Convicted Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein was back at the courthouse Monday as he was questioned by lawyers seeking to claim money from his former law firm.
At least 30 lawyers involved in civil lawsuits related to Rothstein's $1.2 billion scheme will be questioning the disbarred lawyer at the James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building in downtown Miami under heavy security.
The deposition will take place behind closed doors and is expected to last two weeks. Rothstein will be questioned under oath by creditors of the now-defunct Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler law firm.
"Obviously he leveling. He's got every reason in the world to tell the truth," said William Scherer, an attorney for a victim. "And he said very convincingly 'I don't want to die in prison and the only way I can not die in prison is by telling the truth. I can't tell a lie on anything."'
Rothstein pleaded guilty in January 2010 to five charges stemming from the scheme, which was used to fund his lavish lifestyle, which included several businesses, large homes and luxury sports cars.
He been serving a 50-year prison sentence at an undisclosed location as part of the federal prisons' witness protection program.
A Fort Lauderdale law firm is asking a bankruptcy judge to allow transcripts of the depositions to be made public as soon as possible after each day. A hearing on that is scheduled for Tuesday.
