Opinion ID: 400903
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Tigar's Representation of Spain

Text: 5 In January 1978, Spain was interviewed by IRS agents about certain payments he allegedly had made to Cunningham. Spain apparently told the IRS at that time that he had paid Cunningham $2000 in cash for legal services in 1975. 3 In June 1980, however, Spain testified to a grand jury that he had not made such a statement to the IRS. As a result Spain was indicted for perjury before the grand jury in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1623. After his indictment, Spain sought to retain Tigar to defend him. Tigar informed Spain that he would be unable to represent Spain at trial, since he already represented Cunningham. Tigar suggested that Spain instead retain another lawyer, Gustave Newman, but offered to assist in Spain's defense. Tigar was paid a $5000 retainer and met with Spain on at least three occasions thereafter; he arranged for Spain to be examined by a psychiatrist (who later testified at Spain's trial that Spain suffered from an impaired memory), and helped prepare pretrial motions. Newman, however, was responsible for the conduct of Spain's case and completed the trial preparation without Tigar's assistance. Newman represented Spain at trial, and Tigar's role apparently ended before trial.