The new trial date for former University of Southern California (USC) water polo coach and Larson LLP client Jovan Vavic is set to begin on March 1, 2022, Law360 reported.
In an article on Oct. 28, Law360 noted that this is the fourth trial date in the high-profile “Varsity Blues” college admissions case. Mr. Vavic was originally set to be tried with former USC athletic department administrator Donna Heinel, whose trial begins in November. In a motion on Aug. 16, Mr. Vavic and Ms. Heinel asked to sever their trials, arguing that the government “improperly lumped them together,” which U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani granted on Oct. 13.
Law360 also recently reported on Judge Talwani’s ruling that “prosecutors must show [scheme ringleader William “Rick”] Singer consented to the critical wiretap on his phone if they want to use the calls during either [Ms.] Heinel’s or [Mr.] Vavic’s trial … The order noted [Mr.] Singer’s shaky stint as a cooperating witness, marred by claims ‘the government had strong-armed him,’ which he hinted in notes he penned during his time working with the FBI, and allegations that he obstructed the federal investigation.”
Partner Kori L. Bell, who is representing Mr. Vavic along with partners Stephen G. Larson and Paul A. Rigali, told Law360, “Our position is that we would need an opportunity to cross-examine Mr. Singer on his contemporaneous notes.” Law360 added that “outside experts have said the ruling does open the door to [Mr.] Singer having to take the stand.”
Judge Talwani’s ruling on Oct. 25 was spurred by a motion Mr. Vavic filed on Oct. 18 where he claimed “newly unearthed communications between investigators and AT&T Inc. show that the court-ordered wiretap on [Mr.] Singer’s phone had lapsed by the time the phone company received [Mr.] Singer’s consent to let the government tune in,” Law360 explained.
Read the full article by Chris Villani of Law360 covering the trial date here and wiretap ruling here.
