The problem I see with this case, and probably the realistic goal of Mark Geragos, is that Geragos will string this out forever. With motions to suppress, all sorts of justifiable antics, just to run down the clock until this is old news.
Smollett will have a trial pending, that means he has not been proven guilty, simply "charged" with a crime. Geragos will argue with Fox/Disney that they cannot fire an actor "charged" with a crime, and Smollett has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Then, at some point, 3 or 4 years down the road, Geragos will request a dismissal.
Geragos will probably also request that the federal charges against Smollett be pending until the state completes their case. And again, just run the clock down. Just watch. Unless this is fast tracked. It will be interesting to watch.
If JS were himself simply credibly suing someone or some entity, I might agree with you, because Mark Geragos could potentially agree to take the case pending the outcome. But this is not a civil lawsuit-- it's a criminal defense case. There is no financial upside in all this for MG-- only publicity. JS is simply not a tremendously wealthy actor-- he's near the bottom rung, with a net worth (including property, not just cash) of only $500,000- 1 million, per multiple online sources.
That might sound like a lot, but if most of JS's wealth is tied up in property (rental obligations, ownership, possessions), he probably doesn't have a huge pile of cash sitting around. And with the heinous and deeply offensive crimes he's quite credibly charged with, I sincerely doubt that people, contracts, or other financial opportunities will front him lots of cash to pay his rapidly mounting legal bills. His future income potential right now is pretty much zero.
Half a million to 1 million dollars net worth is simply not very wealthy in the big scheme of MG's likely fees (probably at least several hundred, if not thousands of dollars an hour). To say nothing of the huge $$$$ JS will almost certainly be court-ordered to re-pay to the city of Chicago for the investigation, and likely federal fines for the mail fraud charges that will be coming soon.
If representation with MG drags out more than 8 weeks, I predict JS will have to change lawyers because he will not be able to pay his legal fees. Top shelf defense fees for what will, IMO, soon be *multiple* criminal charges, over many months/ years without income, will rapidly bankrupt him. I wouldn't be surprised to see him declare bankruptcy and ask for a court appointed attorney by the summer.
I don't think JS has figured that out yet, either. He is acting like he still thinks he can somehow get out of this and go back to work. His future is very bleak. His talent isn't enough to get him out of this one, or re-build his career in 5-10 years. And he has no one to blame but himself.
