BROCKOVICH GETS VICTORY IN COURT.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

VENTURA - After reviewing testimony and secretly recorded tapes, a jury ruled Monday that a Century City attorney was guilty of trying to extort $310,000 from legal researcher Erin Brockovich and her boss shortly after the release of the blockbuster movie bearing her name.

John Reiner, 54, was convicted of two counts of attempted extortion and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion after three days of deliberations by the five-man, seven-woman jury. He was accused of orchestrating a hush-money deal on behalf of an ex-husband and an ex- boyfriend of Brockovich.

``There's not much we can say,'' said Edward Masry, a Westlake Village attorney and Brockovich's boss. ``Erin and I both have empathy for the Reiner family. It's unfortunate that the entire thing happened.''

Brockovich, an Agoura Hills resident, could not be reached for comment. She passed up the opportunity to attend last month's Academy Awards - during which Julia Roberts won a Best Actress award for her portrayal of the title character in ``Erin Brockovich'' - because her teen-age daughter was ill.

Reiner, who did not take the stand during his one-week trial, faces up to four years in prison and $10,000 in fines when he is sentenced May 2.

``It was a shock to us and a shock to Mr. Reiner,'' said defense attorney William Genego, who said he is weighing an appeal.

Brockovich and Masry both testified during Reiner's trial, detailing meetings and phone calls held last spring in which he demanded money on behalf of Shawn Brown and Jorg Halaby, the ex-husband and ex-boyfriend, respectively, of Brockovich.

The sessions began about a month after the release of ``Erin Brockovich,'' which tells the tale of an unemployed single mother whose relentless pursuit of justice helps win a record $333 million judgment in an environmental lawsuit filed against Pacific Gas & Electric.

Reiner sought the money in exchange for a promise that his clients would not go to the media with tales that the celebrated legal duo were having an affair and that Brockovich was a bad mother to her three children.

Those phone calls were secretly tape-recorded by prosecutors, who also videotaped a meeting last April 26, when checks totaling $310,000 changed hands.

Brown, Halaby and Reiner were arrested at the conclusion of that meeting. Extortion charges against Brown of Simi Valley and Halaby of Orange County were later dropped.

Michael Frawley, the deputy district attorney who prosecuted Reiner, said he was pleased with the verdicts.

``He was an embarrassment to the legal profession,'' Frawley said. ``It's guys like him who give lawyers a bad name.''

The defense had argued that Reiner was merely seeking Masry's help in trying to obtain a contract with Universal Studios for the movie rights to Brown's life. Halaby's character was portrayed by Aaron Eckhart in ``Erin Brockovich,'' while Brown's character was mentioned only in passing and not by name.

According to transcripts of the prosecutors' tapes, Reiner talked to Masry about his dealings with Universal. But in later conversations, he also detailed that he wanted Brown to get $280,000 and Halaby to get $30,000.

The deal called for Brown to then write Brockovich a $100,000 check for overdue child support payments, according to the transcripts.

Staff Writer Cecilia Chan contributed to this story.

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