City Newspaper Archives - 5/2007
A local Sibley represents accused 'DC Madam'
Published by Mary Anna Towler on May 04, 2007
The nation's capital is all abuzz over the story of the accused Washington Madam, Deborah Jeane Palfrey, whose clientele is said to include some prominent politicos.
But the story has a Rochester connection: Palfrey's lawyer is none other than former Rochesterian Blair Sibley (full name: Montgomery Blair Sibley). His ancestors include some extremely prominent Rochesterians (among them, the founder of Western Union). And in 1987, Sibley ran for Monroe County district attorney, losing to Howard Relin. He later moved to Florida.
Palfrey's story, and the possibility that the list of her customers will be made public, has made for good reading. But reporters have had a field day with Sibley himself. "Litigious" is a mild word for him: he brags that he files lawsuits "like a hurricane."
"Sibley's tactics are simple," says an article in Legal Times. "When he doesn't win, he sues. He'll sue the judges, the prosecutors, the witnesses. And the courts. And he'll appeal again and again and again."
He has sued the Supreme Court for treason. He has served two months in jail for failure to pay child support. He is threatened with the loss of his license in Florida.
And it is Sibley, according to news reports, who handed ABC News the big Palfrey client list - some of which may be made public tonight on the network's "20/20" program (locally, 10 p.m. on WHAM-TV). According to the Legal Times report, he had hoped to sell the list to pay Palfrey's legal bills. A court prevented that, says the Legal Times article, "but not before he gave it to an unnamed news organization" - presumably ABC.
