KUBBY ATTORNEY FINED $200 FOR MISCONDUCT

Michele Kubby defense attorney J. David Nick's pit-bull courtroom
style got the better of him Tuesday.

Nick was fined $200 for misconduct after interrupting Superior Court
Judge John Cosgrove's admonition to the jury in the Steve and Michele
Kubby trial, just before a break.

Prosecutor Chris Cattran's questioning incurred the wrath of Nick, who
described it as "despicable" as the jury was filing out of the courtroom.

Cosgrove, saying he had warned Nick in the past about similar
"outbursts," sanctioned the defense attorney and fined him $200 for
misconduct.

With the jury out of the room, Nick said the prosecution was
deliberately provoking him.

"This is the dirtiest trial I've ever seen," he said. "I'm only human
and I'm seeing a very despicable attempt to convict on innuendo and
political beliefs."

J. Tony Serra, who represents Steve Kubby, defended Nick, saying his
comments were "an aside."

"What bothers me is that this has happened a number of times,"
Cosgrove said.

With Cosgrove out of the courtroom on the break, Nick again verbally
attacked Cattran and Deputy District Attorney Gene Gini. The two
didn't respond when he called them "dirty cowards."