On Friday, August 26, 2022, Law360 reported that attorney Edward C. Chung could face contempt charges and disciplinary proceedings after he failed to appear for a hearing in Southern California.
Chung, who is representing the heirs of a Saudi sheikh in a case against Chevron, allegedly fabricated a news article to bolster his clients’ efforts to enforce an $18 billion arbitral award against Chevron.
The article was filed on the docket “for demonstrative purposes” last summer after Chung, who has requested permission from the Ninth Circuit. Chung claimed the article gave “an informative summary of factual and procedural events” related to the alleged arbitration.
Chevron has long contended that the arbitration was a “sham” and that the heirs’ entire claim is a “fraud,” pointing to the criminal convictions of those involved in the arbitration for perpetrating the scheme.
In a letter submitted to the court on August 25, Chung described the demonstrative exhibit as a “hypothetical paper” that was meant to summarize the court record. He claimed to have told the court of the purpose. Chung also told the court that he would be boycotting the hearing, citing professional ethics rules.
Law360 reported that Wallace Tashima, a Senior United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, is considering whether Chung could be held in contempt for his decision not to attend the Friday hearing.
Law360 stated:
“Senior U.S. Circuit Judge A. Wallace Tashima said he would look into whether Edward C. Chung of Chung Malhas & Mantel PLLC could be held in contempt for failing to appear at the hearing in Pasadena, during which he was scheduled to defend himself against allegations that he had written or commissioned an article from an apparently fictional publication called “The Saudi Sun.”
After dismissing the litigation last year, the Ninth Circuit Court appointed Judge Tashima to serve as a special master to determine the legitimacy of the “highly suspicious” article.
Judge Tashima stated that:
“One reason he gave is that he wasn’t subpoenaed, but of course, he’s counsel of record, and I think that alone would require his presence, especially since he agreed to this hearing date. I will look into whether, in my view, that’s in direct contempt or not … but it seems to me a woeful failure to comply with an order of the court.”
As of today, Mr. Chung is listed on the website of the law firm Chung Malhas & Mantel PLLC as a practicing attorney. His info can be found online at https://opengovus.com/washington-lawyer/34292. He attended Villanova University School of Law, graduating in 2000. Chung practices in Seattle, Washington. He has been licensed in Washington, with license number #34292.
Law360’s story can be found here.
