Lighter Side: Lawyer attacks judge with fly swatter

In a scene resembling a soap opera, a lawyer who went on a rampage with a fly swatter and slapped a judge because he was unhappy with the hearing was then punched by the defence counsel

A lawyer from Kazakhstan is facing 10 years in prison after brandishing a fly swatter and slapping a judge with it because he was unhappy with the way the hearing was going.

Evgeniy Tankov had been hired to act for a client in what should have been a straight-forward inheritance case, but with things not going his way in court, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

CCTV footage shows him approach the judge and say, “Let's not hang about arguing the law here, let's decide this with fly swatters”, reported The Mirror.

Tankov then pulled out the fly swatter and proceeded to slap the judge at least three times.

But the lawyer for the defence wasn’t having a bar of this outlandish behaviour, and in retaliation jumped up and punched Tankov.

The judge also then joined the party, and wrestled the fly swatterer to the floor. He is seen pulling the “weapon” out of Tankov’s hand and throwing it to the floor.

A court official confirmed the lawyer who produced the fly swatter had been barred from practising and also faces criminal charges of assault that could see him jailed for up to 10 years.

Recent articles & video

Wave of law firm mergers sweeps across the UK despite declining firm numbers

US Justice Department flags Kirkland & Ellis' potential conflict of interest in a bankruptcy case

US Supreme Court permits Idaho to enforce gender-affirming care ban for minors

W+K debuts aviation practice with Clyde & Co lawyer

SA court upholds South Australia's claim on parliamentary privilege and public interest immunity

Jones Day welcomes seasoned banking and finance vet to Sydney partnership

Most Read Articles

K&L Gates lures JWS M&A partner

Promotions round beefs up Clyde & Co's Australia partnership

New report reveals key trends in global corporate legal departments in 2024

Allens welcomes five new partners