U.S. Supreme Court Denies Cert for Farren v. Farren

October 25, 2016

The United States Supreme Court has denied the petition for certiorari that challenged the $28.6 million civil verdict against J. Michael Farren, a former White House lawyer who was criminally convicted of nearly beating his ex-wife to death in Farren v. Farren.

Michael Farren had argued on appeal that he should receive a new civil trial because his absence from the courtroom deprived him of his constitutional right to a fair trial.

The trial court found that he had failed to satisfy the burden of proof that his absence from trial was reasonable. The trial judge and the Appellate Court both ruled that Farren failed to provide proof that his failure to appear at trial was reasonable despite being offered a full evidentiary hearing to so do. Farren asked the Appellate Court to reconsider their decision and also asked the Connecticut Supreme Court to reverse the decision. Both courts denied those requests.

Ernie Teitell of Silver Golub & Teitell represented the plaintiff, Mary Margaret Farren, Farren’s ex-wife, at the trial and throughout the subsequent appeals.

“We are finally at the point where Mr. Farren has exhausted his legal options and this case can be closed once and for all,” said Mr. Teitell. “He tried for years to manipulate the legal system by playing games to delay the proceedings and prevent us from getting justice. That game is now finally over.”