Nick Reiner’s hotshot lawyer Alan Jackson likely quit Nick Reiner’s case over price tag: experts

Hotshot lawyer Alan Jackson likely quit Nick Reiner’s murder case because he doesn’t have the money to foot the bill for the pricey attorney, experts told The Post.

The 32-year-old son of beloved movie director Rob Reiner was in court in Los Angeles Wednesday where Jackson announced he and his firm would be withdrawing as Nick Reiner’s defense lawyer after just three weeks on the case.

Jackson — who notably helped Karen Read clinch an acquittal on charges of murdering her cop boyfriend — said he couldn’t disclose why but experts said it’s most likely a financial decision.

“In the business, we say Mr. Green didn’t show up,” said Neama Rahmani, a former California federal prosecutor who has repped celebs in civil cases including model and actress Carmen Electra and former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel.

“Alan Jackson is one of the best,” Rahmani said. “But for a case like this, he’s going to charge at least a seven-figure retainer.”

“Nick Reiner doesn’t have the money, if he did he wouldn’t be living in his parents’ guest house. And under the California Slayer Statute, you kill your parents — you’re disinherited,” Rahmani said.

Rahmani said the three main reasons a lawyer would leave a case are: the client can’t afford to pay the lawyer; the client and the lawyer have fundamental disagreement about how to defend the case; or the lawyer has a conflict of interest.

Seth Zuckerman, a defense lawyer who represented actor Jonathan Majors in a domestic violence case and disgraced screenwriter Paul Haggis in a sexual assault case, agreed that Jackson probably withdrew for financial reasons, since a public defender rather than another private attorney was quickly appointed in his place Wednesday.

“If they had the financial resources they would go hire another private attorney,” Zuckerman said.

Criminal defense attorney Mark Bederow, who was once poised to join Karen Read’s criminal defense team alongside Jackson, said his friend Jackson probably didn’t want to leave the case.

“It’s clear [Jackson] didn’t want to,” Bederow said. “And I can’t imagine that the client wouldn’t want a lawyer of Alan’s skillset and capability to go. I’m purely speculating — informed speculation.

“A representation like this could cost an extraordinary sum of money,” Bederow added. “Probably the money is not there.

“I don’t know who is controlling the family assets but I would imagine that whatever hope there had been from the client or the family, that it’s just not there and the defense costs so much.”

Reiner faces two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing and slashing the throats of his dad and mom Michele at their Brentwood home on Dec. 14. The young Reiner had been living in a guesthouse on the grounds but allegedly fled after the slayings.

The wayward son had gotten into a fight with his parents at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party, likely over him falling off the wagon and refusing to go back to rehab.

The nepo baby son has done 17 stints in rehab as he battled a drug addiction.

Because of the fact that Nick Reiner allegedly killed more than one person, he could face life in prison, or the death penalty, if convicted. But District Attorney Nathan Hochman has not said if he plans to pursue capital punishment against him.

Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2019 signed an executive order placing a moratorium on executions in the state.

Rahmani and Bederow both believe Hochman won’t elect to seek the death penalty against Nick Reiner.

“There is no way this is going to end up being a death penalty case,” Bederow said. “I don’t think the Reiner family would want that.”

Rahmani agreed, “I don’t think it will be a death penalty case. We haven’t had an execution in California in almost 20 years.”

The former prosecutor said that even though DA Hochman said it was a death penalty-eligible case, the DA might have said made that declaration for strategic reasons rather than actually planning to ask for the most severe penalty available.

“I know Nathan [Hochman]. Sometimes things are said for the press, sometimes things are said to gain leverage in a plea negotiation,” Rahmani said, giving the example of how quadruple murderer Bryan Kohberger faced the death penalty, pleaded guilty and ultimately got life in prison.

Regardless of the unlikely scenario of Nick Reiner facing the death penalty, the experts agreed his legal team will probably lean on an insanity defense. Reiner is being held without bail at the mental health jail Twin Towers Correctional Facility. He was taken off of suicide watch this week and previously appeared in court wearing a blue suicide vest.

“The defense in this case is likely mental health,” Zuckerman said, noting the defense could also raise the fact that Reiner struggled with addiction.

“The defense would look to argue that [Reiner] had a diminished capacity to form the intent necessary for the murder charges based on his mental health or substance abuse history,” Zuckerman said.

Outside court today, after quitting, Jackson said:  “Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.”

Bederow explained that Jackson used the words “not guilty” rather than “innocent” — likely a careful choice that shows a plan to use the insanity defense.

“It’s almost certain that the defense here will be an insanity defense as opposed to one of innocence,” Bederow said. “If he literally stabbed his parents to death but did not appreciate the nature of his conduct or know right from wrong — he would not be literally innocent but he would be legally not guilty.”

Zuckerman noted the accused killed was put in a mental health hospital but hasn’t been arraigned yet.

“So I’m wondering if and when we are going to hear about the results of the mental health examination,” Zuckerman said.

Nick Reiner had been scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Wednesday, but Jackson’s withdrawal forced the judge to postpone until Feb. 23.

Bederow agreed that the case could rise and fall on Nick Reiner’s mental health status.

“He could be deemed unfit and the whole case could be stopped on its heels before,” Bederow said.

Jackson didn’t return a message seeking comment.