Thomas Mesereau

Mesereau represented former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson in a rape investigation conducted by the San Bernardino County, California District Attorney's Office in 2001. Charges were dropped.{{cite book|last=Sullivan|first=Randall|title=Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson|year=2012|publisher=Grove Press|location=New York|page=317}}

Mesereau was the second lawyer during pre-trial proceedings in actor Robert Blake's case{{cite news|title=Blake's Attorney Known for Fierce, Tenacious Defense|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 27, 2003|author=Jean Guccione|author2=Andrew Blankstein}} for the murder of his wife Bonnie Lee Bakley. Blake's first attorney Harland Braun resigned over Blake's decision to appear in a televised interview with Diane Sawyer against Braun's advice. For unprofessional conduct during the deposition, Mesereau was fined $18,950. After losing an appeal of the fine, he paid a total of $22,000.Dubin, Eric. The Star Chamber: How Celebrities Go Free and Their Lawyers Become Famous, p 20. After Blake spent ten months in isolation in Los Angeles County Jail, Mesereau obtained bail for him.{{cite news|last=Guccione|first=Jean|title=Blake Freed Until Trial|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 15, 2003|author2=Blankstein, Andrew}} Mesereau cross-examined prosecution witnesses in a three-week, televised preliminary hearing. The hearing revealed flaws in the prosecution's case.{{cite news|last=Houston|first=David|title=Hearing for Blake Reveals Flaws in Case, Experts Say|newspaper=Los Angeles Daily Journal|date=March 10, 2003}} Mesereau resigned from the case, declining to explain why.{{cite news|last=Guccione|first=Jean|title=Another Defense Attorney for Blake is Out|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 6, 2004}}

{{Main|Trial of Michael Jackson}}

In 2004, Mesereau and Susan Yu were hired to replace attorneys Mark Geragos and Ben Brafman as lead trial counsel.[https://www.foxnews.com/story/jacko-pleads-not-guilty-in-molestation-case "Jacko Pleads Not Guilty in Molestation Case."] Fox News, April 30, 2004. Johnnie Cochran, who represented Jackson during earlier molestation accusations,{{cite journal|title=Jackson Hires Black Atty. Johnnie Cochran To Defend Him Against Charges|journal=Jet|date=December 20, 1993|volume=85|number=8|page=61}} recommended Mesereau to Jackson's family.{{cite news|first=Ann|last=O'Neill|title=Tom Mesereau defends big names and no-names|url=https://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/10/05/celebrity.lawyer.mesereau/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=October 5, 2010}} In an unusual pretrial hearing, Mesereau called Santa Barbara County District Attorney Thomas Sneddon to the witness stand and examined him under oath.{{cite news|last=Houston|first=David|title=Grilling Prosecutors on Stand Is an Old Trick for Mesereau|newspaper=Los Angeles Daily Journal|date=August 30, 2004}} The trial lasted from January to June 2005 and ended with Jackson acquitted of all 14 charges.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121003191958/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8062350/ns/today-entertainment/ "Jackson not guilty on all counts."] MSNBC, June 13, 2005. Mesereau attended Jackson's funeral service and interment in 2009.{{cite news |title=Stars, family honor Michael Jackson at funeral |website=Reuters |date=September 4, 2009 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/instant-article/idUSTRE58267U20090904}} In 2019, followed by the release of the documentary Leaving Neverland, Mesereau defended Jackson once again.{{cn|date=March 2023}}{{clarify|reason=MJ was dead for a decade, so how could Mesereau defend him?|date=March 2023}}

In 2009, Mesereau and Yu defended Joe Babajian in a high-profile mortgage fraud criminal trial in federal court in Los Angeles.{{cite news|last=Hood|first=Abbey|title=Babajian Acquitted of Mortgage Fraud in Federal Court|url=http://www.mesereauyu.com/babajian-acquitted-of-mortgage-fraud-in-federal-court|newspaper=Beverly Hills Courier|date=August 13, 2009}} Babajian had been indicted by a federal grand jury for twenty-one felony counts, including criminal conspiracy, real estate fraud, bank fraud, loan fraud, and wire fraud. Federal prosecutors claimed Babajian participated in a scheme to inflate property values and submit fraudulent loan documents and false property appraisals.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

Eight individuals pleaded guilty to being part of the conspiracy prior to trial. Three individuals, including Babajian, went to trial. On August 10, 2009, the jury returned his verdict, acquitting Babajian of thirteen counts and being hung on the remaining eight counts. The other two defendants were convicted.{{cite news|last=Hong|first=Peter Y.|title=2 Convicted in Mortgage Fraud Trial|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=August 11, 2009}}

On April 9, 2012, Mesereau and Yu began jury selection in their defense of Claudia Haro, the ex-wife of Oscar-winning actor Joe Pesci. Haro was charged with conspiracy to murder and multiple counts of attempted murder. She was facing two consecutive life sentences.{{cite news|last=Pelisek|first=Christine|title=Did Joe Pesci's Ex Hire a Hitman?|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/11/did-joe-pesci-s-ex-hire-a-hitman.html|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=April 11, 2012}}

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office claimed that Haro masterminded numerous attempts to murder her next husband, Garrett Warren, a stuntman who appeared in the movies Mission Impossible III, Avatar and Iron Man 2. The prosecution said Haro hired her brother, convicted drug dealer Manny Haro, and three others to murder Warren. During his divorce with Claudia Haro, Warren opened his front door and was shot four times, losing one eye.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

The gunman, Jorge Hernandez, received life in prison in a separate trial. Haro's brother, the self-admitted middleman, also received life in prison. He agreed to testify against his sister. After the start of jury selection, Haro pleaded "no contest" to two counts of attempted murder with a sentence of twelve years, four months.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

On May 30, 2015, Mesereau was retained by rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight, founder of Death Row Records. His appearance prompted the judge to reschedule a hearing on a motion by Knight to dismiss murder, attempted murder and hit-and-run charges.{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/judge-delays-case-after-suge-knight-hires-jackson-lawyer/ |title=Judge delays case after 'Suge' Knight hires Jackson lawyer | Fox News |website=Fox News |access-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530151203/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/05/30/judge-delays-case-after-suge-knight-hires-jackson-lawyer/ |archive-date=May 30, 2015 |url-status=live}} On January 22, 2016, however, lawyer Stephen L. Schwartz replaced Mesereau as Knight's defense lawyer.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6851631/suge-knight-new-lawyer-murder-case |title=Suge Knight Gets Fifth Lawyer in Murder Case |magazine=Billboard |agency=Associated Press |date=January 22, 2016 |access-date=August 22, 2017}}{{cite web|author=Erin Staley |url=http://www.inquisitr.com/2731151/suge-knight-gets-new-lawyer-in-last-ditch-effort-to-avoid-life-sentence/ |title=Suge Knight Gets New Lawyer In Last-Ditch-Effort To Avoid Life Sentence |website=Inquisitr |date=January 23, 2016 |access-date=August 22, 2017}} Schwartz and colleague Thaddeus Culpepper were later replaced by criminal defense attorneys Antoine D. Williams, Jamal Tooson, and Jeremy Lessem on May 9, 2016, as well.{{cite web|author=Hassahn Liggins |url=http://www.radiofacts.com/suge-knight-selects-defense-team-murder-trial/ |title=Suge Knight Selects New Defense Team for Murder Trial |website=Radiofacts |date=April 27, 2016 |access-date=August 22, 2017}}

{{Main|Bill Cosby sexual assault cases}}

On August 22, 2017, comedian Bill Cosby's sexual assault retrial was postponed after it was announced that Cosby had hired Mesereau to represent him at his retrial.{{cite news |title=Bill Cosby's new lawyer represented Michael Jackson |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/bill-cosby-scandal/bill-cosby-hires-tom-mesereau-who-won-acquittal-michael-jackson-n794551 |accessdate=January 17, 2020 |work=NBC News |language=en}} On April 26, 2018, a jury found Cosby guilty of felony sexual assault on all three counts. Each of the three counts carries a prison term of up to 10 years. On June 15, 2018, Cosby fired Mesereau, replacing him with attorney Joseph P. Green Jr.{{cn|date=March 2023}} On June 30, 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Cosby's convictions.{{Cite web|last=Dale|first=Maryclaire|date=June 30, 2021|title=Bill Cosby's sex assault conviction overturned by Pennsylvania Supreme Court|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-bill-cosby-conviction-overturned-20210630-rgzpbl7gy5f6lbnasdmgmzpkqe-story.html|access-date=2024-01-10|work=The Chicago Tribune}}

Although known for his celebrity cases, Mesereau is also an advocate for pro bono volunteer legal services.{{cite news|last=Houston|first=David|title=Attorney Mesereau Works to Beat of a Different Drummer|newspaper=Los Angeles Daily Journal|date=January 3, 2001}}{{cite news|last=Hobbs|first=Dawn|title=Jackson Advocate: Mesereau defends rich, famous, poor, unknown|newspaper=Santa Barbara News-Press|date=May 18, 2004}}{{cite news|last=Houston|first=David|title=Mesereau's Pro Bono Calling Gratifies Him|newspaper=Los Angeles Daily Journal|date=February 26, 2003}}{{cite news|last=Velasco|first=Eric|title=Lawyer Defends Underdogs in Trials of Known, Unknown|newspaper=The Birmingham News|date=April 16, 2006}}{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Jeb|title=Acquittal Inspires Attorney|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald|date=March 9, 2001}} He has established a legal clinic in Los Angeles and accepts one capital murder case each year on behalf of a defendant in the Deep South who cannot afford representation.{{cite news|last=Chawkins|first=Steve|title=Star Lawyer Deeply Committed to Deep South|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=October 3, 2004}}

In 2005, Barbara Walters named him one of the year's "Ten Most Fascinating People".[http://www.zimbio.com/Barbara+Walters/articles/9Doli3D_NMR/Barbara+Walters+Interviews+Attorney+Tom+Mesereau Barbara Walters Special Telecast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029014304/http://www.zimbio.com/Barbara+Walters/articles/9Doli3D_NMR/Barbara+Walters+Interviews+Attorney+Tom+Mesereau |date=October 29, 2010 }}, ABC, November 29, 2005. GQ Magazine named him one of its "Men of the Year" in their December 2005 issue.GQ Magazine, December 2005 issue, p. 217.

He has been named "Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year" by the Criminal Courts Bar Association,{{cite news|title=Jerry Giesler Memorial Award|date=March 11, 2006|agency=Criminal Courts Bar Association|location=Pasadena, California}} Los Angeles and the Century City Bar Association, Los Angeles {{cite news|title=Criminal Law Awards of Excellence|date=September 10, 2003|agency=Century City Bar Association|location=Los Angeles, California}} and has been listed as one of the "One Hundred Most Influential Attorneys in California" by the Los Angeles Daily Journal.{{cite news|title=One Hundred Most Influential Attorneys in California|newspaper=Los Angeles Daily Journal|date=September 29, 2005}} Mesereau has also received the "Humanitarian Award" from the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice.{{cite news|title=Humanitarian Award|date=May 17, 2002|agency=National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice|location=Los Angeles, California}} Mesereau received a "Community Service Award" from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.{{cite news|title=City of Los Angeles, State of California, Certificate of Recognition|date=October 30, 2005}}

Mesereau was educated at Phillips Academy, Harvard University (cum laude), the London School of Economics and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.[http://www.mesereauyu.com/thomas-a-mesereau-jr Biographic profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204184800/http://www.mesereauyu.com/thomas-a-mesereau-jr |date=February 4, 2015 }}; Mesereau & Yu, LLP, Attorneys at Law

• Sullivan, Randall; (2012). Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson. Grove Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8021-1962-9}}.

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.mesereaulaw.com/ Mesereau Law Group]
• [http://www.mesereaufreelegalclinic.com/ Mesereau Free Legal Clinic]
• [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0506/14/lkl.01.html Transcript of 6/14/05 Appearance of Thomas Mesereau on Larry King Live]
• [http://popdirt.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=39938 Transcript of Appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]
• [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8254875 Transcript of 6/16/05 Appearance on The Abrams Report]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mesereau, Thomas}}

Category:1950 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics

Category:Harvard University alumni

Category:University of California College of the Law, San Francisco alumni

Category:Lawyers from Los Angeles

Category:New York (state) lawyers