Richard "Dickie" Scruggs Source: AP

When one mentions the city of Pascagoula, MS, more often than not, Hurricane Katrina and sometimes the name Trent Lott, come to mind. But recently, a scandal with one of Pascagoula’s fair-haired southern boys has once again reaffirmed what some believe is just business as usual. Combine taped conversations, blatant arrogance, more money than anyone could ever spend in ten lifetimes, let alone one, and familial cohorts, and a picture emerges that make some cringe. For most, though, it’s frustration and even anger that once again, fortunes are built on someone’s

Just as in any town, there are names that equate to success, brilliance, intelligence and wealth. The two names that represented these descriptions are Senator Trent Lott and a local attorney, Richard Scruggs. It just so happens they are brothers in law as well.

It can’t be said that Mr. Scruggs was ever anything except aggressive, confident and fearless. His education and military career highlight these very strengths. Although known regionally after having sued Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc. in Pascagoula for lung-related sicknesses directly attributed to asbestos, it was his next mission that helped build a large fortune, interested more than a few top-paid Hollywood actors and set the wheels in motion for every other decision that would follow in the next several years. This mission of his was big tobacco. History was forever rewritten and society acknowledged this rewrite by quickly rethinking what was acceptable by instituting no smoking policies and even employer-based incentives for those who quit smoking after these rulings began to come down.

It wasn’t long before the stories began circulating at the lunch counter at the local Sav-Rex drugstore. These stories included salaries for his loyal staff that President Bush would be jealous of, bonuses that included all-expense paid vacations for his staff and their families, and a retirement plan that would ensure the only ones in Pascagoula who never had to worry about paying a light bill were those on his payroll. Instead of trying to land administrative positions at Ingalls, which was at one time the ultimate employer because of the benefits and generous paid holidays, including two weeks off at Christmas that included pay for most of those days off, women were submitting resumes to land a coveted position at the law firm that “changed the world”.

Life was good. For awhile. Mr. Scruggs, along with his wife, Diane, purchased one of Pascagoula’s most treasured landmarks, The Longfellow House, located right on the beach. This house stood empty for many years and the stories of the hauntings still send chills down my spine. Just before it was too late for this historical landmark, Mr. and Mrs. Scruggs stepped in, purchased the old house and renovated it.

It seemed as though our good ol’ southern boy was making a good and solid life for himself and his family. That is, until Hurricane Katrina. Once again, it appeared he was fighting the good fight and going to bat for residents who lost everything. To this day, there are still bare slabs dotting Pascagoula’s streets. The insurance companies decide to wield their powers, and Mr. Scruggs, in his usual confident and aggressive manner, steps up and the next thing you know, he’s declared that there simply won’t be any of this nonsense. And there wasn’t.

It was bound to happen. The higher you are on the pedestal, the harder the fall. Before long, folks begin turning on one another, a judge cries “Foul!”, secretly recorded conversations begin surfacing and sure enough, folks start falling, including Mr. Scruggs’ son, Zach. Attorneys begin to distance themselves and rethink their positions, residents begin picking their sides and sentences begin to trickle down on those who were so high on the hog for so long. And now it appears as though an insurance commissioner has a dog in the hunt. There is mention of nearly 80 million dollars won in the Katrina lawsuits, which basically take on a major insurance company that refused to pay out claims for flood damage. The insurance company’s take was that the vast majority of these policies had no flood insurance. The argument from the residents is that the water damage was from Katrina’s massive winds and not to flooding, which, is true. There was water in homes that had I not seen firsthand, I would never have believed possible. Hurricane Katrina’s winds were enormous, and that’s an understatement.

All of this scandal….and do you know what started this unbelievable insanity? A mere 26 million dollars in attorneys’ fees. Well, it could be considered “mere” to him. He’s worth no telling how much. Mr. Scruggs said at his recent sentencing, “I could not be more ashamed to be where I am today, mixed up in a judicial bribery scheme.” Oh, for what it’s worth: his supporters are still just as adamant in their admiration of him as ever. If you’re interested in the players, complete with their holier than thou attitudes, adamant beliefs that each is above the responsibilities of being solid adults and across the board statements that they are all “good christians, faithful husbands and valuable assets to their communities”, then you have to read this .

Despite his good works through the years, his incredible victories that had Hollywood knocking at his door and all the material things that many people feel define human value, it still boils down to a five year sentence, a hard fall from grace and frustration for many that once again, we have to redefine an errant image of life in South Mississippi.