Mark Geragos
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218701983
2008-06-11T20:14:22Z
Bobak
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/216.100.164.162|216.100.164.162]] ([[User talk:216.100.164.162|talk]]) to last version by Raine r pierre
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Geragos.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Mark Geragos an [[Armenian-American]] [[criminal defense]] [[attorney]] ]] -->
'''Mark John Geragos''' (born [[October 5]] [[1957]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[criminal law|criminal defense]] [[attorney]] best known for defending pop-star [[Michael Jackson]], actress [[Winona Ryder]], [[Gary Condit]], and [[Susan McDougal]], who was involved in the [[Whitewater scandal]]. He also represented [[Scott Peterson]], in another trial that received widespread media attention.<ref name="SF">[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/05/31/MNGOA6UISU1.DTL Legal styles collide in Redwood City]</ref> He's currently representing Paul and Kuhlbir Dhaliwal, two brothers injured after a tiger escaped in San Francisco Zoo.
==Background==
Geragos was born in [[Los Angeles, California]]. He received his bachelor's degree from [[Haverford College]] in 1979 and his [[Juris Doctor]] [[(J.D.)]] from [[Loyola Law School]] in 1982.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/11/20/jackson.geragos/ Famous clients not new to Geragos]</ref> He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1983.<ref name="SF"/> Currently, Geragos is the managing partner at The Law Offices of Geragos and Geragos, a 13-person law firm in Los Angeles.<ref>[http://www.geragos.com/our_attorneys-mark_j_geragos.php Our Attorneys - Mark Geragos]</ref>
An [[Armenian-American]], Geragos maintains a close relationship with the Armenian community.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/29/national/main596570.shtml $20M Settlement For Armenians]</ref> He has earned praise from the [[Armenian National Committee of America]]<ref name="ANCA">[http://www.anca.org/press_releases/press_releases.php?prid=404 Attorney Mark Geragos To Serve as Master of Ceremonies at ANCA-WR 2002 Annual Banquet]</ref> He serves on the Advisory Committee of Birthright Armenia,<ref>[http://www.birthrightarmenia.org/about/about_people.html Birthright Armenia - Mark Geragos]</ref> as the chairman of Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry,<ref>[http://www.abmdr.am/board.html Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry - Board of Directors]</ref> and also is involved in the religious aspect of the Armenian community.<ref>[http://www.hyeyouth.com/57490_thanks_abp_vatche.htm St. Peter Armenian Church Youth Ministries' Center and the In His Shoes Mission]</ref> He has been a member of the [[Armenia Fund]] International Board of Trustees since 2006.<ref>[http://www.armeniafund.org/press_releases/press_releases.php?id=103 Armenia Fund<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Geragos was also one of the lead lawyers in a pair of groundbreaking federal [[class action]] lawsuits against [[New York Life Insurance]] and [[AXA]] for insurance policies issued in the early twentieth century during the time of the [[Armenian Genocide|Armenian Genocide]] of over 1.5 million [[Armenians|Armenian]]s. These two cases settled for over $37.5 million in 2004 and 2005.<ref>[http://www.armeniainfo.am/news/view.php?news_id=129 French Insurance Co. Agrees To Pay $17 Million To Genocide Heirs]</ref>
==Notable clients==
===Susan McDougal===
Geragos first came to national attention with back-to-back [[acquittal]]s in both State and Federal Court jury trials for Whitewater figure [[Susan McDougal]], the former business partner of former [[President]] [[Bill Clinton]].<ref>[http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3660632/ King of the Tabloid Case]</ref> In early 2001, Geragos completed his representation of McDougal by securing a pardon for her from President Clinton on [[January 20]], [[2001]], as Clinton was about to leave office.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/25/eveningnews/main537972.shtml Susan McDougal Speaking Out — Finally]</ref>
===Winona Ryder===
In December 2002, Geragos defended [[Academy award]]–nominated actress [[Winona Ryder]] on charges of stealing more than [[US dollar|$]]5,500 worth of merchandise from a [[Beverly Hills, California]] store in 2001. She was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to undergo psychological and drug counseling.<ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/11/06/ryder.verdict/index.html Prosecutor won't seek jail for Ryder]</ref>
===Michael Jackson & Scott Peterson===
In the early stages of the [[People v. Jackson|Michael Jackson molestation case]], Geragos handled that case as well as [[Scott Peterson]]'s death penalty case simultaneously. Though he managed a busy workload since he began working as a lawyer, during this time, he was handling two of the United States's best-known cases. Geragos's "...crushingly busy calendar" in the courtroom earned him a rebuke by a judge in an embezzlement case Geragos was also trying.<ref>[http://www.foxreno.com/news/2819295/detail.html Judge Grills Geragos On Workload]</ref> His love for trying cases may explain why he is in the court as often as he is. "I love the courtroom," he has said.<ref name="SF"/>
On [[April 26]], [[2004]], Michael Jackson removed Mark Geragos as his attorney, replacing him with [[Thomas Mesereau]]. In a public statement provided by his spokesperson [[Raymone Bain]], Jackson stated, "It is imperative that I have the full attention of those who are representing me. My life is at stake..." suggesting that Geragos may not have had enough time to handle his case considering Geragos's workload.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4830594/ Jackson says he 'terminated' lead attorneys]</ref> Less than a year later Scott Peterson, Geragos's ''other'' high profile case, was convicted and sentenced to death.
===Greg Anderson===
In 2006, Geragos was back in the headlines for representing [[Barry Bonds]]'s personal trainer [[Greg Anderson (trainer)|Greg Anderson]]. On [[July 5]], [[2006]], Anderson was found in contempt of court by [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California|U.S. District]] Judge William Alsup who jailed Anderson for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury investigating perjury accusations against Bonds. Geragos announced he would file an appeal based on his assertion that the subpoena to testify violated Anderson's July 2005 plea bargain agreement in the [[BALCO|Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative]] case. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/07/06/MNGGRJQES51.DTL&feed=rss.news] Anderson was to be held until he agreed to testify or the grand jury's term expired. Geragos has said his client would not testify. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060720/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbo_giants_bonds_steroids] The grand jury expired on [[July 20]], [[2006]], and Anderson was released from prison two weeks later. [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2524831&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines] On [[August 28]], [[2006]], Anderson was again found in contempt of court for refusing to testify before a newly convened grand jury and sentenced to prison. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/29/BAG97KQQTC1.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea] Anderson was freed on October 5, 2006 after an order from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found that the Trial Judge had committed legal errors and ordered Anderson's immediate release. Anderson was sent back to jail on [[November 16]], 2006.
===Kazuyoshi Miura===
In March 2008, he joined the defense of Japanese businessman [[Kazuyoshi Miura (businessman)|Kazuyoshi Miura]].[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/5603899.html]
===Others===
In other cases, Geragos won dismissal of felony kidnapping, arson and criminal threats charges against hip-hop star Nathaniel Hale, whose stage name is [[Nate Dogg]]. He also won dismissal of all alcohol-related counts against former President Clinton's brother, [[Roger Clinton, Jr.]]<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-06-14-mesereau-profile_x.htm Mesereau new 'go-to guy' for celebs in trouble]</ref> In early 2006, Geragos won the dismissal of a prostitution charge against film director [[Lee Tamahori]].<ref>[http://www.geragos.com/news_and_press_articles.php?id=229 Prosecutors Drop Prostitution Charge Against Bond Director]</ref>
In March of 2006, Geragos won a dismissal of special circumstances murder charges against Edward Ovasepian after he was able to prove that the eyewitness identification of his client was fatally flawed. Ovasepian who had been held without bail for over eight months was freed from custody and is back at work. This dismissal came on the heels of another exoneration of a Geragos client, Adrian Avedissian, who was freed from custody and his case dismissed by the prosecution after DNA tests conducted by the defense proved that he also had been falsely accused as a result of a flawed eyewitness identification. Both men are represented by the Geragos firm in potential civil suits.
Geragos was also the attorney for Cameron Brown, accused of murdering his four-year-old daughter by throwing her off a [[Rancho Palos Verdes]] cliff. The twelve (12) week trial ended in August 2006 without a verdict. The jury deliberated for over nine days but was hopelessly deadlocked and a mistrial was declared by Judge Mark Arnold of the Torrance Superior Court. The case is currently set for retrial in November of this year.
Also, Geragos convinced a San Mateo Superior Court Judge to grant probation in a weapons and drug case filed against [[Victor Willis]], former front man for the [[Village People]], the 1970's mega disco group who were made famous by their hits such as "YMCA" and "In the Navy". In addition, Geragos also currently represents Holly Ashcraft, the [[University of Southern California]] co-ed charged with murder in the death of her newborn infant. That case is currently pending in the Los Angeles Superior Court in downtown Los Angeles. Most recently, the two survivors of the [[San Francisco Zoo tiger attacks|tiger attack]] at the [[San Francisco Zoo]] in December 2007 have hired Geragos in anticipation of filing a lawsuit against the zoo.<ref name="abc">{{cite news |url = http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=4072527&page=1 |title = Tiger-Attacked Brothers Hire Legal Pit Bull |date=2008-01-01 |publisher = [[ABC News]] |accessdate = 2008-01-01}}</ref>
==Legal commentary==
Geragos occasionally appears as both guest and legal commentator on the ''Today'' show, ''[[Good Morning America]]'', ''[[60 Minutes]]'', ''[[On the Record]]'', and has appeared numerous times on ''[[Larry King Live]]'', including its twentieth anniversary show.<ref name="ANCA"/>
==Awards==
*1999 - Trial Lawyer of The Year by the [[Los Angeles]] Criminal Courts [[Bar Association]]. <ref>[http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/9916/features-crowley.php Eyewitness to a witch hunt]</ref>
*1999 - Jerry Giesler Memorial Award for Trial Skills, Judgement & Dedication.
*2001 - Humanitarian of the Year by the [[Mexican American Grocers Association]].
*2004 - Professional of The Year by the [[Armenian Professional Society]].
*2005 - Consumer Attorney of the Year by the [[Consumer Attorneys of California]].
*2006 - Attorney of the Year by the [[California Lawyer]] magazine. <ref>[http://geragos.com/awards_and_recognition.php Awards & Recognitions]</ref>
== Sources ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:1957 births|Geragos, Mark]]
[[Category:Living people|Geragos, Mark]]
[[Category:American lawyers|Geragos, Mark]]
[[Category:California lawyers|Geragos,Mark]]
[[Category:Armenian-Americans|Geragos, Mark]]
[[Category:Haverford College alumni|Geragos, Mark]]
[[Category:Loyola Law School alumni|Geragos, Mark]]