Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, the brother-in-law of former Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.), pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy charges related to a federal probe into his handling of a fee dispute with another lawyer.
Scruggs, a famed trial lawyer, and co-defendant Sidney Backstrom both pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe a judge. No plea has yet been entered by Scruggs' son, Zach.
Scruggs, Backstrom and Zach Scruggs were indicted in November on conspiracy and wire fraud in a dispute over $26.5 million in legal fees from a mass settlement of Hurricane Katrina case.
Lott, who is now a partner in a lobbying firm with former Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), did not have any comment on Scruggs' plea, according to an aide in an Associated Press report.
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