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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anthony Brooklier, a prominent and polished Los Angeles lawyer whose clients included "Hollywood Madam" Heidi Fleiss and his own mob-boss father, has died at age 70.
LA County coroner's Lt. Larry Dietz says Brooklier died at his home in Century City on Tuesday. Dietz could not immediately give the cause of death.
Brooklier's name first gained fame when he was a prosecutor still in his 20s but was tapped by his father, Southern California Mafia boss Dominic Brooklier, to defend him on federal racketeering charges. Dominic Brooklier was convicted and died in prison, but it was the beginning of an auspicious career in criminal defense for his son.
Through much of the 1990s Anthony Brooklier defended Fleiss, who operated a pricey call girl ring for the wealthy and famous. Fleiss and her trials became a media sensation, as did speculation about her client list, which it later was revealed in court included actor Charlie Sheen.
The trials included lavish and sordid testimony from call girls being flown around the world to service clients for five-figure prices.
Brooklier argued that the entire operation was nothing more than "consensual sex between consenting adults."
"Your Honor, no one was hurt in this case, no one was coerced, and no one operated under duress," Brooklier said during the trial, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Fleiss was convicted of three pandering charges but Brooklier had the verdicts thrown out on appeal. She ended up spending just 20 months in prison on federal charges that included tax evasion.
In 2011, Brooklier defended Giovanni Ramirez, who was wrongly arrested for the near-fatal beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow outside Dodger stadium. Ramirez was cleared and two other men have since been convicted.
Other Brooklier clients included singer Rick James and rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight.
A lifelong Southern Californian, Brooklier was born in Lynwood and earned his law degree from UCLA.
He was married to television journalist Pat LaLama, and had several adult children.
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