'Girls Gone Wild' Guru Joe Francis Now Representing Himself In Court

Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis has burned through so many lawyers over the years, it's easy to understand why the wildman is now representing himself in court in a Florida civil case brought by four women who claim they were unwillingly filmed underage.

Francis and his Mantra Films have been represnted in the past by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, Sideman & Bancroft, Howrey, Munger Tolles & Olson, and The Bernhoft Law Firm. On some occasions, Francis has accused his lawyers of swindling him, including a just-filed lawsuit against one of his former firms. In other instances, he's been contrite enough to acknowledge he can be a "difficult client."

As a result, a Florida court is the scene of an entertaining spectacle this week. How's it going?

According to a press release issued by Francis, it's going swimmingly.

Francis is taking credit for getting one plaintiff, a self-professed geometry scholar, to admit she didn't know what a right triangle was. He also takes credit for cajoling a plaintiff on cross-examination to admit that her appearance in Girls Gone WIld didn't literally cause her father to die of a heart attack.

On the other hand, press reports from the scene paint a slightly different picture. Judge Richard Smoak -- who once sent Francis to jail briefly in 2007 -- has had to coach Francis through opening statements, the plaintiff’s argument, and cross examination. 

During a trial where women are testifying teary-eyed, the judge also "threatened to put Francis in contempt of court a couple times throughout the day, as he says Francis was disruptive and unprepared."

We'd point out that Francis shouldn't be representing himself in this case and potentially the many other disputes that haunt the legally-challenged adult entertainment mogul, but it's so  obvious we're slightly embarrassed to mention it. Congratulations, Joe. You know what a right triangle is. We also assume you know the meaning of the word, "obtuse."