MI Lawyer Fined $3K For Flipping The Bird During Court Hearing
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Veteran East Lansing attorney James Heos, tells Detroit Free Press he thought he was giving the middle finger to his blank computer screen, which was he says was not working at the time.
It s a very embarrassing situation. I ve been a lawyer 46 years and I ve never been accused of inappropriate, unruly, or rude conduct in the courtroom.
Heos, 74, tells the Detroit Free Press that he s technologically challenged and was frustrated that his computer was malfunctioning during an important malpractice hearing.
The panel of judges in the hearing aren t buying his explanation though. They say when questioned, Heos said he d only been pointing at his screen. According to the Free Press, the presiding judge, Judge Thomas Cameron said,
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LANSING The Michigan Court of Appeals has fined a lawyer $3,000 and referred him for possible further discipline after determining he raised his middle finger to an opposing lawyer during recent oral arguments.
But James Heos, the veteran East Lansing attorney who made the gesture, said Friday he thought he was giving the finger to his blank computer screen which was not working and he had no idea the three judges on the panel or anyone else could see him. It s a very embarrassing situation, said Heos, 74, who said he has already mailed his check to the clerk of the court.