick T. Barone was recently appointed to the Leading Lawyers Magazine Advisory Board.  Mr. Barone has additionally been named by the magazine as among Michigan’s upper 5% of all lawyers.  In fact, less than 5% of Michigan’s lawyers are  awarded this distinction.

There are four phases to the selection process, which begins with peer nominations.  Specifically, lawyers throughout Michigan were asked this question:  “If a family member or friend needs legal help and you can’t take the case, which lawyers would you recommend within your area of law or geographic region?” On this criteria Mr. Barone was frequently nominated by his peers for DUI defense.

Next, in phase two, Leading Lawyers Magazine calls the lawyers who are nominated and conducts extensive interviews.  It is believed that no other lawyer rating service conducts such extensive personal interviews.

Michigan attorney Patrick T. Barone has been selected to assume authorship of “Defending Drinking Drivers” a well-known and highly respected national legal treatise. Mr. Barone was selected by the book’s Publisher, James Publishing, after a national search. Nationally known Atlanta attorney and legal author William C. Head said, “Patrick will bring new insight and enthusiasm to this essential trial manual for attorneys handling litigation relating to both drinking and driving and driving while impaired by drugs.”

Mr. Barone began as the new author with the April publication of the 2006 supplement. The two-volume manual is also maintained at many law libraries and public libraries across the United States.

The change in authorship was necessary after John A. Tarantino, the book’s original author, announced his retirement from authorship of the book last year. Mr. Tarantino undertook editorial responsibility for the book more than 20 years ago, and until this year continued to update it annually. “John Tarantino is a true champion of the accused ‘drunken driver’, and one of the most skilled trial attorneys in America. In passing the mantle to Patrick Barone, the stewardship of keeping this book current is in excellent hands,” stated Mr. Head.