Audio By Carbonatix
Russ Adler was just seen walking into the Broward County Courthouse, according to a witness, most likely in a matter involving the Larry Seidlin case.
He had a smile on his face as usual and spoke to folks as if nothing out of the ordinary has been happening during this past month.
There’s naturally been a lot of speculation about Adler — a named partner in the RRA firm — since the Rothstein implosion occurred. Adler, you see, was the guy everybody liked, the guy with a big smile, glad-handing visitors at Bova and talking a big game. One attorney noted that he “always had a look on his face like the cat that ate the canary.” He was sort of Scott Rothstein’s lubrication guy, while Stuart Rosenfeldt was more the dour and staid component of the RRA mystique (if you can call it that).
About Rosenfeldt, I spoke with an attorney who worked closely with him for several years who watched what happened as he fell further and further helplessly into the grip of Rothstein. “The emasculation of Stuart Rosenfeldt at the hands of Scott Rothstein is
one of the saddest things I have ever seen in my life,” said the lawyer. “It was incredible to watch. Rosenfeldt was a very good attorney and a good man before Rothstein got a hold of him.”
— In other sightings, prominent defense attorney David Bogenschutz and Broward Circuit Judge Ana Gardiner were spotted dining together Monday night at Sweet Tomatoes restaurant on Andrews Avenue. Sources say the two have become increasingly close during the past several weeks as Bogenschutz defends Gardiner in her case with the Judicial Qualifications Commission. Rumors are also swirling about Gardiner’s future as a judge.
— And finally, while I’m here, you’ve probably all heard that Broward schools Dep. Supt. Michael Garretson is calling it quits at the end of the year. He claims, of course, it’s all about family — not about that pesky FBI investigation that has already nabbed Beverly Gallagher (another Bogenschutz client who may actually be going to trial despite her taking of the doggy bag bribes) and others. Here’s the thing, though: I hear that the federal School Board investigation has slowed to a standstill (thanks to the Rothstein matter, I imagine). The shame of this is that the School Board investigation, while not as sensational or juicy, is actually probably more important to taxpayers, considering the fact that we’re funding the whole corrupt mess. Stephanie Kraft, don’t get too confident, though. The cat’s still out of the bag.
