Attorney Under Fire for Missing Oral Arguments Claims Sabotage by Opposition

Attorney Farva Jafri has been ordered to show cause as to why she should avoid disciplinary action for missing oral arguments in a recent case. The Seventh Circuit panel had ordered Farva to appear in court on the matter of costs. Farva did not.

Law 360 explains that Farva, in her statement to the Seventh Circuit, asserted that counsel for Oasis Legal Finance and Gary Chodes (former CEO) had settled their issues and sought to end the appeal. She further claimed that attorneys for Oasis misrepresented a conversation in which they agreed to convey relevant details of the settlement on behalf of all involved.

The court also pointed out that Jafri did file a motion to dismiss the appeal. But it was filed late Friday night—too late for the court to consider the motion. The court claimed the motion was also incomplete. Even though the dismissal was agreed to by both parties, it was missing vital signatures and did not address issues relating to costs.

In an amended motion, Jafri explained that the parties agreed to settle with no payments of any kind. Instead of relaying that to the court during oral arguments, Jafri says opposing counsel made statements that were intentionally misleading and designed to paint her in a negative light. Opposing counsel also reversed its position on costs, saying that appellants should cover costs. According to the motion, Chodes accepted the agreement to forgo a request for fees.

Jafri lives in New York and argued that it was not practical or necessary to fly to Chicago for an appeal that had already been dismissed. Barry Irwin, lead counsel for Oasis, agreed to convey this to the court at the oral arguments hearing. He did not, and has since asserted that Jafri’s assertions are inaccurate. Jafri characterized the actions of opposing counsel as a “sandbag.”

Attorney Farva Jafri has been ordered to show cause as to why she should avoid disciplinary action for missing oral arguments in a recent case. The Seventh Circuit panel had ordered Farva to appear in court on the matter of costs. Farva did not.

Law 360 explains that Farva, in her statement to the Seventh Circuit, asserted that counsel for Oasis Legal Finance and Gary Chodes (former CEO) had settled their issues and sought to end the appeal. She further claimed that attorneys for Oasis misrepresented a conversation in which they agreed to convey relevant details of the settlement on behalf of all involved.

The court also pointed out that Jafri did file a motion to dismiss the appeal. But it was filed late Friday night—too late for the court to consider the motion. The court claimed the motion was also incomplete. Even though the dismissal was agreed to by both parties, it was missing vital signatures and did not address issues relating to costs.

In an amended motion, Jafri explained that the parties agreed to settle with no payments of any kind. Instead of relaying that to the court during oral arguments, Jafri says opposing counsel made statements that were intentionally misleading and designed to paint her in a negative light. Opposing counsel also reversed its position on costs, saying that appellants should cover costs. According to the motion, Chodes accepted the agreement to forgo a request for fees.

Jafri lives in New York and argued that it was not practical or necessary to fly to Chicago for an appeal that had already been dismissed. Barry Irwin, lead counsel for Oasis, agreed to convey this to the court at the oral arguments hearing. He did not, and has since asserted that Jafri’s assertions are inaccurate. Jafri characterized the actions of opposing counsel as a “sandbag.”