Defense Attorney Outed as Habitue of Client's Massage Parlor

By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 30, 2011 8:40PM

If you're looking for ways to have a mistrial declared, being outed as a customer of the massage parlor owned by your client is a way to go.

That scene from a David Kelly legal dramedy actually happened to Douglas Rathe. Rathe was the court-appointed attorney for Alex “Daddy” Campbell. Campbell faces a federal indictment for using immigrant women as de facto slave labor for his massage parlors. He and Danielle “Princess” John, who pleaded guilty earlier this year, are accused of locking the women in their apartments, confiscating their passports, demanding money for their freedom and branding them with horseshoe tattoos for easier identification.

One of Campbell's alleged involuntary masseuses, Liudmyla “Liuda” Ksenych, recognized Rathe as one of her customers. After Rathe admitted that was so and that he had sent her perfume as a gift and exchanged emails with Ksenych, Judge Robert Gettleman declared the mistrial Campbell was already angling for.

Rathe told the Sun-Times the hanky panky didn't extend to happy endings and other "extras." Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur told Gettleman he wouldn't have recognized Ksenych's name on a witness list because she didn't use her real name while working at the massage parlor, and both prosecutors and Gettleman said Rathe was doing a wonderful job defending Campbell prior to the mistrial.

Campbell said Rathe broke his trust by concealing the knowledge he frequented Campbell's massage parlors.