GUILTY FL - Dan Markel, 41, FSU Law Professor, Tallahassee, 18 July 2014 - #7 *arrests*

[minusfour]

The staff testimony is interesting. I have fantastic staff, but if they thought I was involved in a murder, they would do the right thing, without a doubt. Dental assistants in the USA are usually poorly paid- under $20/hr. If KM was supposed to have worked there for two years, even part time, there would be time sheets, payments of income tax on her behalf made by the practice, and of course the other staff would remember her. It did not sound like she had much training or experience-from her previous work history, who inducted her, or trained her? (Every practice is slightly different to very different-even if the lady with 40 years experience turned up to work at my practice on Monday morning, she would still need to be shown how to use the autoclaves, where everything is etc)

 

[minusfour]

Dental practices are quite rigid workplaces, because everything has to be done just so. If staff are paid every fortnight, except sometimes for holidays-exactly as I do by the way-that is when they are paid.

I have not known a practice to take cash without declaring it for at least 15 years. (Probably more like 20) It did used to be something that would happen in some practices, but I don't think even really shonky dentists would think of doing it now. (Too many risks/complications)

 

[minusfour]

The Institute would be dying a long slow death now. Dentists are unpopular at the best of times. Douchbag dentists that probably hired a hitman to murder their brother in law, (plus delightful parents) would be completely on the nose. Florida is flooded with dental practices. Who would want to have an implant placed by someone who will probably be in jail-or should be-and cannot replace it under warranty if it fails? I'm surprised it's still open.

 

[TrialLurking]

This case is complicated, but I’m hoping it’s crystal clear to the jurors what has happened here. It’s crystal clear to me and I admit I am A.D.D. at times and not that detail oriented. There are just too many things that aren’t coincidences and so much evidence that links everyone involved including the Adelson family. I think the State is doing a fine job. While at times Cappleman can sound monotone, but in no way is it annoying - nor does she put me off like the male defense attorneys. I do like Kawass, but she doesn’t have much to work with. I like that Cappleman is calm, cool and collected and that nothing ruffles her feathers in the courtroom. She comes off confident and sure, and I don’t feel that she comes off as trying to trick the witnesses or the jury. I think SG and KM’s goose is cooked.

It makes me of the Scott Peterson case. I remember one of the jurors say that they had to connect the pieces of the puzzle. As they connected the dots, it all came together that Scott killed Laci (paraphrased). Hopefully, this jury will do the same becaue I think it's pretty telling what happened once you connect those dots.

 

[Gardenista]

So true! I'm a dentist, (not in USA, but read a lot of USA based boards, FB etc), and when I started reading about this case, I remember looking up the Institute's website, and being distinctly underwhelmed. It's a smallish practice, which looked quite shabby on the website photos.

The purported earnings, $3-3.5 million over 3 years for CA reported some pages back are not, I believe, accurate. Either that is the fees charged/collected, (overheads in dental practices usually 70% plus), or there is some other source of income as well as that produced from his dental work. I have been a dentist for a very long time, and have never heard of someone making anything like that. (I think the annual average in USA is around 120-150K) Dentistry is lucrative, but not insanely so. Of course, CA is lucky that his parents probably paid his student fees, (dentists now are graduating with such large student debts that it will probably be impossible for these to be paid by most), and that his parents already owned the Institute.

There was testimony from one of KM's friends that KM meet CA at another dental practice that he visited to do specialist work. (And she worked at at that time) Specialists do indeed do this, but not if they have plenty of work at their own practice. I think this probably indicates that things might have been a bit quiet at the Institute.

It wasn't over 3 years. She said the Adelson Institute's income was $2 million per year and CA's income ranged between $3-3.5 million per year.

Her testimony starts at about 48 minutes here

 

[clearskies1]

So true! I'm a dentist, (not in USA, but read a lot of USA based boards, FB etc), and when I started reading about this case, I remember looking up the Institute's website, and being distinctly underwhelmed. It's a smallish practice, which looked quite shabby on the website photos.

The purported earnings, $3-3.5 million over 3 years for CA reported some pages back are not, I believe, accurate. Either that is the fees charged/collected, (overheads in dental practices usually 70% plus), or there is some other source of income as well as that produced from his dental work. I have been a dentist for a very long time, and have never heard of someone making anything like that. (I think the annual average in USA is around 120-150K) Dentistry is lucrative, but not insanely so. Of course, CA is lucky that his parents probably paid his student fees, (dentists now are graduating with such large student debts that it will probably be impossible for these to be paid by most), and that his parents already owned the Institute.

There was testimony from one of KM's friends that KM meet CA at another dental practice that he visited to do specialist work. (And she worked at at that time) Specialists do indeed do this, but not if they have plenty of work at their own practice. I think this probably indicates that things might have been a bit quiet at the Institute.

The financial investigator testified that each year CA made between $3 and 3.5 million -- this was for the time period of 2013 to 2016. (So for that 4 year time period -- 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 -- the total made would be at least $12 million). She was not asked the source of his income (e.g., was it from other sources besides his periodontist work). JMO. See 45:50 to the end.

 

[TrialLurking]

I was curious if anyone here on WS's has read WA's book. Is it an actual book or is it on Kindle? Just curious.

 

[TTF14]

She did not come across well. And what was with that ridiculousness that she hasn’t really moved out of Tallahassee permanently? What? There were several off moments obviously but I thought that was a weird thing to say. Edited to add - I just saw other answers she gave commented on but not this one so just mentioning it.

She may have said that because she will run away somewhere else if everyone ends up in jail but her. To start over where nobody knows her name. She will never, ever be able to land the prestigious job she covets, though, anywhere. Once any prospective employer catches wind of her misdeeds (via an Internet background check), all they have to do is Google, "Did Wendi Adelson hire a hitman to kill her ex-husband?" and they will pass on her and move on to the next, non-lethal, candidate for the job.

 

[Gardenista]

Does anyone know what the "tacit admission" was that Garcia made? The judge referred to it late yesterday when talking about the wiretaps.

 

[TTF14]

Does anyone know what the "tacit admission" was that Garcia made? The judge referred to it late yesterday when talking about the wiretaps.

Noooo......I missed that!

 

[Gardenista]

Noooo......I missed that!

Start listening at about 47 minutes here

 

[clearskies1]

Start listening at about 47 minutes here

I interpreted that as there is enough in the largely unintelligible recording so that it can be deemed a tacit admission by Kawass's client -- KM (not Garcia). They seem to be referring to an April 2016 recording of CA and KM at the restaurant Dolce Vida, which may have occurred after one of the undercover "tickles". JMO.
Magbanua denied separate trial in Markel slaying

 

[kay74]

So true! I'm a dentist, (not in USA, but read a lot of USA based boards, FB etc), and when I started reading about this case, I remember looking up the Institute's website, and being distinctly underwhelmed. It's a smallish practice, which looked quite shabby on the website photos.

The purported earnings, $3-3.5 million over 3 years for CA reported some pages back are not, I believe, accurate. Either that is the fees charged/collected, (overheads in dental practices usually 70% plus), or there is some other source of income as well as that produced from his dental work. I have been a dentist for a very long time, and have never heard of someone making anything like that. (I think the annual average in USA is around 120-150K) Dentistry is lucrative, but not insanely so. Of course, CA is lucky that his parents probably paid his student fees, (dentists now are graduating with such large student debts that it will probably be impossible for these to be paid by most), and that his parents already owned the Institute.

There was testimony from one of KM's friends that KM meet CA at another dental practice that he visited to do specialist work. (And she worked at at that time) Specialists do indeed do this, but not if they have plenty of work at their own practice. I think this probably indicates that things might have been a bit quiet at the Institute.

MAYBE this dental practice or CA is overcharging the insurance companies of those that have dental insurance! I hope not, but they could be. JMO

 

[TTF14]

Start listening at about 47 minutes here

I honestly can't tell if he said "is" or "isn't" a tacit admission lol. Does Kawass want or not want it to be shown?

 

[clearskies1]

I honestly can't tell if he said "is" or "isn't" a tacit admission lol. Does Kawass want or not want it to be shown?

Kawass does not want it in. Judge ruled against her.

 

[GordonX]

i think the "tacit admission" is this -

At lunch in a Sunny Isle strip mall on April 20, Charlie and Magbanua discuss the man who made the delivery to Donna Adelson and what he knows about the crime. In the conversation intercepted by investigators, Charlie tells her "paying someone off is not an admission of guilt." He said he'd give her money if she called the messenger, tells him she'll donate to a charity and instructs him to never contact them again. He then suggests, if it's not a police officer, "you better kill him, because he's going to be a big problem." He adds, "If you can't do it, I'll have someone else do it." Magbanua asks Garcia to track down who the man might be. They begin to argue after Garcia said he wouldn't make the call. Three days later, Magbanua packs up some of her belongings in her car and leaves in the middle of the day with a gun in a tote.

Third suspect arrested in FSU professor slaying

 

[Costcoluvr]

During cross examination yesterday, DeCoste took an email exchange between Katie and Charlie, spliced it, pulled it out of context, rearranged the order, left out other emails, so that it read like it was about Katie starting a new job at the dental practice. During redirect, the prosecution put the emails in their proper context, and it was actually about Katie coming in to the dental practice to have her wisdom tooth pulled. To the lawyers out there: Does DeCoste’s trickery violate the Florida bar’s rules of professional conduct? I would think it does and hope that someone files a complaint.

 

[TTF14]

During cross examination yesterday, DeCoste took an email exchange between Katie and Charlie, spliced it, pulled it out of context, rearranged the order, left out other emails, so that it read like it was about Katie starting a new job at the dental practice. During redirect, the prosecution put the emails in their proper context, and it was actually about Katie coming in to the dental practice to have her wisdom tooth pulled. To the lawyers out there: Does DeCoste’s trickery violate the Florida bar’s rules of professional conduct? I would think it does and hope that someone files a complaint.

That was really appalling. DeCoste is a slimeball, first that and then attempting to provide a description to all the Latin Kings out there what the undercover FBI agent looks like.

I do think it's a little odd that Katie would say she's "excited to get started" about wisdom teeth extraction, but maybe it was because he was only doing 1. Maybe it was supposed to be the first in a series of appointments to get them all removed eventually.

 

[GordonX]

That was really appalling. DeCoste is a slimeball, first that and then attempting to provide a description to all the Latin Kings out there what the undercover FBI agent looks like.

I do think it's a little odd that Katie would say she's "excited to get started" about wisdom teeth extraction, but maybe it was because he was only doing 1. Maybe it was supposed to be the first in a series of appointments to get them all removed eventually.

speaking from firsthand experience, any time you have significant, ongoing, prolonged dental pain or discomfort, you are very excited to finally get it resolved.

 

[justice1960]

Do the Attorney's for CA have access to the witness lists for this trial and all of the information related to it?

Is it legal for CA and his ex-girlfriend to be texting back and forth so close to her being called to testify? Her testimony seems pretty damming considering she witnessed how he stores and organizes his cash... Stapled $100.00 bills in a safe. Can they prove who texted who first?