The Wall Street Journal-20080129-Lazar Is Sentenced in Milberg Case

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Lazar Is Sentenced in Milberg Case

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Seymour Lazar, who pleaded guilty in a lucrative kickback scheme involving class-action lawsuits against some of America's largest corporations, was sentenced to six months home detention and two years probation. He was fined $600,000.

Federal prosecutors said Mr. Lazar, 80 years old, was paid $2.6 million to be a professional plaintiff and help the law firm now known as Milberg Weiss LLP in its pursuit of the suits. Mr. Lazar had been the plaintiff in at least 50 suits over two decades. He admitted to arranging with Milberg lawyers to get a 10% cut of the firm's legal fees in cases in which he or family members served as plaintiffs.

Mr. Lazar pleaded guilty in October to obstruction of justice, subscribing to a false tax return and making a false declaration to the court.

He could have faced up to 18 years in federal prison. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors recommended home detention because of Mr. Lazar's declining health and his age. Mr. Lazar also agreed to forfeit $1.5 million.

His attorney, Thomas Bienert, previously said Mr. Lazar took full responsibility for his actions.