In an overzealous effort to clear his client’s name, celebrity attorney and radio host Ron Kuby appears to have damaged his client’s case.
Kuby represents Great Neck native Jesse Friedman who was convicted in 1988 of sexually abusing 13 kids who were taking computer classes in his father’s home.
Earlier this month Friedman announced that he is suing Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice for wrongful prosecution.
Kuby then charged that Rice hired Andre Levine from the high-powered Manhattan law firm Debevoise & Plimpton to defend her against a defamation suit related to the Friedman case at the county’s expense.
The firm, he said, was charging the county $1,000 an hour or more. Kuby estimated that the defense would cost well into the “millions of dollars.”
Late last week Kuby took back the claim after the firm said it was defending Rice pro bono.
But being Ron Kuby appears to mean never having to say you’re sorry.
The radical attorney who hosts an entertaining radio show with Curtis Sliwa on 77 WABC radio, responded, “apparently Debevoise & Plimpton is branching out from traditional pro-bono work… to take on the job of defending Rice, the controversial Nassau DA and congressional candidate.”
There is, as far as we know, nothing wrong with county funds being used to defend a prosecutor who is being sued for defamation of character by someone who has been convicted of a crime. Nor is it unusual for a government to seek the assistance of an outside law firm.
Kuby’s lawsuit also names John Byrne, Rice’s former public information officer, and Shams Tarek, her current public information officer, as defendants for allegedly disseminating information and other “false” statements to the New York Times, New York Post and other media outlets.
It’s at least ironic that this attorney who learned his trade at the side of the radical attorney William Kuntsler and who sees himself as a crusader for freedom of speech is suing information officers for doing their job.
Paul Leonard, a spokesperson for the county, said Kuby’s claim that the firm’s expense would be passed on to taxpayers was false and “meritless.” The firm, he said, is acting “pro bono, at no cost to the taxpayers.”
He said the county “will defend zealously against [Kuby’s] allegations.”
Will Kuby sue him next?
Rice, of course, had nothing to do with the original convictions of the Friedmans. Neither did her spokespersons. She did defend the prosecution of the younger Friedman who is appealing the conviction.
It may be that Jesse Friedman was wrongfully convicted.
However there is little doubt that his father, who committed suicide in prison, was a pedophile. There appears to have been plenty of evidence to support the charge.
Jesse Friedman, who was released on parole in 2001, claims his confession was coerced by law enforcement officials and that police manipulated the alleged victims. He will have an opportunity to prove that claim in court.
Meanwhile Kuby should stick to the facts of the case and resist the urge to make foolish accusations against high-profile public officials for the sake of publicity.
