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A Southern California attorney is facing possible sanctions after sending opposing counsel more than 100 emails—many laced with profanity and discriminatory epithets—demanding a nine-figure settlement on behalf of his clients suing Allstate Insurance Co. in a home insurance coverage dispute. 

U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II of the Central District of California this week asked Culver City plaintiffs attorney Christopher Hook to show why he shouldn't be sanctioned and the case tossed in light of his actions. 

Allstate's attorneys at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton last week asked for terminating sanctions and a restraining order barring Hook from getting within 100 feet of the offices or homes of Allstate and its lawyers. They attached examples of Hook's emails to a declaration from partner Peter Klee made in support of their motion in filings that were first reported by Above the Law.

"Haha. Fuck you crooks. Eat a bowl of dicks," Hook wrote in response to Klee's partner Marc Feldman's claim that the dispute was over just $200,000.  

"I'm going to let the long dick of the law fuck Allstate for all of us," Hook wrote the next morning, according to a timestamp on a follow-up email. 

The next morning, Hook wrote, "Hey Klee you Cumstain the demand is now 302 million. Pay up fuckface."

In follow-on communication, Hook referred to his opposing counsel as "gay boys" and other epithets before sending Klee emails stating "I know where you live," identifying his home address and his wife by name. Hook also wrote he would "water board each one of [Allstate's] trolls that show up for depo without any mercy whatsoever."

"Although I have never met or spoken to Mr. Hook, based on his repeated threats, I was forced—for the first time in my 35-plus years of practice—to warn my family to take appropriate safety precautions because they may be in danger," Klee wrote in his declaration. "My firm has also notified security in our San Diego and Los Angeles offices not to grant Mr. Hook entry," he continued.

Hook, contacted by email Thursday, declined to comment beyond the opposition papers, declaration, and supporting exhibits he filed with the court. There Hook claimed his opponents filed their sanctions motion on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday to delay scheduled depositions of Allstate witnesses. Hook wrote that he only resorted to "harsh language" as "a confidential negotiating tactic" without the knowledge of his clients after "stonewalling" and silence from the Sheppard Mullin lawyers.

"The undersigned recognizes that perhaps some of the language 'crossed the line' of civility and was offensive and inappropriate," Hook wrote. "With that said, the language used was 'for effect,' similar to bluster or 'puffery' and was not intended to actually be considered personal insults." 

Hook wrote he has a right to free speech under the U.S. Constitution and that under California law, communication made in conjunction with litigation enjoys an "absolute privilege." 

"Even if the allegations in defendant's application were supported by evidence (they are not), such inflammatory speech would be absolutely privileged," Hook wrote. "To hold otherwise would result in a litigation environment spawning an endless spin-off of 'sub' lawsuits when the pride of counsel was injured."

Sheppard Mullin's Klee and Feldman didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Wright has set a hearing on the sanctions motion for Dec. 16 and ordered the plaintiffs and a representative from Allstate to attend.