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Only On 2: CHP Beating Victim's Attorney Faces Backlash Over Fee

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Nine months after Marlene Pinnock was repeatedly punched by a CHP officer on the side of the 10 Freeway, she said her life is back on track, but her attorney is still involved in a battle surrounding the settled civil suit.

Pinnock received a $1.5 million settlement for the beating, which was captured on cell phone video.

"I just want to say I'm happy and I'm doing fine," Pinnock told CBS2's Rachel Kim.

On Tuesday, Pinnock wanted to defend her attorney, Caree Harper, who reportedly received more than $600,000 of the $1.5 million settlement. The judge in the case recently accused of Harper of exploiting her client.

"And I'm happy with the work that my attorney did and still does for me," Pinnock said.

Harper, meanwhile, disputed the report that she received 40 percent of the settlement.

"First, I didn't receive $600,000, that's inaccurate," she said. "I'm not going to state what I received because it's very improper for a judge to read into the record, attorney-client privilege."

Harper told Kim that Judge Otis Wright II, who presided over the civil lawsuit, said the fee was "unconscionable" considering the small amount of work required for the case and how quickly it was settled.

"I waived all expenses and all costs," Harper said. "I don't make the rules, I just follow them. This is something, if you don't have a contract then what do you rely on?"

The attorney also wanted to set the record straight about who is managing the money.

Pinnock "has a great team of financial advisers," Harper said. "She has a trustee, and I don't control that."

Harper said the judge held her in contempt of court at a hearing last month for refusing to answer questions about her relationship with Pinnock without her lawyer present.

"He said I was no better than a first- year law student — obstinate, obtuse," Harper said.

So Judge Wright had deputies arrest her in court, and she was jailed for two days.

"They wrenched my hands behind my back, I had surgery on my shoulders," Harper said. "They caused me pain, this judge stood, clapped and laughed."

Harper said her lawyers are have filed a complaint for judicial misconduct against Judge Wright.

"I'm looking forward to the 9th circuit court reviewing his actions," she said.

Judge Wright could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

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