On April 15, 1998, WLF filed a brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit urging the court to uphold conspiracy, racketeering, bribery, and mail fraud convictions against noted San Diego, California, trial lawyer Patrick Frega, and former San Diego Superior Court Judges James A. Malkus and G. Dennis Adams. Frega and Adams each were sentenced to 41 months in federal prison; Malkus was sentenced to 31 months. A hearing in the case is expected later this year. Patrick Frega, once named “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the plaintiffs’ trial bar, was convicted in late 1996 of operating a racketeering business in violation of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) and mail fraud. Frega provided the jurists and members of their families with over $100,000 in payments and benefits, including expensive cars, car repairs, money orders, entertainment, an apartment, and health club memberships.