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Steven Bachar, an attorney and Denver entrepreneur known for representing celebrities in lawsuits, died at Colorado state prison on March 15. He was 58.
Ronald Rappaport was an iconic figure, known for gracing courtrooms from Edgartown to Boston and wearing many civic roles on Martha’s Vineyard. He had an uncanny ability to understand its way of life.
Well-known for his wild hair and wide network of Vineyard friendships and relationships that cut across Island life, he was highly esteemed as a municipal attorney who represented clients all the way from Edgartown to Boston courtrooms. He understood the community values and way of life on the Island and fought tirelessly to preserve them.
Marine veteran John Peck was severely injured when he stepped on an IED while patrolling in Helmand Province of Afghanistan in 2010. The blast caused severe trauma to his brain as well as severed two of his legs and part of one arm – becoming only the third-surviving quadruple amputee from both Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
He became an internationally recognized advocate and speaker on veterans, racial justice, civil rights, and other causes. He served as law professor, mentor, campaign adviser, and prosecuted many high profile criminal cases – always striving to do what was right. He never allowed politics get in his way of seeking out what was just.
Haggard had an established law practice in western Kentucky with his primary office being located in Hopkinsville. After graduating from Ballard Memorial High School in 1977 and Murray State University (where he received both his bachelors and law degrees), he earned his juris doctorate at University of Kentucky College of Law (where his main office also resided).
Haggard was taken to Schneider Hospital, but unfortunately died soon afterwards. According to Chris Watson of St. Thomas Rescue, several bystanders performed CPR for over four minutes until first responders arrived on scene.
Haggard was an active member of both the VFW and American Legion, serving in both wartime roles with his service in World War II in Europe-Africa-Middle Eastern Theaters Ribbon with one Silver Battle Star and three Overseas Service Bars as an infantry soldier. Additionally he held nine years as board director at Wilderman Autoplex before passing away – as well as being married with two children and eight grandchildren from Barbara (wife).
Consovoy left Wiley Rein in 2014 to launch his own practice with partner Tom McCarthy and quickly established an impressive track record before the Supreme Court, representing both the Republican National Committee as well as numerous officials and presidents of his party, California over vote-by-mail rules, Wisconsin over felon enfranchisation, Harvard race conscious admission policies as part of Students for Fair Admissions as well as former President Trump in court litigation over tax records.
Consovoy’s decision to leave Wiley and establish his own firm marked a critical turning point for conservative attorneys who refused to accept the Faustian bargain imposed by top firms on them, refusing to defend causes they believed in. His death leaves behind him an extensive legacy: A firm co-founded with longtime friend, an incredible legal movement indebted to him personally, as well as many friends and family members left without someone so strong in their lives.
Steven Bachar, founder of Denver-based investment firm Empowerment Capital LLC, pleaded guilty in September to one count of felony theft and was ordered by Denver District Court Judge Eric Johnson to pay $182,000 as restitution.
In October 2017, an investor sent $75,000 to Bachar’s company under the promise that they would earn interest on its profits. Bachar made several misrepresentations and omissions in order to obtain these investment funds, yet never invested or returned them, using nearly $125,000 of it himself, according to the district attorney’s office.
Bachar and his public defender argued during his sentencing hearing in November for probation over prison, while Johnson found three years to be more fitting as an indicator of justice system bias against wealthy defendants with white-collar crimes, reports state. Bachar was serving his time at Rifle Correction Facility until February when parole would have become eligible.