Akim Anastopoulo

Akim A. Anastopoulo (born October 14, 1960, 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.

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 South Carolina 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).

Eye for an Eye

Main article: Eye for an Eye

Anastopoulo was approached to be the judge on Eye for an Eye in 2003, to which he agreed. However, due to the time demands of the show, he partnered with Mark Clore, a litigator originally from Houston, Texas.^[4] The show was cancelled 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]

Trivia

He is fluent in Greek and English.

Akim was a contestant on Hollywood Squares in 1999.

He played on the Greek Davis cup team with his brother, Arthur.

References