Adelphia Witness Is Called a Liar

A defense lawyer in the fraud trial of four former Adelphia Communications Corp. executives attacked the credibility of prosecutors and their star witness in the case Tuesday.

During questioning of James R. Brown, the lawyer for former Adelphia Executive Vice President Michael Rigas pointed out errors in the indictment.

Though the indictment said that Adelphia fraudulently reported 5.3 million basic cable subscribers for the first quarter of 2000, an earnings release for that quarter put the number at 5 million, Brown testified while referring to the documents.

The U.S. attorney’s office said the error was a typo.

Michael Rigas; his father, Adelphia founder John Rigas; his brother Tim Rigas; and former assistant treasurer Michael Mulcahey are on trial in New York on charges of conspiracy and fraud. They are accused of improperly withdrawing company funds for Rigas family use and lying to investors, creditors and the public about the company’s financial and operating performance.

In questioning Brown, Michael Rigas’ lawyer focused on his earlier testimony that he lied repeatedly during his tenure at Adelphia.

While at Adelphia, “you were a professional liar?” asked Andrew Levander.

“I’d like to describe myself differently, but I acted in that capacity some of the time,” Brown said.

Levander asked Brown whether he lied to auditors, lawyers, investors, co-workers “and whoever you were speaking to.”

“I think that’s fair,” Brown replied.

Michael Rigas was in charge of Adelphia’s cable operations. His lawyers have been trying to convince jurors that he didn’t know of any inflation of the company’s reported subscriber base.

Levander also called attention to several discrepancies and revisions to internal subscriber numbers.