Lawyer Who Sued Led Zeppelin Suspended From Practicing Law for Previous Violations

Francis Malofiy, the lawyer who unsuccessfully sued Led Zeppelin for plagiarizing their song “Stairway to Heaven” from the band Spirit’s song “Taurus,” was suspended from practicing law on Thursday, reports THR.

The attorney received a suspension of three months and one day after violating “various rules of conduct” during a 2014 lawsuit concerning Usher’s “Bad Girl.” During the proceedings, Malofiy tricked a co-defendant into signing an affidavit saying that Marino deserved credit without consulting a lawyer and secretly taped a conversation with the co-defendant. Before, a judge gave Malofiy multiple sanctions and ordered him to pay $28,000 in court fees. During the six-day Led Zeppelin trial, Malofiy received more than one hundred objections and “multiple admonishments” from Judge R. Gary Klausner.

Though Malofiy’s suspension is only in Pennsylvania, it could affect his other practice in California. It also prevents him from appealing the jury’s ruling in favor of Led Zeppelin. If the case is appealed, Glen Kulik, who served as the local co-counsel, could lead the appeal.