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Patricia Cornwell wins $50m in damages Patricia Cornwell wins $50m in damages
(7 months later)
Patricia Cornwell, the American crime writer best known for her series of books starring the medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, has been awarded $50.9 million (£33m) in damages after a court found her former financial company had cheated her out of tens of millions of dollars.Patricia Cornwell, the American crime writer best known for her series of books starring the medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, has been awarded $50.9 million (£33m) in damages after a court found her former financial company had cheated her out of tens of millions of dollars.
The award could be tripled on Thursday when a federal judge sits to decide whether Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP violated consumer protection laws.The award could be tripled on Thursday when a federal judge sits to decide whether Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP violated consumer protection laws.
Cornwell said the company was negligent in handling her finances and cost her millions in losses or unaccounted for revenue.Cornwell said the company was negligent in handling her finances and cost her millions in losses or unaccounted for revenue.
In an interview with the Boston Globe shortly after the judgment was announced, Cornwell said that she and her wife, Staci Gruber, carried out their own investigations. Cornwell was forced to subpoena her own bank records to trace her money. "We worked our own crime scene, so to speak", she said.In an interview with the Boston Globe shortly after the judgment was announced, Cornwell said that she and her wife, Staci Gruber, carried out their own investigations. Cornwell was forced to subpoena her own bank records to trace her money. "We worked our own crime scene, so to speak", she said.
Cornwell claimed to have made more than $89 million in her four years with Anchin, only to find she was worth little more than what she had when the relationship began. She said she fired the firm in 2009 after discovering that her net worth was a little under $13 million, despite having eight-figure earnings in each of the previous four years.Cornwell claimed to have made more than $89 million in her four years with Anchin, only to find she was worth little more than what she had when the relationship began. She said she fired the firm in 2009 after discovering that her net worth was a little under $13 million, despite having eight-figure earnings in each of the previous four years.
During the seven-week trial, lawyers for the New York firm, Anchin, and its former principal, Evan Snapper, said there was no money missing from Cornwell's accounts. They insisted her losses were due to the economic downturn combined with the author's taste for Ferraris, helicopters and a temporary apartment in New York City she rented for $40,000 per month.During the seven-week trial, lawyers for the New York firm, Anchin, and its former principal, Evan Snapper, said there was no money missing from Cornwell's accounts. They insisted her losses were due to the economic downturn combined with the author's taste for Ferraris, helicopters and a temporary apartment in New York City she rented for $40,000 per month.
Lawyers for the firm and Snapper portrayed Cornwell as a demanding client who relied on them for everything from bringing her clothes to the tailor to arranging care for her mother.Lawyers for the firm and Snapper portrayed Cornwell as a demanding client who relied on them for everything from bringing her clothes to the tailor to arranging care for her mother.
Cornwell, however, countered with claims that Anchin moved her from a conservative management strategy to an aggressive one without her permission.Cornwell, however, countered with claims that Anchin moved her from a conservative management strategy to an aggressive one without her permission.
Cornwell said the firm caused her to miss a book deadline for the first time in her career when it failed to find her a suitable place to write after renovation work on her house in Concord, Massachusetts went on much longer than expected. The delay in finishing her book, she claimed, caused her to lose one year's income: about $15 million in non-recoverable advances and commission.Cornwell said the firm caused her to miss a book deadline for the first time in her career when it failed to find her a suitable place to write after renovation work on her house in Concord, Massachusetts went on much longer than expected. The delay in finishing her book, she claimed, caused her to lose one year's income: about $15 million in non-recoverable advances and commission.
She told the Boston Globe that she was horrified when her bank account revealed Anchin's lack of accountability. Checks, she discovered, had been voided, expenses were unaccounted for and a $5,000 check was written by Snapper who claimed it was for a bat mitzvah gift Cornwell had given to his daughter. "There was a lot of money that went out, and we can find no documentation for it," she said.She told the Boston Globe that she was horrified when her bank account revealed Anchin's lack of accountability. Checks, she discovered, had been voided, expenses were unaccounted for and a $5,000 check was written by Snapper who claimed it was for a bat mitzvah gift Cornwell had given to his daughter. "There was a lot of money that went out, and we can find no documentation for it," she said.
Fighting the case "has been like eating arsenic for weeks" but now the judge's verdict has been delivered the "autopsy of my life" was over and "a whole mountain of rocks has been lifted off me", she added.Fighting the case "has been like eating arsenic for weeks" but now the judge's verdict has been delivered the "autopsy of my life" was over and "a whole mountain of rocks has been lifted off me", she added.
Frank Schettino, a managing partner at Anchin, Block & Anchin, said the firm plans to explore its legal options, including appealing the verdict.Frank Schettino, a managing partner at Anchin, Block & Anchin, said the firm plans to explore its legal options, including appealing the verdict.
"For more than 90 years, the professionals at Anchin have built a reputation for honesty and integrity," Schettino said in a statement. "The firm will endure despite today's outcome.""For more than 90 years, the professionals at Anchin have built a reputation for honesty and integrity," Schettino said in a statement. "The firm will endure despite today's outcome."
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