Stephen Yagman VS. Chemerinsky

Yagman's targeting of his famous friend Chemerinsky fits perfectly with the outrageous, often over-the-top style that's made Yagman the scourge of violent cops and helped him win millions of dollars for victims.

"I'm not condoning or excusing conduct that led to the criminal conviction — because it sounds like the government had a lot of evidence" against Yagman for bankruptcy fraud and money laundering, Cook says.

But, he adds, "I hate it when critics say that the practice of law is better off without [Yagman], that we're better off without him in the federal court taking his cases to trial. That's just nuts. The civil rights bar was much better with him — and owes him a debt of gratitude."

There's widespread doubt that the widely published, prominent Chemerinsky can be painted by anyone — even the wily Yagman — as a guy who screws up cases.

Cook says, "In the rarefied existence [of appellate attorneys], Erwin is at the top."

Peter Eliasberg, legal director of the ACLU of Southern California, says that, thanks to a recent Supreme Court case, a challenger such as Yagman "must show that council's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness."

Chemerinsky commented on the case by email to L.A. Weekly, saying, "I am sad that Mr. Yagman made these allegations.  I worked very hard to provide him the best representation I could.  I encourage anyone to read the briefs I filed and the transcript of the oral argument in assessing Mr. Yagman's allegations."

Yagman claims Chemerinsky didn't have enough time to devote to his case. But Chemerinsky writes to the Weekly: "I devoted a very significant amount of time to writing the briefs and preparing the oral argument. I think that will be evident to anyone who reads the briefs or listens to the tape of the oral argument."

The two men are widely believed to still be friends, and Yagman told the Legal Intelligencer a few months ago that he and Chemerinsky have been "close friends for over 20 years."

Yagman still keeps an office at the law firm now run by his ex-wife and a partner, based in the same old building in Venice. A secretary there said Yagman could not be reached. Once so willing to offer up quotes to the media, Yagman was not around to discuss his unusual quest.

** Correction: The original version of this story incorrectedly said that Yagman won a settlement payout from the LAPD for the Matasareanu family.