Tom Lakin
Lakin Law Firm
If you haven't seen it, the Discovery Health Channel produced a five-minute docu-mercial promoting the amazing "mind, body and soul" transformation of "high profile, hob-knobbing St. Louis" lawyer Thomas Lakin.
The transplanted Malibu Man touts his recovery from drug addiction during the segment, which plays out as something of an infomercial for the Marina del Rey, Calif. doctor-sculptor who streamlined Lakin's neckline and reeled in his protruding left ear.
"Tom Lakin is 62 years old, he's turned his life around," explains the plastic surgeon before he wields his knife.
Gotcha.
.. And beneath
Lakin himself was one to often brag about his ability to make and destroy careers within the Metro-East legal world.
Famously, he was the driving force behind Justice Philip Rarick's retirement and Gordon Maag's candidacy for Illinois Supreme Court. Maag was "going to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by President (Rod) Blagojevich in 2008," Lakin confidently quipped during his candidacy's infancy.
But flush with cash, Lakin was hardly a power-broker pretender.
Sources tell Dicta that it was Lakin's long shadow that drove a high-ranking Madison County law enforcer's refusal to take up allegations of sexual assault against him earlier this year.
Times are changing, however. As one Courthouse old-timer recently mused, "It's nice to see the rats being chased into the furnace."
Turnovers
Reporters are mourning the loss of a favorite deputy who abruptly disappeared from the Madison County Circuit Clerk's office two weeks ago.
Explanations are nary to be found in the chilly confines of Room 120 – blue lips remained sealed over the 18-year employee's curious and sudden resignation.
Call it gravity, or the force of nature carving a path of least resistance, but the replacement who thudded into the veteran's old job is the daughter of a Lakin Law Firm employee.
Dicta was comforted by the swift and carefully chosen replacement.