Egan's and Herman's Credibility Issues
Last October, Egan was
scolded by the federal judge in the Ancier countersuit, J. Michael Seabright, for lying to the judge in response to direct questions about who was writing his legal papers.
It turned out that the papers were being ghostwritten by the Manly Stewart & Finaldi law firm which, like Herman and to some extent Gallagher, specializes in child sexual abuse cases.
Two months later, Egan was
indicted on federal wire fraud and securities fraud charges in a 2007-12 scheme in which authorities say he lied and forged documents in order to ensnare investors. According to a pleading filed by Ancier, Egan bragged to a witness that "if all else failed," he could falsely accuse prominent Hollywood gay men in order to extract money. Egan pleaded guilty to conspiracy and awaits sentencing.
Egan has been represented by a criminal lawyer
since at least 2012, suggesting that Egan may have known federal charges were in the offing even as he was bringing suit against Singer, Goddard, Ancier and Neuman.
Court documents in his criminal case disclose that the FBI has collected over 121,000 pages of evidence on Egan.
Vince Finaldi, a name partner in the Manly Stewart & Finaldi firm, previously told THR that Egan's indictment on charges of lying and forgery actually bolstered his credibility in Finaldi's eyes. "Even if the acts alleged against Mr. Egan, which we know nothing about, were true, then it would surely not mean he was not abused," said Finaldi. "To the contrary, it would corroborate his abuse."
Independent attorneys THR spoke to called that contention "asinine," "spin" and "circular reasoning." Finaldi accompanied his explanation with seemingly defensive paragraphs — unusually personal attacks on this reporter's character and a declaration that Finaldi had "honorably served my country" — while other responses from Finaldi, fellow name partner John Manly and a colleague were invariably laced with copious profanity and derision.
