2010.03.19 Indigent Status Granted

[FeelSoOld]

State statue allocates $15,000 in public money for indigent defendants to fight capital cases. But they're usually tried by court-appointed attorneys

That will be used up fast

Hi again, Clown!

I still recall some link (which of course I can't find now) that stated KC would be allowed to keep her 'dream team'.

Just that her 'dream team' would not receive any payment other than expenses incurred for travel, but no payment for their actual services.

I think I need a break for a few minutes since I am overwhelmed despite Sleutherontheside's best efforts to steer me in the right direction.

I'm off to play an online game that I'm addicted to. It's an escape for me. Sometimes I just need a break from the ugliness of this case.

Take care!

 

[sleutherontheside]

The $15k is what is allotted for attorney's appointed to a capital defense case. At this time......JB is a privately retained attorney and not eligible for any of that money. Now.......he may later apply for some $ under "extraordinary costs" but even then IF any fees were approved they would be limited to a max of $100 / hour AND would have to be approved as well as be submitted with very detailed records and are not a sure thing.

 

[drip~drop]

Clown, it sounds like you answered my question to sleutherontheside.

Based on your post, the out of state attorneys and expert witnesses won't be paid for their time, but WILL be paid for travel costs.

That just irks me beyond belief. There are expert witnesses right in the state of Florida. Now that the taxpayers are footing the bill, KC should be forced to use the resources in Florida. :furious:

Wait til you see what they spend on lodging,food and transportation.
My guess is that it will all be 5star food hotels and cars.
Maybe some dry cleaning expenses too. Then the dry cleaner is late and oops...gotta get a new outfit for teevee.:snooty:
all imo:innocent:

 

[drip~drop]

Thanks SOS.
All I keep thinking is "crab puffs at the Ritz".

Can't get past that sometimes.

 

[LambChop]

KC has/had two other cases pending. The fraud trial and her civil case. Now if she actually received all that money herself could they have divided up the money between the three cases. The fraud trial is over but there is no accounting of how much KC paid for that and the civil trial is ongoing. I do not see JB sharing any money with the A's. I do not see KC sharing any money with her parents. When she was in jail on the video before being bonded out KC made a comment to her parents when CA responded they had no way to pay the bond, KC said something to the effect that there was a way, they just did not take the opportunity. So were the A's initially approached about selling Caylee's pictures and they said no. I just found that remark odd. JMO

 

[sleutherontheside]

Wait til you see what they spend on lodging,food and transportation.
My guess is that it will all be 5star food hotels and cars.
Maybe some dry cleaning expenses too. Then the dry cleaner is late and oops...gotta get a new outfit for teevee.:snooty:
all imo:innocent:

Actually....there are set limits. Please see this link.
http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.justiceadmin.org/court_app_counsel/travel/D.%2520Travel/JAC%2520Travel%2520Policy%25205-11-07.doc&ei=fValS5SeA82Xtged66GFCg&sa=X&oi=nshc&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=2&ved=0CA4QzgQoAQ&usg=AFQjCNHBmwDJsqf5ST_lnywiv_5mZnJIAw

A snip and in order of procedure........

Obtain a valid court order authorizing travel.

If air travel is necessary, research and reserve the most reasonable, economical flight.

If overnight stay is necessary, research and reserve the most reasonable, economical hotel room. Room rates in excess of $150 per night must be justified.

All travelers should maintain all original receipts. Exception: state standards for breakfast, lunch and dinner allowances apply.


http://www.flcourts.org/courts/crtadmin/TravelInformation.pdf
Snip..

Per Diem: Per Diem is an allowance for daily expenses in lieu of hotel and meal
expenses. The maximum per diem allowed for each 24 hour period is $80.00.
Per Diem is computed at a rate of $20.00 per quarter-hour. Additional travel
expenses incurred (e.g. rental car, mileage, etc.) may be reimbursed with all
applicable receipts attached.
• Hotel and Meal Reimbursement: A traveler will be reimbursed actual hotel
expenditures and maximum meal allowance pursuant to s. 112.061, Florida
Statutes. Additional travel expenses incurred (e.g. rental car, mileage, etc.) may
be reimbursed with all applicable receipts attached.
A vendor will only be reimbursed for overnight stay if the distance traveled is greater
than 50 miles from headquarters.
MEALS: Breakfast - $6.00: When travel begins before 6:00 A.M. and extends beyond 8:00 A.M.
Lunch - $11.00: When travel begins before noon and extends beyond 2 P.M.
Dinner - $19.00: When travel begins before 6:00 P.M. and extends beyond 8:00 P.M.
Overnight travel is required to claim meals. No meals for same day travel will be
reimbursed.
MILEAGE: Ground Transportation: Travel by personal vehicle will be reimbursed at a state rate of
.445 per mile for state mileage, plus reasonable vicinity mileage. Rental cars will be
reimbursed if the cost is no greater than travel by personal vehicle.
MISC: The State of Florida will reimburse for tolls, parking, portage ($1 per bag, up to $5 per
occasion), taxi, business calls, or other travel related expenses. Please list each one
separately and provide receipts for each.
RETAIN ALL ORIGINAL RECEIPTS AND ATTACH THEM TO YOUR TRAVEL VOUCHER.
Updated 6/

 

[QueenD]

Okay, don't know if this will make anyone feel any better it did me.

Where I work at the boss' nephew works there. He is young and has a law degree and practices as a defense attorney, well did but has some issues with FL bar and they have him in limbo right and can't practice so he is working with his Uncle. (something that happened before he turned 18)

When the hearing was on Thursday I was watching and listening at work (Boss out of town) the nephew come to my desk to get something and ask what was going on. I told him. He said the JAC would fight it,but judge would grant it. He said he has to it's a DP case. If the judge did not CA and dream team could file appeals. He said you don't want her to be able to do that. He is for the defense, but did say you don't want her to do that. Also say JAC is very strict and will go over everything submitted for payment and will question everything.

 

[RR0004]

KC has/had two other cases pending. The fraud trial and her civil case. Now if she actually received all that money herself could they have divided up the money between the three cases. The fraud trial is over but there is no accounting of how much KC paid for that and the civil trial is ongoing. I do not see JB sharing any money with the A's. I do not see KC sharing any money with her parents. When she was in jail on the video before being bonded out KC made a comment to her parents when CA responded they had no way to pay the bond, KC said something to the effect that there was a way, they just did not take the opportunity. So were the A's initially approached about selling Caylee's pictures and they said no. I just found that remark odd. JMO

Oh...I remember that remark well. Miss Casey was ticked off that her folks weren't doing enough. I think that was all Baez directed IMO.

 

[drip~drop]

I feel a bit better now.
Thanks SOS!!

 

[sleutherontheside]

I feel a bit better now.
Thanks SOS!!

I am here to bring peace and calm to my fellow posters. Feel free to offer gifts of significant value.

This is such an emotional issue. While there WILL be costs that exceed standards automatically reimbursed, and while there WILL be payments made that infuriate many........the time that will be required to actually document real costs and submit them will be so great that it will discourage any extra effort to get a few more bucks.

Rest easy my fellow WSers.........breathe.

 

[FeelSoOld]

Wait til you see what they spend on lodging,food and transportation.
My guess is that it will all be 5star food hotels and cars.
Maybe some dry cleaning expenses too. Then the dry cleaner is late and oops...gotta get a new outfit for teevee.:snooty:
all imo:innocent:

I'm jumping back and forth from this thread to my online game. Soooooo... I heard AL actually sewed a blouse for KC during one of her previous hearings that would match the blouse AL was wearing.

How nice that AL has multiple talents. Not only is she a DP qualified lawyer from Illinois, but she's lil ms Suzie home maker with a sewing machine too!

It was so important to AL that she and KC had matching blouses in a previous court appearance.

Then why in one of those previous court appearance did AL grab KC's wrist like she was trying to stop KC from having a conniption fit? That was not the grasp of a woman who was trying to comfort her client. It was a stranglehold grasp on KC's wrist to stop her from blurting out any further statements that would be picked up from the microphone.

AL did not look concerned for KC, the look on AL's face was the look of a woman who was trying her best to stop KC from acting out again.

JMO.

 

[LambChop]

Oh...I remember that remark well. Miss Casey was ticked off that her folks weren't doing enough. I think that was all Baez directed IMO.

So KC knew at that time that money would be offered for those pictures and she wanted out to get those pictures to JB. I really do not think JB would have been able to get those pictures from CA. The list, too, was strange. Why do you need KC's toothbrush? List in CA's depo says Mother and Child, I believe. Unless it was to try and cover up the removal of all the pictures? We need these items to check for DNA, oh and bring some pictures to help with the search, too. Right!! Something about that list that JB did not want CA to talk about. Brings up questions about JB getting someone to bond her out I would think. Leaves a question in my mind. JMO

 

[Paintr]

If the judge had agreed to 'in camera', would Mr Baez have opened his briefcase and produced the documents? Perhaps the defense deemed it better to be unprepared than to declare these financial details in open court in front of the media and the taxpayers.

Mr Mason declared that it was no one's business about the money. Was being 'unprepared' Mr Masons' first contribution to defense strategy?

 

[notthatsmart]

The prosecution filed this motion for the death penalty because of additional information on the Case against Casey.

Here is the motion:

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/04/13/intent.seek.death.pdf

Thanks for that, I have read that before, but thanks anyway. I am reminded now that they didn't put a specific reason for reinstating the death penalty. Based on its timing, it appears to me that they could not find enough evidence to convict her, so lets try to get her to plea with the death penalty. Also the timing is just in time for elections.

All in all it was a choice. They did not have to put the death penalty back on. They were not required by law to put the death penalty back on. It was a choice. And that choice has consequences for all of us. VERY VERY EXPENSIVE imo

 

[notthatsmart]

BBM

Correction, her attorneys are NOT paying their own expenses.

The motion was filed asking for costs.

The attorneys (besides Baez) might not be getting a paycheck, but they sure as heck are not going to be paying out of pocket for costs.
Well, unless they decide to go over the caps and rates of the Ninth Judicial Circuit that is.

http://www.wftv.com/pdf/22891058/detail.html

Correction. It is at no profit or take home pay to the attorneys. I am not sure about plane tickets. And that is what I meant by their own cost. Their own time and travel.

 

[sleutherontheside]

Thanks for that, I have read that before, but thanks anyway. I am reminded now that they didn't put a specific reason for reinstating the death penalty. Based on its timing, it appears to me that they could not find enough evidence to convict her, so lets try to get her to plea with the death penalty. Also the timing is just in time for elections.

All in all it was a choice. They did not have to put the death penalty back on. They were not required by law to put the death penalty back on. It was a choice. And that choice has consequences for all of us. VERY VERY EXPENSIVE imo

In the case of The State of Florida vs. Casey Marie Anthony there have been many choices to be made. The State of Florida was not obligated to put the Death Penalty back on the table any more that KC was obligated to confess to a crime she did or did not commit.

I totally agree with your comment about consequences...As a Florida Resident.........will I feel a painful financial impact from this case.......likely "no". Will the State of Florida re-examine their position on the DP based upon costs......sure....maybe.....

IMO...while a case of this nature will in fact prove to be expensive.......I think most would agree.....that cost does not outweigh justice. I suppose it depends upon ones perspective.

This case may stimulate conversation and facilitate change......but IMO money will not dictate the end result in KC's case...regardless of the effort the defense puts forth.

 

[logicalgirl]

Thanks for that, I have read that before, but thanks anyway. I am reminded now that they didn't put a specific reason for reinstating the death penalty. Based on its timing, it appears to me that they could not find enough evidence to convict her, so lets try to get her to plea with the death penalty. Also the timing is just in time for elections.

All in all it was a choice. They did not have to put the death penalty back on. They were not required by law to put the death penalty back on. It was a choice. And that choice has consequences for all of us. VERY VERY EXPENSIVE imo

I am under the clear understanding the death penalty was not on the table as long as they did not have Caylee's body. When the body was found with duct tape covering both nose and mouth, the death penalty was put back on the table. I believe the good people of Florida feel that duct tape justifies a death penalty in a guilty verdict.

 

[notthatsmart]

No. The defense used the DP as an excuse as to why she could no longer afford to pay her own way. It was an indirect way to throw blame on the SA as to why the taxpayers would have to pay for the remainder of her defense.

She's out of money. End of story. Even if the DP had not been put back on the table, she'd still be out of money.

Bold by me:

Yeah but it would be a heck of a lot cheaper for the tax payer. You see, the way it stands, everyone will have to be deposed. That is expensive.

 

[Bree0372]

At what point does the judge draw the line with the use of taxpayer money? How many attorneys can she have, or does she need, on her defense? Baez, Mason, LKB, AL...and we see others occasionally. Not to mention, out-of-state defense experts. I heard while listening to the hearing tonight that Mason said Henry Lee basically works for cheap (a box of oranges :waitasec: )...Henry Lee said on NG way back that he was working Pro Bono.

Judge Strickland asked, but I never heard an answer, about why they can't find experts locally, or at least in the State of Florida. Why do we have to pay to fly in people/experts from Canada, California, etc., when there are people (maybe not as high profile) right here in Florida?

I'm screaming mad, but I understand why Judge Strickland granted Casey's indigent status.

 

[DaneBramage]

What sickens me here is that there are so many defendants out there who may actually be innocent that cannot afford high powered attorneys. Where are the Lyons,Kenney-Badens, and Masons stepping up for these people ? Guess they aren't all pretty (sic) white twenty-somethings with their faces plastered on Nancy Grace...