Senior U.S. District Judge David Hittner of Houston granted a motion Wednesday that severs Laura Pendergest-Holt from being tried at the same time as R. Allen Stanford. Pendergest-Holt filed the motion on June 9 arguing that Stanford and his “latest collection of lawyers [the Bennett-Nguyen Joint Venture]” have prejudiced her right to a fair trial with their “ egregious and circus-like conduct.”
Specifically Pendergest-Holt alleged in her motion that Stanford and his criminal defense counsel from Houston law firm Bennett-Nguyen Joint Venture “have flaunted court orders, set up potentially unethical entities to practice law in Texas … and have faked health issues in court” making it impossible for her to receive a fair trial. She alleged news media nationwide have “become enthralled with the circus show.”
