Tobacco.org

• Two Admit Trying to Sell Trial Plans to Big Tobacco 

Two men have admitted to trying to sell the plaintiffs' secret trial strategy plans to tobacco industry lawyers in a high-stakes case against cigarette makers, federal prosecutors said on Thursday.

Said Farraj, 28, a former paralegal at the New York office of Orrick, Harrington & Sutcliffe, and his brother Yeazid, 25, pleaded guilty to the scheme in separate appearances in federal court the past week, they said.

The older Farraj, set for sentencing on Feb. 1, faces up to five years in prison on a conspiracy charge, five years for computer fraud and 10 years for interstate transportation of stolen goods. His brother, to be sentenced on Jan. 18, faces up to five years for conspiracy.

Orrick, Harrington is one of several law firms that represented the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust, which paid out over $1 billion in claims by asbestos workers suffering cancer and other serious injuries from inhalation of asbestos fibers.

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