Kentucky Judge Resigns After Allegedly Profiting From Fen-Phen Case

By Hubert Vigilla

Published on March 03, 2006

According to a letter of reprimand from the Judicial Conduct Commission, Judge Joseph F. Bamberger allegedly gave attorneys, including a personal friend, between $86 million and $104 million from a Fen-Phen settlement. The 431 clients in the case that were actually injured by Fen-Phen split $74 million. The Judicial Conduct Commission declared that Bamberger's actions "shock the conscience."

The letter also alleges that Bamberger allowed more than $20 million from the Fen-Phen settlement to be placed in a charitable fund administered by The Kentucky Fund for Healthy Living. Bamberger became the paid director of the fund and received $5,000 each month, as well as a monthly expense allowance of $350.

The Judicial Conduct Commission noted that if Bamberger had not resigned, a hearing would have resulted in him losing his position as a senior status special judge.

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