Women Criminal Defense Attorneys: Blair Berk and Lisa Wayne Negotiate Multi-State Plea Deal for Darren Sharper

Blair Berk along with Lisa Wayne and a team of lawyers in multiple states have seemingly pulled a rabbit out of a hat for Darren Sharper. I previously discussed the challenges and dangers of a multiple victim and multi jurisdictional case of this nature here. The stigma of similar allegations from multiple victims would have been an uphill battle for any defense attorney. But, the lawyers in this case accepted that challenge with grace and style and pulled off a huge victory for their client. Sometimes I watch lawyers fight the tide in every single case. And there are many cases, such as this one, where that is simply not a wise strategy. Fighting against the tide in a case like this would have simply ignited the mob mentality that was circling around it.

The defense team, which includes two of our own, negotiated a global settlement where Sharper will serve 9 years to run concurrent and end all the claims in all jurisdictions. Sharper has already started pleading guilty in some states and others are reported to follow. When all is said and done, he will plead in California, Louisiana, Nevada, and Arizona and is reported to be serving the nine years in federal prison followed by a life term of probation once released. By all accounts this is a huge victory for a defendant facing far more time in each individual case than even this global deal that resolves multiple cases at one time.

The women representing Sharper had the instinct to know that minimizing the risks of fighting different cases in different states was the best way to serve their client. Nine years is still a serious term of incarceration but considering that Sharper was facing far greater sentences individually and collectively, in multiple states, this resolution is clearly a huge victory.

I have to admit that when I first heard about the case it never occurred to me that there could be cooperation between the different states to structure a global settlement that all jurisdictions could live with. This plea serves as a reminder to me and for all of us that we have to look beyond the perceived roadblocks or restrictions in our cases and think outside the box for creative solutions. Congrats to Blair, Lisa and the entire team. No doubt Sharper got the benefit of some fine lawyering.