Tag: “The Kings of Torts”

“Merry Christmas” Grady – FBI agent Hal Neilson files suit against authors of “The Kings of Tort”

The prosecutors, who had concealed the investigation carefully, felt it would be important to go public with a post-indictment press conference to maintain an advantage in the running narrative…At the press conference, U.S. Attorney Jim Greenlee elaborated on a few details of the case…

One of those attending the press conference was not a reporter at all, but Scruggs’s adversary Grady Tollison, who listened with satisfaction as the prosecutors tightened their grip on Scruggs.  At one point, Dawson, the lead prosecutor, leaned toward Tollison and whispered, “Merry Christmas“. (Page 243, Fall of the House of Zeus)

This past Wednesday, SLABBED reported Patsy Brumfield’s breaking news NEMS360 reports a Merry Christmas for FBI Agent Hal Neilson and followed with the update It’s Official – Government files Motion to Dismiss case against FBI Agent Hal Neilson.

“Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse” until Neilson filled in for Santa and filed suit against Grady’s buddy Tom Dawson – Neilson sues Dawson, Lange, ‘Tort’ publisher for alleged lies in book..

Specifically, the book claims that Plaintiff Neilson was untrustworthy and Defendant Dawson, in agreement with two co-conspirators Jim Greenlee and John Hailman, conspired to have Neilson removed from an important case because of his untrustworthiness.

This “important case” was the Government’s case against Dick Scruggs that eventually became know as not one but two – Scruggs I (USA v Scruggs) and Scruggs II (USA v Delaughter).

Not even Santa could make up what’s likely to turn up during the discovery phase of Neilson v Dawson! Continue reading ““Merry Christmas” Grady – FBI agent Hal Neilson files suit against authors of “The Kings of Tort””

A little home cookin’ – FBI Agent on trial in (where else but) north Mississippi!

Although I’ve faithfully followed the NEMS360.com coverage from the indictment of retired FBI Agent Hal Neilson through what is now the sixth day of his trial, you wouldn’t know it by reading SLABBED – not for lack of intent but lack of time.

Neilson first caught my eye in the Kings of Torts.  Patsy Brumfield’s story for NEMS360,  Indicted agent’s history shows feud with U.S. Attorney’s office, makes reference to the mention:

Neilson also reportedly raised ethics questions about former assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Dawson’s participation in a book about the office’s investigation and prosecution of then-Oxford attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs, who was sentenced to prison on two guilty pleas related to judicial bribery indictments.

Before the book was released several weeks ago, a DOJ spokesman said Dawson had retired before he worked on it. Tension between Neilson and the U.S. Attorney’s Office first became public when it was mentioned in the book, although reasons for the problems were not given.

Neilson is also mentioned in Curtis Wilkie’s Fall of the House of Zeus

A serious schism had developed between the U. S. Attorney’s Office and the local FBI that threatened their ability to work together…In a confidential report drafted in September 2004 by Hal Neilson, the supervisory resident agent of the Oxford office, and endorsed by four of his agents, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oxford was accused of deceit and excessive zeal…In the meantime, the U.S. Attorney’s Office opened its own investigation of Neilson…Determined to keep the Oxford FBI in the dark in the Scruggs case, Greenlee, Hailman and Dawson drove to Jackson to meet secretly with the state supervisor of the FBI.  The Jackson FBI detailed Bill Delaney and agent who had already been working on a criminal case in North Mississippi…so it was thought no one would suspect a thing. (pages 154-155) 

These facts, in familiar legal lingo, are uncontested – and the names are familiar, too:  Greenlee, the U.S. attorney who authorized the indictment of Dick Scruggs; John Hailman, the AUSA who Judge Lackey went to with his concerns about Balducci’s offer of a future association with his firm;  Bill Delaney, the agent who intercepted Balducci as he started his trip home following his delivery of the second $20,000 payment to Judge Lackey; and Tom Dawson, the lead prosecutor in the Scruggs case after Hailman’s retirement – and, the co-author of the Kings of Torts.

Not so familiar, however, is the important role FBI reports played in Scruggs I and Scruggs II and appear to be playing in the Neilson case.  As we continue with NEMS360 reports on the indictment and trial of Hal Neilson, keep in mind that an FBI report, unlike an FBI transcript, has no backup recording as documentation.  Continue reading “A little home cookin’ – FBI Agent on trial in (where else but) north Mississippi!”