Trial Begins for Lawyer Accused of Extortion Against Brockovich

About a month after the movie “Erin Brockovich” was released last year, the real-life protagonist became the target of an extortion plot by her ex-boyfriend, ex-husband and their attorney, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Century City attorney John Reiner conspired with his clients to extort $310,000 from Brockovich and her boss, Westlake Village attorney Ed Masry, by promising not to reveal allegedly damaging information about them, the prosecutor said.

Brockovich’s ex-husband Shawn Brown and ex-boyfriend Jorg Halaby planned to tell the tabloids that she was an unfit mother and that she and Masry once had a sexual relationship, Chief Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Frawley said.

“That was the hammer he used to get the money,” Frawley told jurors during opening statements Tuesday in the extortion and conspiracy trial in Ventura.

Reiner and his clients were arrested last April after a two-week investigation that ended when they were videotaped receiving checks from Masry and Brockovich, who cooperated with authorities.

Reiner faces felony charges of attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit a crime. Prosecutors dropped charges against Brown and Halaby.

Defense attorneys maintained that Reiner had been engaged in legitimate business deals. Halaby wanted to write a book and was consulting Reiner about whether that interfered with a contract he had with Universal Studios. Brown thought he was misrepresented in the movie and wanted Reiner’s help having his life story rights purchased by Universal or arranging contracts with media organizations.

“[Brown] got upset and he wanted an opportunity to tell the world his side of the story,” said Reiner’s attorney William Genego.

Genego said his client was not attempting to blackmail Masry and Brockovich. “Mr. Reiner at no time during the recorded conversations used the word ‘sex’ or ‘sexual relations,’ ” he said.

The film, recently nominated for an Oscar for best picture, tells the story of a mother whose research led to Pacific Gas & Electric’s paying a $333-million settlement for polluting ground water. Masry, Brockovich and Halaby were all portrayed in the film and signed lucrative contracts with Universal Studios, attorneys said.

During opening statements, Frawley told jurors he would prove that Reiner was determined to get as much money as he could for himself and his clients--and that he threatened Brockovich and Masry to do so.

But Masry--now a member of the Thousand Oaks City Council--and Brockovich contacted a Thousand Oaks attorney, who immediately called local prosecutors.

Frawley played several excerpts from tape-recorded phone calls in which Reiner said Brown and Halaby promised not to talk to the press if they received the money they requested.