Could a bombshell be dropped today in court against the three attorneys fighting to keep their jobs?
Kris Personius, the former husband of the woman at the center of an alleged DUI setup, paralegal Melissa Personius, testified today.
Testimony continued Thursday in the disciplinary trial of attorneys Stephen Diaco, Robert Adams and Adam Filthaut, who are accused by the Florida Bar of setting up rival attorney's DUI.
At the time of the alleged January 2013 setup, Philip Campbell was representing Todd "MJ" Schnitt in the defamation lawsuit against Bubba the Love Sponge Clem, who was being represented by Diaco's firm.
Florida Bar lawyers say Melissa Personius flirted and drank with Campbell at a downtown Tampa bar, then persuaded him to drive her car just before he was stopped by an officer.
The charges against Campbell were later dropped.
Kris Personius testified this afternoon about his former wife's involvement in the case, including a recording he made of Melissa talking about the alleged setup when she returned home that night.
“She was instructed to basically set this guy up. To get Phil Campbell to drink more, get Phil Campbell to stay where the cop was in place, um…she made him drive her exact words was “I got him, I made him drive my car,” he said.
Kris Personius told the judge he’s still scared to this day, about giving the recording to the FBI.
“Melissa told me look what we did to Phil Campbell, imagine what we could do to you. She told my high school daughter she is going to get me back no matter what cost it takes to make sure something happens to me,” he testified.
That tape hasn’t been played in court yet. There’s still a question over whether it’s legal- because he never asked his wife’s permission to record her.
Diaco, Adams and Filthaut all turned over their cell phones and court records show that information was deleted.
If the trio of lawyers is found guilty, they could have their licenses to practice law suspended or revoked.