2010.06.30 Andrea Lyon is off the Dream Team! She quits!

[Horace Finklestein]

I'll side with this. AL's history is one of activism and a principled stand on something she believes in. Agree or disagree, she does go all out for her cause.

I side with RH and believe that the money is more a convenient excuse to pull the plug that the actual underlying causes. At this point the current money setup should only effect the use of her student staff and experts, and her travel expenses. This should not be a show-stopper.

Whereas the normal and common reason for an attorney to leave would be that either a client or co-council is simply not listening to their sound legal advise. I'm thinking the seeds for this have been long simmering. The conflicts with JB over funding and declaring KC indigent being the big item. The client and defense have been rather blatantly ignoring her very basic requests that they must get the family involved. Visitation must resume, and the client must be seen as a sympathetic human being. The final nail was probably the motion to recuse HHJS. She went from a somewhat sentimental and sympathetic judge who she could work her mitigation magic on, to the firmest fairest judge in the state. The one who has not only sentanced a woman to death, but went and witnessed the execution. The one that has no tolerance for tears or theatrics in his courtroom. In the end she was left with a poorly funded long distance case in which noone, neither the client, nor the questionable co-council was listening to her. That would be the time to go.

So she goes all out for her case until money or disagreements (ego) get in the way? I think she's committed to herself first (legacy) and clients are a means to that end. She's supposed to be the genius, she wrote a book about herself, seems like she would stick it out regardless of what else was happening.

 

[ZsaZsa]

I'm sorry but anyone who has designated themselves 'Angel of Death Row' cannot be taken seriously...
She should go back to teaching. In Law, as in many professions it's a case of Those who can,do - Those who can't, teach.
Her appearances were decidedly underwhelming. She was completely intimidated by K Belich's questions and scurried off rather than answer her... I can't imagine how she would fare against LDB or JA.
This has nothing to do with money- she volunteered to work Pro Bono when she first came onboard. She is just trying to save face.

 

[RainyGirl]

I just love this quote from Bill Sheaffer---taken from article referenced here:
http://www.wftv.com/news/24102408/detail.html
“Those who have professed to be true believers in this case have fallen by the waste side mainly because of financial reasons.”


JMO....but I highly doubt Andrea Lyon was EVER a "true believer" in Casey Anthony. Lyon wanted the publicity, she wanted the book promotion but she never planned on staying the course and getting her shoes (and her reputation) muddied.

 

[beach]

Well, Well, Well.
Can Judge Perry deny this motion and if so what would happen then? Could he order that JAC pay her travel expences?

Sorry haven't read the whole thread yet.

Yes, he very well could deny it. But I don't see him increasing any expenses in order to accommodate AL.

I agree. I think HHJP would have GREAT pause if she were the only DP qualified defense attorney on the team. But Cheney Mason is there. I don't think Judge Perry will hesitate to wave good-bye to her.

 

[2goldfish]

I just love this quote from Bill Sheaffer---taken from article referenced here:
http://www.wftv.com/news/24102408/detail.html
“Those who have professed to be true believers in this case have fallen by the waste side mainly because of financial reasons.”


JMO....but I highly doubt Andrea Lyon was EVER a "true believer" in Casey Anthony. Lyon wanted the publicity, she wanted the book promotion but she never planned on staying the course and getting her shoes (and her reputation) muddied.

BBM

did he REALLY?? it's "wayside", man, "wayside"!

eta or does he need to tuck his freudian slip back in???

 

[JSR]

I wonder if AL could come back on to help with the sentencing phase?

She could "consult" behind the scenes. But for her to make any arguments in court she would have to make a formal notice of appearance again with the court and get the judge's permission to be an official atty of record.

 

[JSR]

I agree. I think HHJP would have GREAT pause if she were the only DP qualified defense attorney on the team. But Cheney Mason is there. I don't think Judge Perry will hesitate to wave good-bye to her.

I agree. I think that's why Mason came on board to begin with. I have a feeling this "transition" was in the works for a while.

 

[Whome?]

I just love this quote from Bill Sheaffer---taken from article referenced here:
http://www.wftv.com/news/24102408/detail.html
“Those who have professed to be true believers in this case have fallen by the waste side mainly because of financial reasons.”


JMO....but I highly doubt Andrea Lyon was EVER a "true believer" in Casey Anthony. Lyon wanted the publicity, she wanted the book promotion but she never planned on staying the course and getting her shoes (and her reputation) muddied.

I agree,I don't think we have seen the last of people leaving
this case. Look out for LKB and possibly some of the
expert witnesses to abandon ship for pro-bono fees.

Haven't heard anything lately from LKB or Dr Lee
or any of the other so call "experts" commenting on
this case. Only one talking and alienating everyone
is JB and his mouth.:waitasec:

 

[wonders]

Yes, he very well could deny it. But I don't see him increasing any expenses in order to accommodate AL.

Now that I think about it they have Cheney Mason on the case too. I guess a defendant dosen't need two DP qualified attorneys.

 

[beach]

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/en...-leaves-a-money-pit-how-big-a-blow-is-it.html
Casey Anthony: Andrea Lyon leaves a ‘money pit’; how big a blow is it?
<snipped>
WESH-Ch. 2 legal analyst Richard Hornsby said Lyon&#8217;s departure was a huge blow. &#8220;The defense as a whole is definitely going to take a step back without her resources and knowledge,&#8221; he said.

Do you agree?

Hornsby didn&#8217;t buy Baez&#8217;s cost explanations for Lyon&#8217;s departure. &#8220;She wouldn&#8217;t have had to have a lot of costs to incur,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I think the cost excuse is really a cover for something a lot bigger with Andrea Lyon&#8217;s belief in the defense team.&#8221;


Apparently Mr. Hornsby is on the same page with our observations!! He's not buying it either!:snooty:

http://www.wesh.com/video/24104269

Link to Motion to Withdraw

Color me confused...:waitasec:

In paragraph 4 of her motion she states that "travel expenses for defense were denied" (in re. indigency hearing). I could swear that I recalled Judge Perry approving these expenses ordering that there were to be no luxuries - even specified to fly "coach" and went so far as to suggest a couple of decent hotels e.g., the Courtyard by Marriott. Did I misunderstand??? :waitasec:


In re. Hornsby's opinion - I totally agree with him, with a couple of qualifiers. I think that AL could not stand the ill-prepared and incompetency of JB. He is EVERYHING she is not. I doubt they could agree on the time of day. Seriously. I truthfully cannot imagine a more mismatched pair of attorneys. Then along comes Cheney Mason. Oh my. I imagine at first she had hope since he had so many years of experience and was also DP qualified. Lord have mercy. What an awakening she must have had. lol He seems to have a bit of a chauvinistic air about him that probably bombed faster than a lead balloon with AL. :innocent: Then the post 6/21 status hearing presser....'nuff said. I'm thinking if AL had hopped a flight to Antarctica it still wouldn't have been distant enough for her to dissociate herself from those two.


Now for those 'qualifers' I spoke of earlier -

The fact that the JAC rate for the mitigation specialist was dropping to $40 per hour on July 1st and this motion was filed the day before, on June 30th, is more than a mere coincidence. Sorry. Just not buying that it was not a consideration. I don't think it was a huge deal.....just more icing on the cake, iykwim.

Also, I sincerely believe that DePaul did play factor in her decision. I can certainly believe that the donations dropped drastically to her fund when it became public knowledge the huge % of dollars donated were going to fund this circus. So, I can buy that she probably was pressured to back away to help restore confidence and insure more money was rolling in.


One more thought - I know Baez stated (para) "her work was primarily done". I could not disagree more. I do think she and Jeanene have helped tremendously in re. investigation of mitigating factors, HOWEVER...Andrea Lyons' true strength seems to be selling that story in front of a jury during the penalty phase (should it come to a guilty verdict). In my wildest imagination, I cannot begin to see Cheney Mason having the same effect on a jury as Andrea Lyons.

 

[21merc7]

JMO. But I don't think CM had anything to do with this. I think he was asked, well in advance to join the team, just so that AL could run free. Again, just my opinion.

 

[kaRN]

I agree,I don't think we have seen the last of people leaving
this case. Look out for LKB and possibly some of the
expert witnesses to abandon ship for pro-bono fees.

Haven't heard anything lately from LKB or Dr Lee
or any of the other so call "experts" commenting on
this case. Only one talking and alienating everyone
is JB and his mouth.:waitasec:

Interesting you should say that. The Court Docket has been ammended to include an updated Defense witness list filed 06/30/2010. The list isn't available to us yet but it sure makes you wonder.

 

[A_News_Junkie]

BBM

did he REALLY?? it's "wayside", man, "wayside"!

eta or does he need to tuck his freudian slip back in???

He was just trying to put it in kc terms - you know, waste, huge waste............thus, making a new term, THE WASTESIDE! Personally, I loved it and it is spot on! :angel:

 

[spqr]

I agree. I think that's why Mason came on board to begin with. I have a feeling this "transition" was in the works for a while.

BBM...I agree. But that would mean the defense team...lied to the court. Had the trial pushed back to a later date to accommodate AL and her teaching schedule as well as her daughters graduation.

 

[beach]

JMO. But I don't thin CM had anything to do with this. I think he was asked, well in advance to join the team, just so that AL could run free. Again, just my opinion.

I do think he was the DP qualified 'insurance' in case AL jumped ship.

I agree too with many here, that this was not a hasty decision. I think the FINAL decision was probably made on May 11th at the indigency hearing. However, I still think AL loathed working with both JB and CM.

 

[beach]

BBM...I agree. But that would mean the defense team...lied to the court. Had the trial pushed back to a later date to accommodate AL and her teaching schedule as well as her daughters graduation.

BBM

Sad to say, but it wouldn't have been the first time. :tsktsk:

 

[marspiter]

I agree,I don't think we have seen the last of people leaving
this case. Look out for LKB and possibly some of the
expert witnesses to abandon ship for pro-bono fees.

Haven't heard anything lately from LKB or Dr Lee
or any of the other so call "experts" commenting on
this case. Only one talking and alienating everyone
is JB and his mouth.:waitasec:

What experts? The ones that are beyond the age of technology or the ones that the defense has yet to put on a witness list? LOL Technically the only witnesses the defense has are Dr. Lee, Kobi, and the phone guy....sorry forget his name but he's listed on the witness list. By the way I agree I don't think AL is the last to leave this case.

Speaking of AL's departure. I have yet to comment on this and I've been kind of following the thread. Personally myself yes I believe AL is an advocate against the DP but I think AL's ego and "perfect" record are far more important to her then her "cause". Just look at some of her egotistical statements and it's pretty clear imho.

Her departure tells me one of two things which have already been discussed here. 1. There is a conflict between members of the defense and AL is frustrated with the situation 2. AL knows this case is a sinking ship and is getting out before her record is tarnished....because lets face it ICA isn't worth a hit to AL's ego. I do not believe there is a plea by the defense in the works. ICA imho will never admit to guilt and except LWOP. The SA imho will not except anything less so I don't see a deal coming out of this case at this point. ICA is just gonna keep walking down that hallway. Right to the point where she is strapped in and the potassium chloride is injected into her arm.

 

[texaslb218]

I'm sorry but anyone who has designated themselves 'Angel of Death Row' cannot be taken seriously...
She should go back to teaching. In Law, as in many professions it's a case of Those who can,do - Those who can't, teach.
Her appearances were decidedly underwhelming. She was completely intimidated by K Belich's questions and scurried off rather than answer her... I can't imagine how she would fare against LDB or JA.
This has nothing to do with money- she volunteered to work Pro Bono when she first came onboard. She is just trying to save face.

ZsaZsa...no issue with you, but with that old saying!!


Sorry, but that is so out-of-line as a slap at teachers!!!!!!!!! I am not taking up for AL, but I am in daily contact with some pretty amazing teachers. I would feel cowardly and complicit if I did not point out that some sayings sound good, but are NOT true.

 

[JSR]

JMO. But I don't think CM had anything to do with this. I think he was asked, well in advance to join the team, just so that AL could run free. Again, just my opinion.

I agree. Completely.

 

[JSR]

I do think he was the DP qualified 'insurance' in case AL jumped ship.

I agree too with many here, that this was not a hasty decision. I think the FINAL decision was probably made on May 11th at the indigency hearing. However, I still think AL loathed working with both JB and CM[/B].

I agree. I think though she mainly loathed working with JB which is what I believe was the major contributor to her leaving. And a few other situation also helped nudge her to leave, and pronto.

Added: I think there was a huge disagreement about the strategy that JB wants to go forward with and based off the letters we saw from the A's there was major discord within the defense team.