In the past, we have decried Attorney Pattis’s offensive behavior. In the recent decision of Lafferty v. Jones, Judge Moll, writing for the Appellate Court, is similarly offended by the abrasive conduct of Attorney Pattis in violating certain discovery orders and failing to safeguard confidential information. But the decision, in part, vindicates Attorney Pattis, by reversing certain decisions of Judge Bellis who reached to find that he violated certain Rules of Professional Conduct.

By way of background, the Lafferty case arises from an action bought by family members of those killed in the mass shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School against Alex Jones and other defendants for publicizing the mass shooting as a staged event. During the trial of that case, the court issued a protective order that limited the use of confidential information to counsel of record. In violation of that order, Pattis had released confidential information to third parties and was sanctioned by the court for that violation.