Akim Anastopoulo

Akim A. Anastopoulo (born October 14, 1960 in Charleston, South Carolina) played the starring role of judge on National Lampoon's syndicated court show, Eye for an Eye, from 2003 through 2009. On the court show, Anastopoulo went by "Judge Extreme Akim," a nickname derived from his bizarre and draconian forms of punishment on the program.[1] He runs a law firm in South Carolina called The Anastopoulo Law Firm.

Akim A. Anastopoulo
Personal details
Born (1960-10-14) October 14, 1960
Charleston, South Carolina
Spouse(s)Constance Anastopoulo
Children2
ResidenceCharleston, South Carolina Los Angeles, CA
ProfessionAttorney

Education

Anastopoulo received a four-year tennis scholarship to the University of Louisville, where he received the "Most Outstanding Athlete" and "Most Outstanding Graduating Senior" Awards. He also won the "Mr. Cardinal" award and was voted student body president.[1] Earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1982, he then went to the University of South Carolina for his Juris Doctor in 1985.[2]

Professional

Anastopoulo is a partner in Anastopoulo Law Firm, LLC, based in Charleston. He specializes in personal injury, automobile accidents and injuries, premises liability, and products liability. He has litigation experience in civil, criminal, class action and state and federal appeals cases. Anastopoulo has been practicing law in the Charleston, South Carolina area for 20 years.[2]

In 2005, Anastopoulo canceled his voluntary membership in the South Carolina Trial Lawyers' Association. No reason was given by Anastopoulo for the withdrawal, but it did coincide with a decision by the South Carolina Supreme Court to ban the use of catchy nicknames by attorneys. At the time, Anastopoulo was using the nickname "The Strongarm" in all of his advertising. By his own account, he had spent "hundreds of thousands of dollars" developing his brand name.[3]

Anastopoulo is a former state prosecutor. He has been admitted to the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, the South Carolina Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (in 1998), and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit (1999).

In 2006, Anastopoulo started a web-based auction site geared towards non-profit organizations, schools, and churches for fundraisers. He used the website www.schoolauction.com, along with others. After not much interest, the website eventually went down.

Eye for an Eye
Main article: Eye for an Eye (TV series)

Anastopoulo was approached to be the judge on Eye for an Eye in 2003, to which he agreed. To allow himself to continue his law practice while doing the television series, he took on a partner for the law firm, Mark Clore, a litigator originally from Houston, Texas.[4] Eye for an Eye concluded its run in 2009.

Awards

In 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 a reader's poll by Charleston Citypaper voted Mr. Anastopoulo as the "Best Lawyer/Law Firm" in Charleston.[4]

References
  1. "Extreme Akim". Eye for an Eye TV.com. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
  2. "Attorney Profile for Akim A. Anastopoulo". Lawyers.com. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
  3. Kropf, Schuyler (2005-01-23). "Akim Anastopoulo severs ties with S.C. Trial Lawyer's Association". The Post and Courier.
  4. "Best of Charleston 2006". CharlestonCityPaper.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.