On Monday, November 6, 2023, the Los Angeles Times reported that Brian Kabateck, a well-known attorney in Los Angeles, has been accused of misleading a judge in order to secure a court-appointed role in a high-profile case involving the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP). The accusations were made in a complaint filed with the State Bar of California by former attorney Paul Paradis.
The complaint claims that Kabateck lied to the judge about his ties to former L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer. Kabateck told the judge that he had no relationship with Feuer, but Paradis’ complaint alleges that Kabateck’s former law partner, Richard Kellner, helped sponsor a political event for Feuer’s campaign and made subsequent donations.
Kabateck and Kellner were law partners until August 2015, which contradicts Kabateck’s statement to the judge. Paradis also points out that Kabateck’s firm has filed several court cases involving Kellner, including a 2017 case in which Kellner identified himself as Kabateck’s law partner.
Kabateck has called the complaint a “joke,” and Kellner has not responded to requests for comment. The complaint has sparked controversy in the legal community, with some questioning the timing of Paradis’ allegations and others calling for a thorough investigation.
The State Bar of California has not yet commented on the complaint, but the matter is expected to be thoroughly investigated in the coming weeks and months. Paradis’ complaint comes at a momentous point in his criminal case, as he has pleaded guilty to bribery and was scheduled to be sentenced.
Source: Los Angeles Times
