Posts Tagged ‘ Crazy sh*t lawyers see ’

Crazy Sh*t Lawyers See: Stiletto’s his Achilles Heel?

May 8th, 2014. By LucyC

Ok—brace yourselves…for Crazy Sh*t that Lawyers See (and deal with)…

Pumped for Murder? He tried his best, but Jack Carroll, the lawyer defending Stiletto murderer Ana Trujillo, was left asking the jury what he missed—after they sentenced his client to life in prison for murdering her boyfriend. A compelling defense, perhaps?

Trujillo has been found guilty of murdering her steady, Dr. Stefan Andersson of Sweden, a University of Houston medical researcher. In fact, she was accused of bludgeoning the 59-year-old doc to death by repeatedly hitting him (25 times I think the count is) in the face, head and arms with the heel of her shoe. For those inquiring minds—it was a blue suede closed-toe pump, size 9 with a 5.5 inch heel. Sexy! But possibly a good argument for ballet flats.

Carroll, apparently surprised by the verdict, told the jury today, “I thought I had convinced you all. I knew I failed in my duty, I missed something there. You took less than two hours. I missed something, what did I miss?” Oh dear. It’s a bit late for that.

The jury took less than two hours to reach a verdict, but over five to decide the sentencing. I’m guessing the acting job wasn’t convincing—Carroll put Trujillo on the stand where she testified for six hours, telling the jury that in 2012, Andersson violently attacked her in a rage, after the pair had been out on the town—read drinking in bar. Trujillo not only told the jury what happened, but acted it out with Carroll standing in as Andersson. “He was suffocating me. I cannot breath,” Trujillo said. “Desperately, I reached over and grabbed my left shoe.” As one does.

Here’s the kicker—pardon the pun—Trujillo told the jury that Andersson liked to see her wear high heels, and would occasionally ask her to walk on him in her heels or dance for him while wearing them. Ironic.

When asked by her attorney why she didn’t leave Andersson, Trujillo said, “Because I loved him and wanted him to get better.” Ok, I may not be a doctor but I’d say murder is contraindicated here.

The prosecution clearly wasn’t convinced—during her closing arguments prosecutor Sarah Mickelson told the court, “She’s not just crazy, she is scary crazy.”

So—off to jail she goes. The sentence carries a mandatory sentence of 30 years, so Trujillo will be 75 before she is eligible for parole. Definitely a good argument for ballet flats.

Gold Garbage? Nicholas Valvo, a 30-year old former city sanitation worker from Staten Island who was fired after complaining about his co-workers, may be in deeper sh*t than originally thought. He has filed a lawsuit claiming he was sexually harassed and hazed by his co-workers at a Brooklyn garage, because he asked for steady daytime hours. The reason for the request—hardship—he was the primary caregiver in the evening for his grandmother. Ain’t that sweet.

But wait—it isn’t that straight forward—(you knew that). Valvo may have been moonlighting. He and a “colleague”, co-defendant Patrick Deane of Prince’s Bay, are facing criminal charges in state Supreme Court, St. George, for allegedly stiffing their relatives for $340,000 in a dodgy gold refining  deal. Prosecutors allege the two pocketed their partners’ cash. They’ve been indicted on felony counts of grand larceny and scheme to defraud, said prosecutors.

Mario F. Gallucci, Valvo’s criminal-defense lawyer, said “I think that the guy they invested in scammed them all and took their money.” According to Gallucci, everyone lost money in the deal, including Valvo and Dean (sounds like that figure skating team from the 80s, doesn’t it?). Hey—you gotta believe in something.

The deal was that Valvo and Dean offered to buy gold cheaply, in Africa(?), for three of their relatives and acquaintances. They would then bring it back stateside where they would refine and sell it, according to District Attorney Daniel Donovan’s office. Then presumably, the two would make a fortune and quit their day jobs… and everyone lives happily ever after. Or not.

“My position is that it was an honest business venture that didn’t materialize the way everyone thought it would,” Gallucci said, maintaining that Valvo and Deane were also victimized.

But there’s still a lottery ticket of sorts, to play out—the employment lawsuit—where Valvo’s civil lawyer, Frank R. Schirripa, of Manhattan, is keeping quiet. The lawsuit is pending against the Sanitation department.

Crazy?—you decide…The mother of 16-year old boy who allegedly posted some pretty nasty stuff about his teacher on social media (where else), is suing the school district after he was suspended. The kid actually made a death threat. No word from his lawyer on this one.

Apparently, Braeden Burge called his health teacher a “bitch” writing she “needs to be shot” on his Facebook page. That’s rational. This after he got a C which got him grounded. “I just noticed that every time I’ve been grounded in middle school it’s because of Mrs. Bouck… I wish she would just get fired haha but I doubt that’ll ever happen,” the teen added.

So, here comes Mom to the rescue. Nope, not kidding. His mother, with the help of the ACLU Foundation of Oregon, filed their lawsuit against Colton School District 53 alleging First and Fourteenth Amendment violations.

Mother, Kelly Burge, claims the district had no right to suspend her son for comments he made “from the privacy of his own home, outside of school hours, and while not participating in a school-sponsored activity.” What, including death threats?

Yes, according to the lawsuit, “The district has overreached by suspending Braeden for off-campus speech with no evidence that his speech actually caused or was reasonably likely to cause a material and substantial disruption of on-campus educational activities.” “[Principal Kara Powell] did not ask Braeden if he had access to guns or any experience with guns, she did not speak with the other students who posted comments on Braeden’s Facebook wall in response to his comments about Bouck.”

Seriously.

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