Tabish attorneys wants opposing lawyers disqualified in civil case

Attorneys for Binion's estate - which is pursuing a wrongful death claim against Tabish and his reported lover, Sandra Murphy - say the motion is without basis.

"Tabish is just trying to delay this case," wrote attorney Harry Claiborne, who represents Bonnie Binion, daughter of Ted Binion, in her lawsuit against Murphy and Tabish.

Claiborne is one of three attorneys targeted by Tabish. Richard Wright and Bruce Judd, who represent the estate, are the others.

Attorney Robert Murdock, who represents Tabish, argues all three attorneys should be disqualified from the civil actions because of the likelihood they could be called as witnesses.

District Judge Michael Cherry is scheduled to consider this and other motions in court on Tuesday.

Cherry has said he anticipates none of the civil suits will proceed to trial until the end of the criminal trial that is scheduled to begin in March.

Murphy, 27, and Tabish, 33, are charged with murder in the September 1998 death of Ted Binion, who was found dead at the Las Vegas home he shared with Murphy. Prosecutors say he was forced to ingest potentially lethal amounts of heroin and the prescribed sedative Xanax and then suffocated.

In seeking to have Claiborne removed from the civil proceedings, Murdock noted that prosecutors have listed the former federal judge as a potential witness in the trial of the criminal case.

Wright testified at a preliminary hearing in the criminal matter, and Murdock said he certainly will be called to the stand in the civil proceedings.

Murdock said Wright's law partner, Bruce Judd, also should be disqualified because he provided Tabish with legal advice on the very day Tabish was alleged to have participated in a brutal extortion scheme.

Businessman Leo Casey has testified that he was abducted in July 1998, accused of embezzling from a business partner and tortured until he signed incriminating documents. Tabish, Murphy and two other men have been charged in the incident.

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