'King of Torts' receives 15-year sentence

By Jim Wyss

Dec. 5, 2007 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --

Louis Robles, a once a high-flying lawyer who shot to fame as a king of class-action lawsuits, was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday and ordered to repay $13.5 million he stole from thousands of asbestos victims he represented.

U.S District Judge Alan Gold said Robles, 60, deserved the maximum sentence for betraying his profession and about 4,400 clients -- many of them elderly and sick.

"What makes this crime so egregious is he stole money from the ill and infirm without conscious or concern," Gold said.

Called the King of Torts, Robles represented more than 7,000 asbestos claimants throughout the United States, and his former law firm collected more than $164 million on behalf of his asbestos clients between 1989 and 2002, according to the indictment.

But rather than pass the money along to his clients, Robles used it to fuel a lavish lifestyle, which included apartments in Los Angeles, New York and Colorado as well as a 9,000 square-foot mansion on Biscayne Bay and to finance forays into the movie production business.

Along the way, he developed elaborate ruses and misleading accounting practices to hide his theft. By September 2002, Robles had siphoned off $13.5 million, leaving less than $25,000 for his clients, prosecutors said.

Facing trial and a potential 20-year prison sentence last September, Robles pleaded guilty to three counts of mail fraud and agreed to forfeit funds from the settlements -- although prosecutors said they could only recover $1.1 million. Gold previously rejected a plea bargain that would have given Robles a 10-year sentence.

Under the judge's order, Robles' prison wages -- and anything he might earn after being released -- will also go toward paying his clients.

Upon release, Robles will also have to perform 900 hours of volunteer service at nursing homes.

Gold said that because Robles preyed on the "sick, elderly and infirm," it was only fitting that he serve them.

Looking trim and younger than his years in a khaki prison uniform and brown plastic sandals, Robles laughed with his public defender and smiled at family members before the proceedings started.

"I sincerely apologize for my conduct in this case -- to the injured asbestos clients, to the legal profession, to this court and to my loving family," Robles said. "I am truly sorry."

But as the judge began reading heart-wrenching letters from victims' families, Robles grew somber, tapping his left foot.

Thomas Tew, who now represents Robles' victims in the class-action case, said tens if not hundreds of Robles' former clients may have died before ever seeing a penny.

"It has been a long road -- and you can quote me on this," said Tew. "But the victims finally got justice."

Newstex ID: KRTB-0123-21436679