Lawyer who prosecuted Led Zeppelin suspended from practising law
Francis Malofiy, the lawyer who failed to sue Led Zeppelin in the ‘Stairway To Heaven’ plagiarism trial, has been suspended from practising law.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, on Thursday a judicial panel upheld a recommended suspension for three months after Malifoy allegedly violated “various rules of conduct” during a copyright infringement trial involving a track by R&B singer Usher called ‘Bad Girl.’
During the case in 2014, Malofiy was repeatedly slammed by Judge Paul Diamond for his alleged “abusive” and “flagrantly unprofessional” behaviour.
At the time Malofiy was slammed with sanctions and forced to pay $28,000 legal costs. In response, Malofiy denied any wrongdoing and also argued the prospective punishment was too severe.
A district court disagreed, and yesterday (30th June) the appellate panel upheld the proposed suspension. It only applies to the state of Pennsylvania where the Usher trial was held.
Malofiy was heated in his attacks on Led Zeppelin while representing the estate of Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe at one point dubbing them “session musicians” who have a habit of “playing other people’s music.”
He received over one hundred sustained objections and "multiple admonishments" during the Led Zeppelin trial from Judge Klausner, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Led Zeppelin were cleared of plagiarism on 23rd June when a jury of four men and four women in Los Angeles dismissed the case against them. The prosecution were seeking a one-third split of royalties citing similarities to Spirit's 1968 track 'Taurus'.