Prosecutors Ask For Hearing On How Baez Is Getting Paid
Posted: 4:53 pm EDT March 9, 2009
Updated: 5:29 pm EDT March 9, 2009
<snipped> ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Prosecutors asked for a special court hearing Monday afternoon, to find out how Casey Anthony's defense team was getting paid. Many have been asking how Casey is paying for all of her attorneys and experts.. And even if there is a hearing on this issue, it might be behind closed doors. So even if prosecutors and the judge find out, the public may not.
In a motion filed this afternoon, prosecutors said eight different lawyers and numerous experts have been hired by Casey Anthony and that logical conclusions must be drawn. For example, Casey did not go from pauper to princess before her arrest. She's in no position to be managing her only assets, photos and videos of Caylee, so her defense attorney Jose Baez must be doing it. Prosecutors want Circuit Judge Stan Strickland to order the defense to produce every document related to any possible financial deal involving Casey, her defense team, or anyone else on her behalf, including for book or movie licensing rights. "If she says, 'I'm aware of that. I'm aware there might be some conflict there, I don't believe there is but if there is, I waive that conflict.' End of story," said WFTV Legal Analyst Bill Sheaffer. Prosecutors would insist she do it in writing. There have been concerns that Baez might steer the case toward a trial because it would make a more dramatic story. But as Casey stated in past documents, she is willing to do whatever it takes to defend herself and is determined not to let someone trick her into a confession.
Casey Anthony case: State wants Jose Baez to reveal deals
posted by halboedeker on Mar 9, 2009 4:37:36 PM
<snipped> The state wants to know: What deals has Jose Baez made in the Casey Anthony case?
On the 4 p.m. news of WESH-Channel 2, Bob Kealing explained that the state filed a new motion Monday afternoon. "The state is asking the judge to require Jose Baez to reveal any and all deals he made on Casey's behalf to fund a team that now includes eight lawyers and other experts," Kealing said. She is charged with the first-degree murder of her daughter, Caylee.
At 5 p.m., Kealing reported that prosecutors are concerned that "any financial misdealings could be a conflict of interest and give Casey grounds for an appeal." Or as Kathi Belich of WFTV-Channel 9 put prosecutors' concerns: "Casey might try to argue after her first, long, expensive trial that she should get another one because Baez steered the case in a direction that was most financially lucrative for him, not in the best one for her." Article: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/en...se-state-wants-jose-baez-to-reveal-deals.html
Prosecutors: Casey Anthony should reveal how she pays for her defense
Willoughby Mariano | Sentinel Staff Writer
6:46 PM EDT, March 9, 2009
<snipped> How Casey Anthony finances her defense is private, Baez's spokeswoman Marti Mackenzie said. The attorney is acting ethically and in his client's best interest, and Baez retained a legal ethics expert to ensure this, she added. "Anything he has done to help Casey Anthony [...] has been with her consent and cooperation," MacKenzie said The prosecution's motion does not cite a specific conflict of interest. It asks for a hearing during which the defense discloses payment arrangements, documentation of the sale of licensing rights and related records.
Charles Rose, a professor at Stetson University College of Law near St. Petersburg, said he doubts a judge will grant the state's latest motion. Rose said this type of motion is often used in high-profile cases where the defense seems to have more financial resources than others think they should have. "If I was the judge I wouldn't even have a hearing on it. They just don't have an offer of proof. Without the offer of proof, it's really not relevant." If someone paid Anthony for photos, videos, or any other item, and she chose to pay her defense with those funds, that is permissible. However, Rose said, if Anthony signed away her legal rights to her story to Baez, that would be a conflict of interest for the attorney.
State Wants To Know How Anthony 'Went From Pauper To Princess' Jose Baez To Depose Deputy Called To Woods In August
POSTED: Tuesday, March 10, 2009
<snipped>
The state said in the filing that when Anthony was arrested, she and her parents did not have a lot of money.
Since then, Anthony's defense team has secured eight attorneys and numerous experts. The state wants the court to investigate whether lead attorney Jose Baez may have a conflict of interest if he is also handling Anthony's finances.
Baez also filed a motion on Monday, serving notice that he will depose the Orange County sheriff's deputy who in August was called to the area where Caylee's remains were discovered in December.
The sheriff's office is conducting an internal investigation into whether the deputy did his job thoroughly.
Hearing May Reveal Source Of Defense Team Funding
Posted: 6:43 am EDT March 10, 2009
Updated: 7:23 am EDT March 10, 2009
<snipped> ORLANDO, Fla. -- Casey Anthony's attorney Jose Baez is expected to respond to questions, Tuesday, regarding where his team of high profile attorneys is getting the money to defend their client.
Prosecutors requested a special hearing to find out where the money is coming from, and they have several money-related questions for Anthony's lead defense attorney.
Prosecutors want Judge Stan Strickland to find out what financial agreements are behind the hiring of high profile, nationally known defense expert Linda Kenney Baden and pathologist Henry Lee.
There is a concern that Baez is managing her only assets, which include photos and videos of Caylee, for the wrong reasons.
Casey Anthony: State is mad because I won't take plea deal
Willoughby Mariano | Sentinel Staff Writer
5:27 PM EDT, March 10, 2009
<snipped> Today's updates: 5:28 p.m.
In today's response, Casey Anthony's attorney Jose Baez accused the prosecution of making assumptions "possibly based on rumors of tabloid news broadcasts," it states.
It was filed "solely to harass and embarrass" Baez, the response states, and divert attention away from other issues, such as what the defense describes as "misconduct" by the prosecution.
5:01 p.m. In a sworn affidavit just released, Casey Anthony said her agreement with defense attorney Jose Baez "does not contain any clauses or parts that allow or entitle him to any rights that would allow him to sell my 'story,' or that of my daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony." It also includes a hand-written message that the prosecutor who thinks there is such a deal "is angry because I have refused to take a plea agreement for a crime that I DID NOT COMMIT."
11:48 a.m.
Marti Mackenzie, the spokeswoman for attorney Jose Baez, said her client will file a response to the State's motion to disclose how Casey Anthony pays for her defense team at 4 p.m.
Judge Napolitano on the Anthony/Baez conflict of interest
Last Edited: Tuesday, 10 Mar 2009, 5:40 PM EDT
Created On: Tuesday, 10 Mar 2009, 4:03 PM EDT
<snipped> "If she sold any asset, whether it is the right to her story or some other asset we may not know about, and gave it to her lawyer, and said 'take out of this what it is you need to defend me and give me the rest,' then there is a conflict. But there is no evidence this has happened," said FOX 35 Legal analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano. *NOTE: Video Interview With Judge Napolitano Included In Article!
Anthony: I Am Not Selling My, Caylee's Story Anthony Says Prosecutors Angry Over No Plea Agreement
POSTED: 3:58 pm EDT March 9, 2009
UPDATED: 5:10 pm EDT March 10, 2009
<snipped> ORLANDO, Fla. -- Casey Anthony said Tuesday that she believes prosecutors are "angry because I have refused to take a plea agreement for a crime that I did not commit."
The handwritten words - including capital letters for "DID NOT" -- are part of a sworn affidavit she signed on Tuesday.
Anthony's defense attorney filed the affidavit as part of his objection to a prosecution motion that is seeking to find out where Anthony is getting money to fund her defense.
Document: Casey Refuses Plea Agreement
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 5:58:44 PM
<snipped> The motion is in response to a motion filed Monday by prosecutors, asking a judge to make Casey reveal how she is paying for her defense.
News 13 spoke with Orlando attorney Adam Sudbury who said this is all very unusual, and Baez is losing focus on the case. "He's falling into a trap. These guys are throwing barbs at each other. I think the State Attorney's Office is doing a great job at keeping him distracted from doing what he needs to do, which is to focus on the issues," Sudbury said.
Meanwhile, Casey is scheduled to be back in court Thursday in the murder case of her daughter, regarding two motions filed by her lawyer.
Baez's defefense team also wants to stop the release of a suicide note Casey's father, George Anthony, started in January, along with other documents set to become public in a few weeks.
The hearing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Thursday. You can watch it LIVE on News 13 when it happens.
Casey Anthony case: WESH sees "extraordinary quote" from her
posted by halboedeker on Mar 10, 2009 5:21:55 PM
<snipped> You could hear the surprise in the voice of WESH-Channel's Bob Kealing as he relayed the news today.
Earlier, Kealing reported that Baez's spokeswoman did acknowledge that Anthony has sold licensing rights to photos and video.
WKMG-Channel 6's Mike DeForest reported that prosecutors are about to release a videotape of Anthony's reaction at Orange County Jail on the day Caylee's remains were found. DeForest also reported that Baez plans to file sanctions against prosecutors, who are going to release a tape of the lawyer with his client.
"This is the very first time in court documents we're seeing anything about this alleged videotape, apparently secretly recorded, that shows Casey and her attorney meeting," DeForest said. "We're waiting to see what this is that Jose Baez is talking about."
Casey Claims Innocence In Sworn Affidavit
Updated: 6:45 pm EDT March 10, 2009
<snipped> ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Casey Anthony's and her attorney Jose Baez responded to questions Tuesday regarding where his team of high profile attorneys is getting the money to defend their client.
Casey submitted a sworn affidavit with seven points saying that Jose Baez does not have the right to sell her story or that of Caylee Anthony's.
She hand wrote the seventh point in which she says prosecutors are upset that she refused to take a plea agreement for a crime she did not commit. Jose Baez entered a motion to strike the prosecution's request to look into a conflict of interest. He denies the allegation and says the prosecution is trying to embarrass him. Baez says the prosecution has no evidence of a conflict of interest.
Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office spokeswoman Danielle Tavernier did not respond to the defense's accusations
Willoughby Mariano | Sentinel Staff Writer
March 11, 2009
<snipped> Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office spokeswoman Danielle Tavernier did not respond to the defense's accusations, saying prosecutors will address the issue in court.
The state attorney's office has no record of a formal plea offer in Casey Anthony's case, Tavernier said.
Baez fired back Tuesday, saying prosecutors are speculating — possibly based on "tabloid news broadcasts." Baez has no conflict of interest, and no rights to sell Casey Anthony's or Caylee Marie's story, the filing adds. The objection included a sworn affidavit from Casey Anthony saying her agreement to retain Jose Baez does not include any language that allows him to sell the stories of her or her daughter. In her own handwriting, she accused Assistant State Attorney Jeff Ashton of acting vengefully.
The affidavit does not mention whether Baez gets a portion of money Casey Anthony receives for allowing news outlets exclusive access to her photos or videos. Major news organizations routinely pay "licensing fees" to get them. "What is not addressed in the motion is confidential and private," Baez's spokeswoman Marti Mackenzie said.
Video Shows Anthony, Baez In Jail Crying Together 22-Year-Old Jailed On Murder Charges In Daughter's Death
POSTED: Tuesday, March 10, 2009
UPDATED: 10:33 pm EDT March 10, 2009
<snipped> Casey Anthony and her attorney cried together in the Orange County Jail when he visited his client on the day her daughter's remains were discovered, and the sobbing was captured on videotape, Local 6News reporter Jessica D'Onofrio has learned.
In a court document filed by Baez on Tuesday, he acknowledged the video, mentioning what he called an "unauthorized videotaping of the defendant's counsel while meeting with the defendant," Local 6 News reported. Prominent local defense attorney Mark Nejame, who once represented Anthony's parents, said it is not illegal for the jail to record visits. "It might be bothersome, but it's surely not anything unordinary to the extent that routinely all that I can remember in 28 years of jail visits, we're always watched and there's no expectation of privacy in the jail," NeJame said.
UPDATED: Source Says Videotape Shows Casey, Baez Crying Source Says Videotape Shows Casey, Baez Crying
POSTED: 12:05 pm EDT March 11, 2009
UPDATED: 7:30 pm EDT March 11, 2009
<snipped> ORLANDO, Fla. -- Attorneys for Zenaida Gonzalez filed a motion Wednesday to compel Lee Anthony, brother of Casey Anthony, to answer some tough questions he dodged during his deposition 10 days ago.
Baez said he has seen the tape and it may compromise the attorney-client privilege. Late Thursday, he filed an emergency motion seeking to prevent the tape's release and stop any future taping of him and Anthony together.
Meanwhile, Jose Baez, Casey Anthony's attorney, said Wednesday that he has seen the videotape of Casey Anthony in jail when she found out a child's remains were found near her home.
According to a source who has also seen the tape, it shows Baez sitting with Casey Anthony and he appears to be crying.
In new court papers, Baez acknowledged he has seen the tape and calls it an unauthorized violation of the attorney-client privilege. He's fighting to keep it from being made public.
The lawyers for Zenaida Gonzalez want a judge to force Casey Anthony's brother to address two questions he didn't answer during an interview last month, according to documents filed in court this morning.
- Does he know the father of Caylee?
- Is one of the possibilities that has gone through Lee Anthony's mind is his sister was one responsible for Caylee's disappearance?
Gonzalez's lawyers say the questions are proper and no type of privilege applies. No hearing has been set yet. Article: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...hony-brother-questions-031109,0,5578774.story
UPDATED INFO: Video shows Casey Anthony, attorney meeting the day remains were found
Bianca Prieto | Sentinel Staff Writer
12:44 PM EDT, March 11, 2009
<snipped> The Orlando Sentinel has learned Casey Anthony's attorney appeared to cry and wipe his eyes while meeting with her on Dec. 11 at the jail - the day the remains of a small child were found near the Anthony home.
Casey Anthony, however, appeared angry and had her arms crossed and looked away during the meeting, a source told the Sentinel.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office acknowledged a videotape exists.
"There is a video," spokesman Deputy Carlos Padilla said. "Baez has referenced that video in his motions."
Investigators and prosecutors have copies of the video, but it's unclear whether the state will use it against her at trial.
Moore said the surveillance is visual only and no audio is collected in order to respect attorney-client privilege.
Baez Files Motion Asking Judge Not To Hold Hearing
Posted: 3:26 pm EDT March 11, 2009
Updated: 3:55 pm EDT March 11, 2009
<snipped> ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Casey Anthony's Attorney Jose Baez filed an objection and motion to strike the state’s motion to determine potential conflict of interest, which means he's asking the judge not to hold a hearing on the state's motion.
Baez' motion was filed with the clerk Tuesday.
Casey Anthony will be back in court on Thursday for another hearing scheduled at 3:30pm. Her lawyer, Jose Baez wants access to all notes and reports on any DNA testing, along with evidence taken from the computer of Casey's ex-boyfriend, Ricardo Morales.
Eyewitness News has learned that the attorney for Zenaida Gonzalez has filed a new motion Wednesday in the civil case against Casey Anthony.
On February 27 Casey's brother Lee Anthony gave a deposition for the defamation lawsuit filed by Zeneida Gonzalez. However, during the deposition, Lee did not answer two questions.
Casey Anthony's attorney wants jail to stop monitoring meetings with client Jose Beaz has learned a corrections officer told investigators about a conversation Baez had with Casey
Sarah Lundy and Bianca Prieto | Sentinel Staff Writer
6:20 PM EDT, March 11, 2009
<snipped> Casey Anthony's attorney Jose Baez wants the Orange County Jail to stop monitoring meetings between himself and Anthony. And he wants those who observe these meeting to stop talking about them.
He's asking a judge to bar the state from releasing any videos, audio tapes and interviews with correctional officers who may have heard any conversations.
He also wants the judge to find out who ordered the monitoring at the Orange County Jail.
Baez said this violates his client's Constitutional rights.
Spokesman Allen Moore said there are security cameras - without audio - set up throughout the jail.
Security cameras do record meetings between attorneys and inmates - for the protection of the attorney and to ensure jail policies are followed, he said.
The jail has no duty to visitors to inform them they are being recorded on security cameras, Moore said.
Casey Anthony case: Are questions for Lee relevant to Zenaida?
posted by halboedeker on Mar 11, 2009 6:01:56 PM
<snipped> The questions aren't relevant to the defamation suit and what Zenaida Gonzalez is trying to prove, NeJame said. Gonzalez is suing Casey Anthony and accusing the young mother of destroying her life by linking her to Caylee's disappearance. Casey is charged with her daughter's murder.
The judge in the civil suit will decide whether Lee Anthony will be forced to answer.
WESH reported that Baez has filed a six-page emergency motion to block the tape's release. Kealing said that Baez cited "the unauthorized videotaping of the defendant's counsel while meeting the defendant." Baez has called the situation a conspiracy.
Attorney NeJame told WESH that he could understand Baez's frustration and called the taping inappropriate. But NeJame said the taping wasn't illegal and predicted that Baez would lose his fight to block the tape's release.
WKMG reported that Baez wants an investigation into the matter and says his conversation with his client was illegally monitored. Baez says "a member of the jail staff was able to relay to detectives a conversation between him and Casey," WKMG's Mike DeForest reported. "How could this jail person know about this conversation?"
Expect extensive coverage when Casey Anthony returns to court for a hearing at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. The issue: Will George Anthony's suicide note will be released? Her parents are trying to block the release.
UPDATED: Lee's attorney says it's all a publicity stunt
Last Edited: Wednesday, 11 Mar 2009, 11:00 PM EDT
Created On: Wednesday, 11 Mar 2009, 9:40 PM EDT
<snipped> Being Lee Anthony is not easy these days. The brother of accused murderer Casey Anthony has shared the spotlight with his sister throughout the drama surrounding the disappearance and death of his niece, Caylee Marie.
Lee is not accused of any wrong-doing, but lawyers for Zenaida Gonzalez have filed a motion to compel, in hopes of getting answers to two questions.
"It has absolutely no relavence in the defamation case," said Luka. "What Mr. Anthony's opinion is, in facts of the murder case, have no real bearing on the defamation suit."
Luka still objects to such questions, claiming there is another agenda.
Luka has ten days to file a response to this motion. No hearing date has been set for this issue.
Baez files motion to keep videos private
Baez wants a judge to find out who ordered video to be captured and saved on that day. He claims attorney-client priviledge and contends that his client's right to keep her jail medical record private was violated.
A spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Allen Moore, admits that the video does exist but that there is no audio to accompany the video.
Should the video be released, Baez has stated that would file a federal civil rights lawsuit on Casey's behalf. A hearing date for this motion has not yet been scheduled.
Baez Threatens To Sue Over Jail Video Casey Anthony Remains Jailed In Death Of Daughter
POSTED: Tuesday, March 10, 2009
UPDATED: 9:22 pm EDT March 11, 2009
<snipped> Casey Anthony's attorney has threatened to sue anyone involved with videotaping a conversation that took place between him and his client inside the Orange County Jail.
Baez on Wednesday said that it is "100 percent untrue" that he cried with his client inside the jail. He also said that reports about the "secret" video are a violation of an order from the judge, who has yet to rule on whether the video should be made public.
According to documents released by the state in the discovery process, Anthony hyperventilated upon hearing the news that remains of a child had been discovered, and she requested medication.
In newly filed court documents, Baez asks the judge to launch an investigation into the video. He also claims a high-ranking jail official monitored a conversation between himself and Anthony and then relayed the details of that conversation to detectives.
