Federal Indictment Charges Lawyer With Forgery, Obstruction of Justice

New York attorney Perry S. Reich, whose clients have ranged from convicted murderer Joel Steinberg to the placid Village of Atlantic Beach, has been indicted on federal charges of forging a judge's order, obstruction of justice and lying to federal investigators. . . .

[I]f convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

But not everyone thinks he did it:

Manhattan attorney Jacob Zamansky of Zamansky & Associates, who represented one of the defendants in the Ryan Beck matter, said of the creation of a false document, "It was probably one of the most bizarre legal things I've ever seen in my life. I couldn't imagine who would do such a thing."

Why anyone would do this is "beyond comprehension," said Zamansky. "I don't see [Reich] as having anything to gain from this."

Stuart D. Meissner, a securities attorney with his own firm, represented another defendant in Ryan Beck. Asked why Reich, or anyone, would attempt to falsify a court order, he said, "I have no idea. Frankly, I am surprised. I am shocked."

Meissner added, "Reich seemed very knowledgeable in the law, normal, a very qualified attorney. That's why I'm so surprised. But this is just an indictment. Everyone's entitled to a presumption of innocence. I hope this works out for him."

Read the bizarre details here from the New York Law Journal via Law.com.