United States v. Massimino

832 F. Supp. 2d 510, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 145991, 2011 WL 6371883

• Court: District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
• Decided: December 20, 2011
• Docket: Criminal Action No. 09-496-04
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

EDUARDO C. ROBRENO, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

The issue before the Court is the Government’s Motion for the Disqualification of Defendant Joseph Massimino’s counsel of record, Joseph Santaguida, Esq. For the following reasons, the Court finds that Mr. Santaguida faces an actual and a serious potential for conflict of interest with respect to two other co-defendants in the case. However, as effective waivers are obtainable in this case, the Court will permit Mr. Santaguida to continue to represent Defendant Massimino provided that, Defendant Massimino and co-Defendant Joseph Ligambi enter informed waivers of the respective conflicts of interest.

II. BACKGROUND

The Defendant Joseph Massimino is one of thirteen defendants charged in a fifty-count superseding indictment. The case emerged from a criminal investigation spanning ten years and has been designated a complex case due to the number of defendants and the nature and quantity of evidence, including over 14,000 intercepted wire and oral communications. See ECF No. 166. Among other counts, Defendant Massimino is charged with conspiring to conduct and participate in the conduct of the affairs of the criminal enterprise of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Family (“LCN”) through a pattern of racketeering activity and through the collection of unlawful debts. Defendant Massimino, a/k/a Mousie, is alleged to be a long-standing “made member,” and the “underboss” of the LCN. Compl. ¶5.

Following the indictment, on May 24, 2011, Joseph Santaguida, Esq., entered an appearance on behalf of Defendants Ligambi and Massimino. ECF Nos. 20 & 23. Mr. Santaguida represented both Defendants in connection with their initial appearances. ECF Nos. 24 & 29. However, since June 5, 2011, Mr. Santaguida has only represented Defendant Massimino. ECF No. 98.

Mr. Santaguida, along with attorney Robert Mozenter, has previously represented Louis Monacello (“Monacello”) in two state criminal cases relevant to the case at hand. Id. at 8. On July 22, 2008, Monacello was arrested and charged by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office in two separate criminal matters.¹ Id. at 7. In the case filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Monacello was charged with crimes involving racketeering, conspiracy, and illegal gambling. Id. In the case filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Monacello was charged with soliciting someone to commit an aggravated assault on Martin Angelina, an alleged made member of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra (“LCN”) Family and a co-defendant in this case. Id. at 8. According to Mr. Santaguida, his involvement in the two state cases consisted of counseling a waiver of the preliminary hearing in the former case, and conducting a preliminary hearing in the latter case. ECF No. 287, at 3-5.

In the case at bar, Monacello pleaded guilty and will testify at trial as a cooperating witness for the Government. Id. Moreover, the Government states that it will present evidence at trial to show that Monacello’s criminal activities charged in the two state cases were committed in furtherance of the racketeering enterprise of the Philadelphia LCN Family. Id. Given these circumstances, the Government argues that Mr. Santaguida’s former representation of Monacello presents an actual conflict of interest that requires disqualification because he would be placed in the position of cross-examining a former client after presumably having learned confidential information during the course of the prior representation.

Mr. Santaguida has also represented co-Defendant Ligambi in connection with his case. In addition to appearing on behalf of Defendant Ligambi in connection with his initial appearance, Mr. Santaguida subsequently represented Defendant Ligambi for his arraignment and pretrial detention hearing.² See ECF Nos. 29 & 60. On June 5, 2011, Mr. Santaguida withdrew his appearance on behalf of Defendant Ligambi and entered his appearance on behalf of Defendant Massimino. ECF Nos. 97 & 98. Based on these facts, the Government additionally asserts that Mr. Santaguida faces a serious potential for conflict of interest because of conflicting loyalties to his former and current client. ECF No. 271, at 11-12.

Mr. Santaguida has represented Defendant Massimino since 1968 in various other criminal matters and was and continues to be Defendant Massimino’s choice with respect to counsel in this matter. ECF No. 287, at 7. Moreover, since June 2011, Mr. Santaguida has worked a significant number of hours on Defendant Massimino’s defense, including but not limited to, filing bail appeals, visiting Defendant Massimino at the Federal Detention Center, participating in status conferences, and familiarizing himself with the voluminous discovery in this case. Id.

III. MOTION FOR DISQUALIFICATION

The Government seeks to disqualify Joseph Santaguida, Esq., from representing Defendant Massimino because of an actual and serious potential for conflict of interest.³ Specifically, the Government argues first, that Mr. Santaguida faces an actual conflict of interest because he previously represented Monacello, a co-defendant who has pleaded guilty and will testify at trial as a cooperating witness. Second, the Government contends Mr. Santaguida is potentially conflicted because he previously represented co-Defendant Ligambi in this case.⁴

Mr. Santaguida responds that there is no legitimate reason to disqualify him because his previous representations of Monacello and co-Defendant Ligambi were of a limited nature and the Government cannot point to any evidence that Mr. Santaguida obtained any privileged communication from either co-defendant.

In assessing each of the Government’s arguments, the Court will undertake a two-step analysis. First, it will determine whether the Government has demonstrated the existence of an actual conflict of interest or a serious potential for a conflict of interest concerning Mr. Santaguida’s representation of Defendant Massimino in this case, given his previous representations of Monaeello and co-Defendant Ligambi. Second, if the Court determines that an actual conflict or a serious potential for conflict exists, the Court must then determine whether a waiver of the conflict is both permissible and appropriate in this case.

A. Legal Standards Of Review

The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees a criminal defendant the right to effective assistance of counsel. U.S. Const. amend. VI; Roe v. Flores-Ortega, 528 U.S. 470, 120 S.Ct. 1029, 145 L.Ed.2d 985 (2000). The purpose of the right to counsel is “ ‘to protect the fundamental right to a fair trial.’” Lockhart v. Fretwell, 506 U.S. 364, 368, 113 S.Ct. 838, 122 L.Ed.2d 180 (1993) (quoting Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 684, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984)). Derivative of the right to effective assistance of counsel is a defendant’s right to representation by the counsel of his choice. United States v. Gonzalez-Lopez, 548 U.S. 140, 144, 126 S.Ct. 2557, 165 L.Ed.2d 409 (2006); see United States v. Moscony, 927 F.2d 742, 748 (3d Cir.1991) (“[A] presumptive right to the counsel of one’s choice has been recognized as arising out of the Sixth Amendment.”). The primary purpose of these rights is to grant a criminal defendant control over the conduct of his defense — as “it is he who suffers the consequences if the defense fails.” Moscony, 927 F.2d at 748 (quoting Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 820, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975)). However, one ground for denying a defendant the counsel of his choice is when the attorney has an actual conflict or a serious potential for conflict in representing the defendant. Wheat v. United States, 486 U.S. 153, 159, 108 S.Ct. 1692, 100 L.Ed.2d 140 (1988).

Another set of “rights” also guide the Court in this case, “[stemming not from the Sixth Amendment but from the ethical precepts that govern the legal profession.” Moscony, 927 F.2d at 748. The Supreme Court explained that “[w]hen a trial court finds an actual conflict of interest which impairs the ability of a criminal defendant’s chosen counsel to conform with the ABA Code of Professional Responsibility, the court should not be required to tolerate an inadequate representation of a defendant.” Wheat, 486 U.S. at 162, 108 S.Ct. 1692. In delineating the ethical duties governing a given situation, the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct, 204 Pa.Code § 81.4 (“RPC”),'provide a useful template against which to measure the conduct of lawyers subject to a disqualification motion.⁵ See, In Re Grand Jury Investigation, No. 03-123, 2006 WL 2385518, at *3 (E.D.Pa. May 16, 2006) (finding that the RPC provide a useful guide for considering the ethical conduct of lawyers subject to a disqualification motion).

In evaluating a motion to disqualify an attorney, there is a presumption in favor of a defendant’s choice of counsel. U.S. v. Stewart, 185 F.3d 112, 121 (3d Cir.1999) (citing Wheat, 486 U.S. at 164, 108 S.Ct. 1692). When seeking disqualification, the Government bears the burden of overcoming this presumption by showing that the attorney in question has an actual or serious potential for conflict. Wheat, 486 U.S. at 164, 108 S.Ct. 1692; Stewart, 185 F.3d at 121-22. When determining whether the Government has met this burden, the trial court must balance “a defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel of choice against the interests of the proper and fair administration of justice.” ⁶ United States v. Voigt, 89 F.3d 1050, 1074 (3d Cir.1996). As the Third Circuit noted, this “is no simple task” as “ ‘[t]he likelihood and dimensions of nascent conflicts of interest are notoriously hard to predict, even for those thoroughly familiar with criminal trials.’ ” Id. at 1076 (quoting Wheat, 486 U.S. at 162-63, 108 S.Ct. 1692).

With these principles in hand, and in light of the facts of this complex criminal case, the Court turns to apply these teachings here.

B. Discussion

The Government contends that Mr. Santaguida should be disqualified from representing Defendant Massimino because he previously represented Monacello, a government witness in this case, in related state court matters. The Government also argues that Mr. Santaguida can be disqualified from representing Defendant Massimino because he is burdened with a serious potential for conflict because of his prior representation of co-Defendant Ligambi. The Court will address each of these arguments in turn.

1. Mr. Santaguida faces an actual conflict of interest because his loyalty is divided between Defendant Massimino and his former client Monacello.

In the circumstances of this case, there can be no doubt that Mr. Santaguida’s loyalty would be divided between a current client and a former client because an attorney who cross-examines former clients inherently encounters divided loyalties. Moscony, 927 F.2d at 750. The Third Circuit has found an attorney’s representation intolerable, and therefore warranting disqualification, where he or she has conflicting duties of loyalty to his or her current and former clients. See Stewart, 185 F.3d at 121 (stating that although “the typical scenario where disqualification becomes necessary entails an attorney’s attempt to represent multiple defendants in the same prosecution,” conflicts arise where a defendant’s counsel of choice has “divided loyalties due to concurrent or pri- or representation of another client who is a co-defendant, a co-conspirator, or a government witness” (internal quotation and emphasis omitted)). Such a situation occurs where the attorney has previously obtained confidential information or is placed in the position.of cross-examining his or her former client at the trial of his or her current client. See Moscony, 927 F.2d at 750 (upholding motion to disqualify where witnesses testified that they revealed confidential information to defense counsel which could be used against them during cross-examination at trial).

Here, Mr. Santaguida is presented with the actual conflicting interests of his current client Defendant Massimino, and a former client Monacello. Clients, including former clients, have a right not to have their confidential communications with their attorneys revealed.⁷ Indeed the Rules of Professional Conduct forbid attorneys from revealing not only the confidential communications of former clients, but any and all information “relating to” the prior representation of those clients, unless the clients give their informed consent.⁸ Furthermore, attorneys are forbidden without informed consent from using information relating to a prior representation to their former client’s disadvantage.⁹

Mr. Santaguida is caught between Defendant Massimino’s rights to conflict-free representation of counsel, and to have Mr. Santaguida as his counsel and Monacello’s right not to have information relating to Mr. Santaguida’s prior representation of him revealed to his disadvantage upon cross-examination. Notwithstanding Mr. Santaguida’s assurances that his former representation of Monacello was limited in scope¹⁰ and did not include information beyond that which the Government is required to disclose due to Monacello’s status as a government witness, an actual conflict of interest exists because Mr. Santaguida is conclusively presumed to have received privileged information during his prior representation of Monaeello¹¹ regardless of the length of that representation and faces cross-examination of his former client. See United States v. Provenzano, 620 F.2d 985, 1005 (1980) (finding that there “would be ... a conflict of interest situation between the duty of vigorous representation of [the defendant] and the duty of loyalty to [the former client], since confidences relating to [the former client’s] murder conviction and events of that period would be useful to impeach him as a witness against [the defendant]”). Thus, the Court finds that Mr. Santaguida’s former representation of Monaeello presents an actual conflict of interest for which he could be disqualified.

2. Mr. Santaguida faces a serious potential for conflict of interest because of his previous representation of Defendant Ligambi.

The Government argues that Mr. Santaguida also faces a serious potential for a conflict of interest based on the fact that, prior to being retained by Defendant Massimino, he represented co-defendant Ligambi in this case. The Government asserts that Mr. Santaguida has a continuing duty to respect the interests of Joseph Ligambi, creating the potential that Mr. Santaguida’s duty to provide a vigorous defense for Defendant Massimino might clash with his abiding duty of loyalty to Defendant Ligambi. The Government claims that it is reasonably conceivable in conspiracy cases that the legal interests and strategies of co-defendants such as Ligambi and Massimino may collide and become opposed.

Mr. Santaguida responds that he was only involved in Defendant Ligambi’s pretrial detention hearing and did not have any significant substantive involvement in connection with Defendant Ligambi’s case. Moreover, Mr. Santaguida states that both Defendants Massimino and Ligambi have agreed to waive any possible conflict issue and that neither Defendant objects to counsel’s representation.

On the basis of the current record, the Government has also met its burden of demonstrating a serious potential for a conflict of interest due to Mr. Santaguida’s prior representation of co-Defendant Ligambi in the current case. Although Mr. Santaguida’s previous representation of Defendant Ligambi was limited in time and subject matter, a divergence of legal interests and strategies could emerge over the course of this case which could implicate Mr. Santaguida’s abiding duty of loyalty to his former client Defendant Ligambi while negatively affecting Mr. Santaguida’s ability to defend Defendant Massimino vigorously. Defendant Ligambi, for example, could decide to testify in the case or plea bargain and become a witness for the Government and confidences Mr. Santaguida learned through his prior representation could be used to impeach Defendant Ligambi. Under these circumstances, Mr. Santaguida faces a serious potential for a conflict through his continued representation of Defendant Massimino, which may or may not burgeon into an actual conflict as the trial progresses.

3. Potential for Waivers

Having decided that Mr. Santaguida’s prior representations place him in the fork of divided loyalties, the next issue is whether informed waivers can be obtained consistent with public policy. The Court is obligated to examine whether waivers are feasible under these circumstances and the validity and effectiveness of any waivers submitted to cure the identified conflicts of interest. See Gov’t of Virgin Islands v. Zepp, 748 F.2d 125, 139 (3d Cir.1984) (“The court should also determine whether there has been a waiver of the conflict, whether the waiver was effective or whether a waiver was possible.”). Waivers are not dispositive cures to identified conflicts. Moscony, 927 F.2d at 749. “Federal courts have an independent interest in ensuring that criminal trials are conducted within the ethical standards of the profession and that legal proceedings appear fair to all who observe them,” thus the Court may override represented parties’ waivers of conflicts of interest. Wheat, 486 U.S. at 160, 108 S.Ct. 1692; see also Stewart, 185 F.3d at 122 (“[A] district court has discretion to disqualify counsel if a potential conflict exists .... even where the represented parties have waived the conflict.” (citation omitted)).

With respect to Mr. Santaguida’s previous representation of Monacello the balance between Defendant Massimino’s right to counsel of choice and the fair and proper administration of justice weighs in favor of allowing Defendant Massimino to waive the conflict. Even though the information related to the state cases is closely related to the events alleged in the indictment, Mr. Santaguida’s previous services on behalf of Monacello were limited in nature and subject matter. See infra p. 519. Moreover, Defendant Massimino has had a long-standing relationship with Mr. Santaguida, and Mr. Santaguida has expended a considerable amount of time and effort on behalf of Defendant Massimino in this case. The Court finds that a waiver would be consistent with the fair and proper administration of justice and is obtainable with respect to this conflict. Therefore, the Court seeks to provide Defendant Massimino¹² with the opportunity to make a knowing and voluntary waiver of his right to be represented by an attorney without a conflicting interest.

Similarly, with respect to Mr. Santaguida’s prior representation of co-Defendant Ligambi, the Court finds waivers obtainable due to the limited nature of the prior representation and Defendant Massimino’s long-standing relationship with Mr. Santaguida. Accordingly, the Court will also provide co-Defendant Ligambi with the opportunity to waive any serious potential for conflict of interest.

IV. CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, the Court will grant in part the Government’s Motion to Disqualify Mr. Santaguida to the extent that Mr. Santaguida does face an actual conflict in connection with his prior representation of Monacello and a serious potential for conflict in connection with his prior representation of Defendant Ligambi. However, the Government’s Motion to Disqualify will be denied in part as the Court finds these conflicts to be waivable as long as Defendants Massimino and Ligambi provide informed waivers. To that end, the Court will hold hearings with each affected party on the issue of informed waivers.¹³ An appropriate order shall follow.

Order

AND NOW, on this 20th day of December, 2011, upon consideration of the Government’s Motion for a Hearing Regarding Possible Conflicts of Interest (doc. no. 271), Defendant Massimino’s Response to the Government’s Motion (doc. no. 287), and a hearing on the record (doc. no. 288), it is hereby ORDERED that the Government’s Motion is GRANTED in part, and DENIED in part.

It is further ORDERED that the Court will hold individual hearings on Friday, January 27, 2012 to inquire whether appropriate waivers of actual and/or serious potential for conflicts of interest from Defendant Joseph Ligambi and Defendant Joseph Massimino should be accepted as follows:

1. Defendant Joseph Ligambi at 3:00 p.m.

2. Defendant Massimino at 4:00 p.m.

It is further ORDERED that Joseph D. Mancano, Esq.,¹ is appointed conflict counsel on behalf of Defendant Joseph Massimino.

AND IT IS SO ORDERED.

1 . Both state criminal cases were resolved through guilty pleas. ECF No. 271, at 8 n. 3.

2 . Robert Gamburg, Esq., represented Defendant Massimino in connection with his arraignment and detention hearing on May 27, 2011. ECF No. 68.

3 . Before filing its motion for disqualification, the Government discussed the situation with Mr. Santaguida and afforded him an opportunity to determine for himself whether recusal was warranted. The Government claims that Mr. Santaguida considered the issue and advised the Government that he would object to his disqualification. Mr. Santaguida claims that the discussion consisted of the Government calling on Friday, November 19, 2011, to inform him that the motion would be filed on Monday, November 21, 2011. ECF No. 287.

4 . Mr. Santaguida was previously disqualified with respect to the last prosecution of the members and associates of the Philadelphia LCN Family in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. See United States v. Merlino, Crim. No. 99-0363 (E.D.Pa. Oct. 11, 2000) (order granting motion for disqualification). Judge Herbert J. Hutton granted the Government’s motion to disqualify Mr. Santaguida due to contact he had with a co-conspirator and for his former representation of four of the remaining nine defendants.

5 . The Local Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania require attorneys practicing in the district to comply with the RPC. See E.D. Pa. R. Civ. P. 83.6; E.D. Pa. R.Crim. P. 1.2.

6 . The "fair and proper administration of justice” side of the equation merely " ‘includ[es] the interests governing the practice of law’; it is neither defined nor circumscribed by these standards.” Voigt, 89 F.3d at 1076 n. 12 (quoting Davis v. Stamler, 650 F.2d 477, 479-80 (3d Cir. 1981)). "[Tjhe disqualification of a defendant's chosen counsel need not be ... predicated on a finding of a specific RPC violation.” Id.

7 . This ethical duty complements, but is distinct and broader than the attorney-client privilege, which is a right belonging to the client. See 204 Pa.Code § 81.4 (Rule 1.6(a)).

8 . The rule provides, in part: "A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent ....” 204 Pa.Code § 81.4 (Rule 1.6(a)). And "[t]he duty not to reveal information relating to representation of a client continues after the client-lawyer relationship has terminated.” Id. (Rule 1.6(d)).

9 . Rule 1.7 states as follows:

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a lawyer shall not represent a client if the representation involves a concurrent conflict of interest. A concurrent conflict of interest exists if:

(1) the representation of one client will be directly adverse to another client; or

(2) there is a significant risk that the representation of one or more clients will be materially limited by the lawyer’s responsibilities to another client, a former client or a third person or by a personal interest of the lawyer.

(b) Notwithstanding the existence of a concurrent conflict of interest under paragraph (a), a lawyer may represent a client if:

(1) the lawyer reasonably believes that the lawyer will be able to provide competent and diligent representation to each affected client;

(2) the representation is not prohibited by law;

(3) the representation does not involve the assertion of a claim by one client against another client represented by the lawyer in the same litigation or other proceeding before a tribunal; and

(4) each affected client gives informed consent.

Rule 1.9(a) states:

(a) A lawyer who has formerly represented a client in a matter shall not thereafter represent another person in the same or a substantially related matter in which that person's interests are materially adverse to the interests of the former client unless the former client gives informed consent.

10 .Mr. Santaguida emphasized both in his response to the Government's motion as well as in oral argument that his involvement in the two state cases was very limited consisting of a waiver of one hearing, and a preliminary hearing in the other, with no discovery in either and no testimony having been given by Monaeello. ECF No. 287, at 3-5.

11 . The Court recognizes that in United States v. Fumo, 504 F.Supp.2d 6, 29 (E.D.Pa.2007), the District Court held that the presumption in Provenzano did not “appear warranted with respect to information that does not relate to the [current] representation." In the instant case, Mr. Santaguida's previous representation of Monaeello bears directly on the case at hand and involves the same type of criminal activity as alleged in the current indictment. Thus, this case is squarely within the Provenzano presumption that privileged information was received.

12 . To that end the Court will appoint separate conflict counsel for Defendant Massimino for purposes of submitting a waiver of his right to be represented by an attorney without a conflicting interest.

13 . If any other Defendant wishes to assert any interest in the outcome of the motion to disqualify, that Defendant should submit his position in writing to the Court before January 6, 2012.

1 . Attorney Mancano is a CJA Panel member and shall be compensated under the terms of the Criminal Justice Act.