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Josh Shaw’s attorney represented Rihanna, Snoop Dogg

Donald Etra, left, stands by Snoop Dogg in court in 2007.
Donald Etra, left, stands by Snoop Dogg in court in 2007.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
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He has represented Rihanna and Snoop Dogg.

Now attorney Donald Etra has a new client: Suspended USC cornerback Josh Shaw.

Shaw retained the high-profile Los Angeles lawyer this week.

Etra was present Wednesday when Shaw admitted to USC officials that he lied about how he suffered ankle injuries. Shaw fabricated a tale that included leaping from a second-story balcony and landing on concrete while saving a distressed nephew in a swimming pool Aug. 23 in Palmdale.

Etra said that Shaw was injured after he fell off a balcony at the Orsini Apartments complex near downtown.

The Los Angeles Police Department has not accused Shaw of wrongdoing but has said it is still investigating an incident that occurred at the Orsini Apartments that night and would seek to interview him.

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Etra, 67, represented pop-sensation Rihanna in her 2009 assault case against rapper Chris Brown.

Two years earlier, Etra represented Snoop Dogg -- twice -- when the rapper faced felony gun and drug charges. Snoop Dogg’s charges were reduced to misdemeanors.

Fran Drescher, star of “The Nanny” sought Etra for legal counsel in 1999, when she was sued by a stunt woman who claimed injury on the set of a movie Drescher executive produced.

Questions about USC? Email me at LNThiry@gmail.com or tweet @LindseyThiry and I will answer questions in a weekly USC Now mailbag.

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