Richard “Dickie” Scruggs, a lawyer who made millions suing corporations, was sentenced to five years in prison today for his part in a scheme to bribe a state judge with $40,000.

Attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs, famous for winning billions of dollars from the big tobacco companies, has pleaded guilty to charges of trying to bribe a Mississippi judge.

Baseball’s Barry Bonds would seem like a man in need of a really good lawyer, but he’s proving somewhat frugal, perhaps too frugal.

According to news reports, Bonds, who was indicted Friday on charges of lying to grand jury about steroid use, suffered from sticker shock at the $900 per hour fee charged by John W. Keker, a San Francisco defense attorney who has been involved in several high-profile cases.

In March, the New York Times described lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs, as “often folksy and smooth as molasses in court.”

And, as the story made clear, Scruggs’s downhome style has made him a millionaire many times over.

The Mississippi native and brother-in-law of Sen. Trent Lott has taken on the asbestos, insurance and tobacco industries and won.