Woman charged with intimidating judge overseeing her suit against Seyfarth

A Massachusetts woman who brought pro se lawsuits against Seyfarth Shaw and her former employer is facing criminal charges for a letter she sent to a Boston federal judge and statements she made on a YouTube video.

On April 6, Natasha DeLima was charged in federal court with impeding, intimidating and interfering with a federal official. Following an April 9 initial appearance, DeLima was released on a $10,000 bond.

Judge Denise Casper of the District of Massachusetts recused herself on April 10 from DeLima's civil case against Seyfarth Shaw and Marriott International Inc, DeLima v. Seyfarth Shaw, filed last September. Casper's electronic docket entry stated that recusal was prudent in light of the criminal charges in U.S. v. DeLima. "I do not do so lightly since a litigant's expression of displeasure at the conduct of a case does not ordinarily warrant such action," Casper wrote.

According to an affidavit filed by FBI special agent Rachel Boisselle in the criminal case, DeLima sent a letter to the Boston federal courthouse addressed to Casper on March 23. The outside of the envelope stated, "Judge, made a video at [District of Massachusetts] Judge [William] Youngs this weekend take a look before you rule on my case!" Young presided over DeLima's previous case against Marriott.

DeLima, a former bartender at the Boston Marriott Newton, initially sued Marriott International in April 2010, alleging unlawful and wrongful termination, slander, libel, defamation, disparate treatment, violations of state employment laws concerning breaks, and age and sex discrimination. That pro se case, filed in Massachusetts state court, was removed to federal court that June. Also in April 2011, she filed a separate pro se suit against Seyfarth, which represented Marriott, with regard to its defense tactics.

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