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Virgie Arthur's "Texas" Lawyer Has Checkered Past

Posted Mar 31st 2007 3:01AM by TMZ Staff

John 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.

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16. O'Quinn seems like a nice guy to me. This blog does not change my mind about him at all. O'Quinn's is a legend and his accomplishments are amazing. Go Team O'Quinn and Vergie.

I wish all the small minded people out there would stop bashing Virgie. Have some respect this woman just lost her daughter and grandson recently. The woman can not ever see her Grandchild.

Posted at 4:21AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Madeline

17. WTF HARVEY DID BARF THREATEN TO SUE YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!! AT LEAST HE PAID FOR HIS CRIMES . BET HE SUPPORTS HIMSELF TOO

Posted at 4:57AM on Mar 31st 2007 by double homicide+HK$$$$$$$$$ a parasite

18. we all know that lawyers are bottom feeders what did anyone think only lawyers that can't make it in the field, still have a heart.

Posted at 5:13AM on Mar 31st 2007 by D2D

19. 17. vergie lost her daughter and grandson a longtime ago. she is just now realizing they are not there to mead fences with and move one.

Posted at 4:36AM on Mar 31st 2007 by D2D

20. 17. O'Quinn seems like a nice guy to me. This blog does not change my mind about him at all. O'Quinn's is a legend and his accomplishments are amazing. Go Team O'Quinn and Vergie.

I wish all the small minded people out there would stop bashing Virgie. Have some respect this woman just lost her daughter and grandson recently. The woman can not ever see her Grandchild.

Posted at 4:21AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Madeline

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Exactly! O'Quinn may be a little rough around the edges but he's a great lawyer.

Posted at 4:30AM on Mar 31st 2007 by TMZzzz Unbiased Opinion

21. I knew it! That no good lying bastard. I saw many times on tv shows that he tell the lies after lies and trying to frame-up Howard as a murder! That no good son of b....!

Posted at 4:34AM on Mar 31st 2007 by okeef

22. Oh STOP it, Harvey.

Posted at 4:43AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Bonnie

23. HEY, I LIKE TEXAS. AND I DON'T THINK YOU CAN COMPARE HIM TO THE MURDER-LOVING RALE AND STERN. GIVE ME A BREAK!

Posted at 5:19AM on Mar 31st 2007 by MISS MARPLE

24. John O'Quinn, a 62-year-old Houston lawyer whom The Weekly Standard once suggested is "the best trial lawyer in America." There's a basis for that: His firm, O'Quinn & Laminack, has reportedly won well over 250 cases where the judgment was in excess of $1 million.

Sometimes way in excess. O'Quinn "personally bankrupted Dow Corning over breast implants. He recently won another billion-dollar verdict for a woman with a heart ailment who allegedly died from taking the diet pill combo Phen-fen," said The Weekly Standard. More billions followed from cases involving tobacco and asbestos.

He spreads the money around. O'Quinn told the Houston Business Journal that he has spent "north of $100 million" on real estate ventures. He also donates plenty to various causes: The University of Houston plays football at John O'Quinn Stadium; law students there study at the John O'Quinn Library.

Posted at 4:50AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Truth

25. So every one of them has a problem or two. BUT how many of the other's KNOW their work is being done Pro Bo-no. The rest of them seem to think they will be paid , a few will be , but you can almost bet some are expecting to take money from a baby.

Posted at 4:55AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Bimbo

26. IMO

The Number One Reason I Like O'Quinn Is Becaues He Buys His Own Shoes.

Posted at 5:13AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Madeline

27. All you Harvey bashers - Harvey Levin is laughing all the way to the bank.

Posted at 5:16AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Philly

28. Most Texas lawyers have a little bull on their boots! Get over it America. I'm sure Howard's lawyers have bodies in their closets too..... Howard still looks mighty guilty.

Why am I doing this at 2:00 am? lol gotta get a life.....or some of Howard's nighty-night pills!

Posted at 5:17AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Mad Hatter

29. Hey Howard....I can't sleep. Got any extra Valium lying around you aren't using>>>>>>>>

Posted at 5:17AM on Mar 31st 2007 by Mad Hatter

30. It will take a person who is thinking like a crook, to take down a crook (Howie). O'Quinn can redeem himself by bringing Howie down.

Posted at 5:19AM on Mar 31st 2007 by tsk

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