Virgie Arthur's "Texas" Lawyer Has Checkered Past

John O'QuinnJohn O'Quinn, the larger-than-life, big-mouthed attorney representing Anna Nicole Smith's mother, Virgie Arthur, has some legal skeletons in his closet that don't jibe with the law-and-order image he tried to portray during the Judge Larry portion of the Anna Nicole legal proceedings, where O'Quinn memorably fainted.

TMZ did some digging, and it turns out that O'Quinn was punished back in 1994 for practicing law without a license in South Carolina, where he was disciplined for his methods in signing-up clients after a USAir jetliner crash. And then, in 1998, O'Quinn went through disbarment proceedings with the Texas state bar, which accused him of funneling more than $100,000 to two men who helped him recruit non-attorneys to solicit families of crash victims.

O'Quinn did plead guilty to the charges in South Carolina and ended up paying a $300,000 fine. In Texas, he was let off without punishment.



Reader Comments

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1. BIG WHOOP! I would put his reputation up against that of fellow-attorney Howard K. Stern any day!

Posted at 3:09AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Indy_anna

2. I knew there was something sleazy about him (O'Quinn)!!!!! I didn't like how he told one of the news shows that if Larry was the father, Virgie would get custody and Larry would have "ample visitation". What a joke! However, you're right, it's NOTHING compared to Barth, Monroe, and Sanchez--- or Howard the Coward who, I have to tell you, I don't think is smart enough to pass the bar, anyhow. He must have paid someone off. And then it didn't do him much good- he's not supporting himself- he's just a hanger-on.

Posted at 3:15AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Christi

3. 0 posts so far!!!! Everyone's so busy Howard bashing...they don't have time to read all the latest scoops! Figures this guy is a slime...just like the white trash he represents. How Virgie...with her 5 marriages....her daughter molested as a child by one of them...destroying her life....has the gall to ask that she be the one to care for and raise Anna's baby ...is beyond comprehension. They might as well put the child out on a Texas highway and leave her there...her chances of survival in both cases would be about the same. Virgie says this baby needs a stable home?????!!!!! Well...news flash....Miss Piggy...that would not be with the likes of you! Stomping across Anna's grave....you piece of garbage!!!??? There's a special place in hell for you...and hopefully Splash will continue to videotape you as you burn...we're out here waiting for the breaking news flash on Fox................

Posted at 3:25AM on Mar 31st 2007 by ellie

4. Alrighty Then.... don't hold back ...give us the ENTIRE lawyer laundry list...

Posted at 3:22AM on Mar 31st 2007 by sherry

5. That's not all. No wonder Stern is concerned about the jury in the Bahamas. O"Quinn is a mega millionaire, one who could pay off anyone he wants in the Bahamas and one who has been caught doing it before. He was found to have paid a witness in a court case just to disappear and not testify which would have helped his opponent.

Posted at 3:39AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Texas

6. They deserve one another.

Posted at 3:40AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Lynne

7. The Houston, Texas, law firm’s The O’Quinn Law Firm ’s founder and lead litigator, John M. O'Quinn, is a legend. He has been widely recognized with superlatives such as the following:

“one of the most effective trial lawyers in the country at arguing a case before a jury” – The Wall Street Journal – Texas Journal
possessor of “a reputation for landmark legal victories that few successful plaintiffs’ lawyers can equal.” – Houston Business Journal
one of the state’s most successful plaintiff lawyers – International Commercial Litigation
“one of the scariest trial attorneys in the nation” – The National Law Journal
“corporate America’s worst nightmare” – Houston Metropolitan
Mr. O’Quinn’s prominence and passion set the tone for renowned attorneys and the many other dedicated personal injury lawyers of The O’Quinn Law Firm. Follow the links below for more background information on each attorney.

Posted at 3:52AM on Mar 31st 2007 by For your information

8. Pharmaceutical Litigation
Houston Vioxx Attorneys
Harmful Drugs • Dangerous Drugs • Medical Devices
The O’Quinn Law Firm
Attorney John M. O’Quinn: One of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in the United States


The Houston Vioxx attorneys of The O’Quinn Law Firm believe it is wrong for manufacturers of medicines to put patients’ lives at risk for the sake of corporate gain.

To schedule a consultation concerning an injury caused by dangerous drugs such as Vioxx, Celebrex or Bextra, pharmacist malpractice, or medical devices such as hip implants, or pacemakers, contact the Texas dangerous drug recall lawyers at The O’Quinn Law Firm. Request an evaluation if a family member has been killed or injured through the administration of pharmaceuticals named in FDA (Food and Drug Administration) drug recalls including:

Vioxx
Celebrex
Bextra
Zyprexa
ReNu with MoistureLoc and Fungal Infections
Pergolide/Permax and Cabergoline/Dostinex
The O’Quinn Law Firm has helped recover some of the largest settlements in history on behalf of thousands of women in class action lawsuits for damages caused by breast implants and the diet drug fen phen.

The causes of injury due to harmful drugs are many. Chronic under-funding of the FDA has resulted in the release of quite a few inadequately tested drugs to the market. The pharmaceutical industry has three lobbyists for every member of Congress.

The O’Quinn Law Firm has no patience for corporate wrongdoing which is at the expense of unsuspecting, innocent victims. It takes a maverick litigator like John M. O'Quinn to bring pharmaceutical companies to justice when blatant disregard for patients’ well-being robs families of their loved ones and results in victims’ lifelong suffering of ill effects.

Explore avenues to justice in the face of a grievous injury or death related to dangerous drugs or medical devices. To request an evaluation, contact us through this Web site.

Posted at 3:52AM on Mar 31st 2007 by For your information

9. Isn't this lovely - painting Ron Rale as a hard azz and O'Quinn as the bad azz. Gee Harvey, I thought TMZ could do better than this!

Kudos tho .. at least you found a place for the Stern minions to congregate.

Posted at 3:57AM on Mar 31st 2007 by TMZzzz Unbiased Opinion

10. When Stern get his 6 % of 474 million O'quinn will pluck it right out of his pocket guarenteed even before teh check is cut from the estate

Posted at 3:58AM on Mar 31st 2007 by For your information

11. 11. When Stern get his 6 % of 474 million O'quinn will pluck it right out of his pocket guarenteed even before teh check is cut from the estate

Posted at 3:58AM on Mar 31st 2007 by For your information


Well that's one way to get Stern out of the Bahamas .. show him the $$$$$$$$!

Posted at 4:05AM on Mar 31st 2007 by TMZzzz Unbiased Opinion

12. Sterns will be deported when this is all over guarenteed also He is DONE they dont want him there

Posted at 4:07AM on Mar 31st 2007 by For your information

13. one sociopath up against another sociopath!

Posted at 4:14AM on Mar 31st 2007 by r'nee

14. I'M A STUPID DUMBASS. DON'T BELIEVE ALL THE PROPAGANDA I POSTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS SLEAZY LAWYER.

Posted at 4:17AM on Mar 31st 2007 by For your information

15. Hmmm. Let's see - would I want O'Quinn or HK$ for my attorney????

Hmmm....Howie, you can carry my bags, just don't get too close - wouldn't want the contamination.

Posted at 4:18AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Diana

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