Three lawyers who represented Bubba the Love Sponge Clem in his defamation trial are facing a trial of their own.
Stephen Diaco, Adam Filthaut, and Robert Adams are accused in an ethics complaint filed by the Florida Bar. Attorneys for the lawyers made an appearance on their behalf in a Pinellas County court where they argued to postpone the bar investigation. The lawyers want to wait until a pending FBI investigation is finished.
A judge presiding over the case with the Florida Bar decided not to postpone the case, saying it’s important for the public to know what happened.
The investigation stems from an alleged DUI setup involving a rival lawyer. The three attorneys from the law firm of Adams and Diaco are accused of using a legal aide to bait rival lawyer Phil Campbell in the middle of a trial. The trial was between Bubba the Love Sponge and Todd “MJ” Schnitt.
Court documents allege the men texted a Tampa Police officer to nab Campbell while he was moving the legal aide’s car after a night at the bar. Campbell was arrested but charges were later dropped.
The judge said the trial should be set within six months.
If the bar finds there was any wrongdoing, the lawyers involved could lose their licenses or be suspended and fined.
The FBI investigation into the incident is still pending.