The Denver Post
By Kirk Mitchell
October 23, 2014
Charles L. Fife, who specializes in drunken driving law, was sued by a client who claims Fife surreptitiously filmed himself having sex with women including clients. The plaintiff's name is listed as Jane Doe because she claims to be the victim of sexual exploitation.
By Kirk Mitchell
October 23, 2014
Charles L. Fife, who specializes in drunken driving law, was sued by a client who claims Fife surreptitiously filmed himself having sex with women including clients. The plaintiff's name is listed as Jane Doe because she claims to be the victim of sexual exploitation.
"For at least the last decade, Fife has sexually exploited, victimized and preyed upon women, including female clients, which is a violation of ethical standards," says the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Denver County Court by attorney Jerome Reinan.
Reached by phone Thursday, Fife said he had not been served with any lawsuit. "I have absolutely no comment," Fife said.
In a 2004 lawsuit filed against Fife by Michael McCullough, his former law partner, Fife was accused of abusing illicit drugs, confiscating client funds and having sex with clients, the lawsuit says.
The civil lawsuit claims that Fife, who is married, purports to be a member of a fundamentalist Mormon group that believes in polygamy, and is known to approach and explain his extramarital affairs to his victims through his religious beliefs, the lawsuit says.
The mainstream Mormon church disavowed the practice of polygamy in the 19th century.
The lawsuit says Fife grooms his often destitute female clients for sexual relations at his office by providing them with money and alcohol and making explicit or tacit promises to reduce his fee in exchange for sex, the lawsuit says.
Fife often recorded the sexual encounters in his office through a digital recorder on his computer, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit says Fife has a "semi-professional photographic studio" in his office with professional lighting, light reflectors and refractors, and high-definition-quality video recording equipment. The equipment is in plain sight, the lawsuit says. A partner once discovered genital lubricant in the office. One office assistant was fired when she complained about Fife's sexual exploitation.
The plaintiff was charged with a serious traffic accident in 2005. Fife offered to represent her on a retainer for $400, which was significantly less than other attorney quotes, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit also names other members of the law firm and other law partners as defendants for their failure to stop the abuse. The lawsuit claims that Fife violated the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act.
