Summary: A Houston litigator who went on a racist rant through emails will pay a large donation to a minority bar group in lieu of sanctions.
Make racist remarks and you will pay socially and monetarily. A Houston plaintiff lawyer has learned this the hard way. Gary Riebschlager has apologized for his remarks and will donate $1,800 to a minority bar group.
Riebschlager went off on a South Asian defendant in an email, calling for the deportation of the “POS Paki” and invoking the name of President Donald Trump. In emails to his paralegal and opposing counsel over a routine hearing regarding a business dispute, Riebschlager referred to the South Asian defendant as a “POS.” The next series of emails stated, “I entreat you to begin deportation proceedings. I’m sure all involved herein LOVE Trump…here’s your chance to DEPORT the POS Your Hero has been talking about. POS Paki.”
The lawyer’s client was also of South Asian descent, along with several of the defense attorneys in the case. “Paki” is a racial slur against people of South Asian descent that is usually used more often in the United Kingdom and Europe than in the United States.
According to the motion, “There is no other use for such words. And in case there is any doubt of his malicious intent, Mr. Riebschlager’s use of the racial slur was prefaced by the abbreviation ‘POS,’ which reasonably means ‘piece of s***.”
Even though he has apologized for his words, the defendant wanted him to be held accountable. The defendant suggested reading two books on the struggles South Asians face in the United States and 10 hours of pro bono work.
The lawyer who filed the sanction against Riebschlager said, “Gary M. Riebschalger stands accused of racism. This unfounded allegation has NO legitimacy or place in the halls of contested advocacy. The thin skin of the current millennial lawyer would never stand the test of time of such renowned trial lawyers as Joe Jamail, Ronnie Krist, Racehorse Haynes, O’Quinn and Cannon – as the accused did.”
He will donate the money to the South Asian Bar Association of Houston as his sanction, which was suggested by 125th State District Court Judge Kyle Carter. The group plans to use the money for community education and outreach.
Do you think the punishment was fair? Tell us in the comments below.
To learn more about attorneys that go out of control, read these articles:
- Chicago Attorney Suspended from Federal Court for Lewd Comments
- Federal Judge Sanctions Attorney for Sexist Remark
- Detroit’s Top Lawyer Resigns After “Ghetto Court” Remark
Photo: riebschalgerlaw.com