In a twist that would make even John Grisham raise an eyebrow, former Biglaw high-flyer Linda Lu has traded her corner office for a prison cell, all thanks to a hedge dispute gone wrong.
Lu, who once graced the hallowed halls of Fried Frank, Cadwalader, and Pillsbury Winthrop, now finds herself on the wrong side of the law, as reported by LegalCheek.
Alongside her mother, Susan Chen, who is reportedly a former Chinese intelligence agent, Lu has been sentenced to five and a half years behind bars for a stalking campaign that left the judge speechless. Both defendants defended themselves in the proceeding, claiming that they were the victims in the case, rather than the perpetrators.
The saga began in July 2023 when Lu’s neighbors, the Smiths, dared to trim a shared hedge. What followed was a two-month reign of terror that would make even the most hardened litigator cringe as Linda Lu mounted a campaign of intimidation that was sufficient to garner her prison time for the extensive unneighborly efforts.
Videos recorded by Mr Smith, which were played in court, showed Chen and Lu “shouting derogatory abuse”, including the use of terms such as “retards”.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Smith described how the family’s 13-year stay “in a village they loved” was shattered by the arrival of Chen and Lu.
Mrs Smith said her life had changed dramatically due to the campaign of harassment from Chen and Lu.
Lu’s arsenal of intimidation against her neighbor included:
- Shouting derogatory abuse, including the charming use of “retards”
- Periods of loud metallic banging
- Threats of legal action (old habits die hard)
Despite warnings, arrests, and community protection notices, the dynamic duo persisted in their hedge-fueled vendetta.
Judge James House KC, clearly not amused by Lu’s extracurricular activities, described their behavior as “persistent, calculated and appalling.” The court slapped Lu and Chen with five-and-a-half years’ jail.
This was truly a neighbors dispute gone horribly wrong.
- The Judge also implemented a protection orders for victims, witnesses, and their employers and a ban from the entire village of Bassingham.
- Lu had found her way into a legal thicket no pruning was going to get her out of.
It seems Lu has found herself in a legal thicket she can’t prune her way out of. One thing’s for sure: this is one case study that won’t be making it into the Biglaw recruitment brochures anytime soon.
