Local attorney preps for huge case - Plame civil lawsuit against Cheney, Rove, etc.

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_4720624

Lawsuit for Plame, Wilson could be Joe Cotchett's biggest action yet

By Aaron Kinney, STAFF WRITER

Article Last Updated:11/25/2006 02:57:09 AM PST


BURLINGAME— Joe Cotchett has been involved in a host of high-profile cases, but the one set to begin early next year may end up dwarfing them all.

The Burlingame-based attorney is the lead trial lawyer in the civil lawsuit filed by ex-CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson and her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson IV, against Vice President Dick Cheney, his former chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, presidential adviser Karl Rove and former Deputy Secretary of Defense Richard Armitage.

The Wilsons are suing over the allegedly "intentional and malicious exposure" by senior Bush administrationofficials of Plame's identity as a CIA agent in retaliation for her husband's criticism of the administration's case for war with Iraq.

At his office last week, Cotchett picked up a 5-inch- thick binder that he had just received from the defendants in the case. It contained motions to dismiss the lawsuit based on executive privilege.

Leaning forward in his chair, Cotchett assessed the magnitude of the case.

"It's going to be the case of the next year," Cotchett said. "It's going to be the case that everybody watches, because it involves fundamental constitutional issues. It goes right to the heart of our national security."

[NVMojo]

1. executive privilege, my ass, Mr. Dick Cheney!

[niceypoo]

2. Just in time for the dems to take over congress......fire up the popcorn...

...its been a long time in coming.

[Bitwit1234]

3. Wait a cotton picking

Didn't' they allow a lawsuit to go forward against the PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON. I think he ranks a little higher than a VICE PRESIDENT. So if he had to be deposed and sued than executive privilege does not apply to the vice president.

[nashville_brook]

4. stretching here... but i seem to recall a thread a few days ago

saying that the attorneys are arguing for the lawsuits to go forward because the Clinton lawsuits *set a precedent.*

anyone else remember that?

[G_Leo_Criley]

5. yes - lawsuits by private citizen against official

Yes definitely. Paula Jones was allowed to sue Bill Clinton while he was President and the precedent was set.

The main difference was that she was suing for things she said happened before he became president. Not sure how a court will look on that, but doubt that exec. privilege is going to bail him out.

glc

[tbyg52]

7. Hehe...

I love it when their precedents come back to bite them....!

[G_Leo_Criley]

9. precedents ....

sometimes have a funny way of biting guys like that right in the butt.

Looking forward to some justice! :patriot:

glc

[G_Leo_Criley]

6. k & r this baby for the wilsons!

:kick:

glc

[BrotherBuzz]

8. My, what a lovely puff piece for Joe Cotchett

I've heard him on the radio with Bernie Ward more than once; he is as advertised. Never, never become Joe's adversary!