Patterico's Pontifications

12/30/2007

Legal Help Wanted (Updated)

Filed under: Law — DRJ @ 8:39 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

A Chicago Marine needs some legal advice and BlackFive has the story:

“This ought to make your blood boil. And this Marine should receive a commendation for not kicking the living crap out of the guy…seriously.

Marine Sgt Mike McNulty is on activation orders to Iraq (second tour). On December 1st, 2007, Mike went to visit a friend in Chicago before deploying to say goodbye. In order to get to his friend’s residence, and keep in mind that Chicago is a myriad of diagonal and one-way streets, the front entrance (right way) to the one-way street was blocked. Mike, being a Marine, overcame and adapted by driving around the block to the other end of the street and backing up all the way to his friend’s place.

While saying goodbye, at about 11am, he noticed a man leaning up against his car. Mike left his friend’s apartment and caught the man keying his car on multiple sides.

After caught in the process, the man told Mike, “you think you can do whatever you want with Department of Defense license plates and tags”. (In Illinois you can purchase veteran, Marine, or medal plates. Mike has Illinois Marine Corps license plates.) During the exchange, he made additional anti-military comments.

Mike called the Chicago police and had the man arrested. A citation against the man was issued for misdemeanor criminal damage to private property.

The police report (and I have copies if needed) states:

‘Victim related to P/O that as he walked back to his vehicle, he observed the offender leaning up against his vehicle and rubbed/dragged his left arm and hand across the passenger side. As offender walked away from victim’s vehicle, victim observed a scratch along the rear trunk and passenger’s door area where offender dragged his arm and hand over. Victim and witness stopped offender and confronted him. Victim has military plates and decals on his vehicle and offender made anti war and military comments to victim. Upon P/O’s arrival to scene, offender denied scratch victim’s vehicle, but did admit to rubbing past it. Victim at this time did not sign complaint, because he is leaving tour for military duty. Offender said they accused him of scratching the car because he is Jewish. Offender’s statements/responses to P/O’s questions unreasonable.’

As it turns out, the man is Chicago lawyer Jay R. Grodner, who owns a law firm in the city and has offices in the suburbs.

After sending the car to the body shop, it was determined there is $2400 in damage, making this a felony. Mike went to court Friday morning to collect the damages against Mr. Grodner and file felony charges. Though the damages are over $300 (the amount which determines felony or misdemeanor) Grodner offered Mike to pay his deductible, $100, and have Mike’s insurance pay for it.

The Illinois States Attorneys tried to coerce Mike into accepting the offer. Appalled, Mike said he wanted this to be a felony. The state told Mike that it was not worth pursuing felony damage against Grodner because they don’t have the time. In addition, the state prosecutors told him that he would never it ‘would be difficult to recover the damages’ from Grodner because he is a lawyer.

Instead, the State asked Mike if he would accept probation for Grodner. Mike accepted, probation was offered to Grodner, and Grodner declined the offer, saying within ear shot of Mike, “I’m not going to make it easy on this kid”. Mike’s next court date is tomorrow, Monday, December 31st, to pursue misdemeanor charges against Grodner.

Mike’s leave is over on January 2nd when he reports to Camp Pendleton before heading to Iraq. Jay Grodner knows this and is going to file for a continuance until Mike is gone and cannot appear in court.

By account of the Illinois State’s Attorneys, Grodner is likely to get away with defacing Mike’s car with no penalty because, 1) Mike is about to deploy to Iraq and will not be available to appear in court, and 2) Grodner is a lawyer and can get out of this very easily.

So, does anyone have any ideas about how to proceed? All peaceful and rational ideas are welcomed. We are contacting the media about this, too.

Please pass this story on to anyone you know that might be able to help. Contact me if you have any information or ideas.

Thanks!”

Any ideas?

UPDATE 1/1/2008: See Christoph’s comment regarding what happened at Sgt. McNulty’s court hearing yesterday.

— DRJ

107 Responses to “Legal Help Wanted (Updated)”

  1. DOD ought to get involved in this. And the blogosphere ought to have its way with Mr. Punk, Esq.

    What. A. Sleezeball.

    Pablo (99243e)

  2. A complaint to the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, immediately. The ARDC can make its own determination whether the lawyer committed a crime, under its own rules of procedure and standard of proof. It is not required to wait for a criminal court conviction. Let the lawyer face a case with real consequences which can be continued to everyone’s heart’s content until Mike comes back from Iraq.

    The criminal case is a loser, sad to say. The Cook County State’s Attorneys are very professional and competent but they are overwhelmed. They have to triage their cases and this one goes to the bottom of the pile. They cannot afford to *waste* a felony team and a spot on a felony calendar over criminal damage to property. An unavailable complaining witness does not make it any easier.

    nk (c87736)

  3. By account of the Illinois State’s Attorneys, Grodner is likely to get away with defacing Mike’s car with no penalty

    An “account” told to whom?

    Chicago is a very competitive news town. Hard to think this Marine’s story would lie fallow for a month had it been shopped around and vetted.

    steve (cc68e3)

  4. Comment by nk — 12/30/2007 @ 9:05 pm

    I agree. This may a case for just old fashion shame – shame the bastard into paying for the damage.

    Topsecretk9 (c70b68)

  5. Hey, it’s Chicago. Have Guido break his legs.

    Dubium (0a6237)

  6. Err, no. If the ARDC determines that he committed a felony he could be disbarred.

    nk (c87736)

  7. Another Illinois-raised “Sgt. Michael McNulty” who was deployed to Iraq was KIA:

    http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20050623/ai_n14716997

    steve (cc68e3)

  8. And the idiot lawyer paid the race card.

    Alta Bob (ec51e1)

  9. Steve,

    I think your Sgt. McNulty is Army, not Marine.

    DRJ (09f144)

  10. he should have beaten the lawyer to a bloody pulp right on the spot.

    has this been reported to the illinois bar yet?

    assistant devil's advocate (1bf832)

  11. Sue everyone imaginable. Grodner, the individual State Attorneys, the State of Illinois, the City of Chicago, everyone. There’s all kinds of liability to spread around.

    Telling someone that the crimes he was the victim of will see no justice and he will get no recompense because the defendant is an apparently somewhat-connected attorney is a ridiculous mockery of the criminal justice system. If the city of Chicago is unwilling to perform its duties then it should be forced to or punished for it.

    chaos (9c54c6)

  12. Under the circumstances, you’d think another attorney with a conscience would step up to the plate tomorrow and assist Sgt. McNulty pro bono.

    Iapetus (ea6f31)

  13. I’m sure there are plenty of veterans practicing law in Chicago who would love to defend Sergeant McNulty’s rights in this case.

    chaos (9c54c6)

  14. It’s a big deal for an attorney to key the car of a serviceman. There is no excuse for the state’s attys to not take this seriously. He also needs a judge with balls who won’t grant the continuance.

    tired (e988a4)

  15. Sgt. McNulty should agree to a continuance until his return from Iraq, on the condition that Grodner’s license to practice law be suspended for that period. Of course, if McNulty were to be killed during his deployment, the suspension would become permanent.

    Okay, that might happen in a just world.

    In the real world, the judge should either refuse to grant the continuance or grant it for the duration of McNulty’s deployment.

    GaryC (25530e)

  16. Not sure about the legal angle … but utilizing the blogs and the MSM to create massive publicity on this could certainly bring some pressure to bear.

    Get this picked up by all the high traffic blogs. Post telephone numbers to the district attorney’s office, the Illinois Bar, and perhaps Douchebag, Esq.’s law firm.

    Let the blogosphere do what it does best.

    PB (df860b)

  17. Never mind! I see that its already taken care of!

    For those who’d like Grodner’s contact info, its at Protein Wisdom:

    http://proteinwisdom.com/?p=10528#comments

    PB (df860b)

  18. I had a great solution until I read the part about “All peaceful and rational ideas are welcomed.”
    Then I had to shelve “The Shakespeare Solution.”

    Paul Albers (0c58f4)

  19. “Let the blogosphere do what it does best.”

    We’re a digital democracy. Not a republic.

    stef (8cf611)

  20. “you’d think another attorney with a conscience…”

    Sorry, but this guy’s ‘conscience’ is what led him to do what he did, he was ‘speaking truth to power’ (and whatever other tired cliches might apply), and he is walking around with a smug smile on his face. True, he tried to get away with it, but now that he was caught, his true colors came through with his refusal to step up, admit that he was an idiot and pay for the damages. He’ll be the new hero of the left (just as crazy Mother Cindy was, at least until her 15 minutes was up). He has no remorse, thrilled that the right is upset with him, and has enough experience to ensure that no punishment of any significance will come his way. Oh well…

    steve sturm (40e5a6)

  21. I have no issue with reporting and filing complaint with illinios state bar – felony conviction gets law license jerked. However, have to overcome need to be present to give testimony. DOD and local chicago attorney needs to help.

    joe - dallas (138e46)

  22. ARDC proceedings take a long time. They are not subject to Illinois’s speedy trial statutes. Their character is civil and a lot of the discovery can be done long-distance. By the time the case is ready for hearing Mike could possibly be back. He could also testify from Iraq in an evidence deposition, by video conference or by telephone conference. In any case, he would be *represented* by ARDC attorneys in his absence.

    nk (c87736)

  23. For the record, it appears that this POS lawyer has pulled his website, and disconnected his work phones.

    I love it when a plan comes together…

    NK, can’t you help this dude out?

    And while a felony might get his liscence yanked, the state has to make the attempt to prosecute him for the felony in the first place.

    Madigan, you POS, FILE CHARGES!!!

    Scott Jacobs (425810)

  24. P.S. No Fifth Amendment right, either. The ARDC can depose Grodner under oath and ask him straight out “did you key the car”. Even the most debased attorney will think twice about lying to a tribunal.

    nk (c87736)

  25. Scott #24,

    No more than I have here. The bar associations in Chicago all have volunteer lawyers on call who will, at a minimum, talk to and advise him person. Charges have been filed, BTW. A complaint, signed by a police officer, is a formal charge. And it’s not Madigan — jurisdiction in in the Cook County State’s Attorney.

    nk (c87736)

  26. Call Steve Mills at the Chicago Tribune and pitch him the story. As they say, sunlight is a great disinfectant. Plus, you can ruin Grodner’s reputation and business by calling him out.

    There is a tough election for State’s Attorney with a Feb. 5th primary. Two current ASAs are running and one, Bob Milan*, would probably not mind the chance to be in the papers fighting for a Marine to get his justice. Since he’s on the inside, it might help.

    * to be fair, I’m sure Anita Alvarez, the other ASA running would help, but I think she took a leave of absence to campaign.

    ThreeSheets (409e93)

  27. smmills@tribune.com is the email for Steve Mills.

    ThreeSheets (409e93)

  28. I’d echo NK’s suggestion. This strikes me as the kind of felony a D.A. couldn’t care less about, but the State Bar might. The only wrinkle, and maybe NK can answer this, is whether they only disbar for a felony conviction, which almost certainly won’t happen here, or whether they’ll hold a mini-trial of their own to determine whether an uncharged felony in fact occurred.

    Xrlq (0e2175)

  29. I believe the second, Xrlq. I personally know of two cases involving bank fraud where the ARDC laid out the elements of the offenses and proved them and did not merely allege the fact of the conviction. I’ll see if I can find linkable copies.

    nk (c87736)

  30. If the link works …. The other case I have in mind is very similar. Notice also that it’s a 2004 case and even though there is an interim suspension there is “no disposition” yet.

    nk (c87736)

  31. Sorry, can’t link directly apparently.

    nk (c87736)

  32. Sorry, but not every DA in Chicago is handling only serious or violent felonies. It is a cop out to not give this case the attention it deserves.

    tired (e988a4)

  33. Bet that while his business may suffer from the publicity, sadly the lawyer doesn’t get disbarred. Discipline committees look for bad acts that relate to fitness as a lawyer, usually such things involving fraud and misrepresentations or stealing, but not the whole range of possible crimes. The idea being, someone who is dishonest or a thief is likely to lie to the court or client or steal money from the client, affecting the administration of justice.

    Other crimes that don’t directly relate to fitness as a lawyer, like say drug possession or in this case vandalism, traditionally don’t trigger Bar discipline. (He isn’t likely to vandalize court or client property just because he is a jackass towards troops.) The link to the disciplinary rule nk provided seems to support this, focusing on fraud and misrepresentation type actions as well as some discrimination things that were likely tacked on at some later point.

    stace (94acce)

  34. stace –

    What about the lawyer’s offerings to the SGT that he file with his insurance and that he – the lawyer – would cover the deductible + $100?

    Is that an offer to conspire to comit fraud?

    jim2 (92c692)

  35. Jim2, I don’t know, that could be, and if so something the disciplinary committee might be interested in. They also would be interested in false statements made to the police if it turns out he initially lied to them about the keying, or if he makes false statements to the court during the proceedings. The keying itself probably doesn’t merit discipline but his actions trying to avoid liability might. For example, Bill Clinton got disbarred in Arkansas not for anything he did with respect to Paula Jones or anyone else, but because he was misleading in a deposition in the case.

    stace (94acce)

  36. I’m a publicist, not a lawyer,but I think the best way to get this marine justice is to find out the biggest player with a financial/PR stake in this case. I sent a bunch of emails to groups and websites covering insurance fraud, especially auto insurance fraud. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

    vivi (92457e)

  37. There are former Marines in EVERY walk of life, and there will be no escaping them for poor Jay. The fraternity lives on. This guy’s most immediate worries have nothing to do with prosecutors or disciplinary boards. I would really not want to be in his shoes as he disconnects his phones and websites and tries to flush himself down the toilet to escape. A true Man Without a Country, at this point, and well-deserved…but don’t question his patriotism.

    driver (faae10)

  38. Where does HE park his car(s) ?
    Where does He live ?
    You know, like paint is hard to “remove”.
    You know, like “eye for an eye”.

    No, I am NOT advocating reciprocal treatment.
    No. {:^)
    D.

    Dan_P (a4bddb)

  39. put the story on the drudge website

    jack cate (323f60)

  40. Does he own a car?

    Just a thought.

    mojo (8096f2)

  41. He should have keyed the lawyer. What was the line from Pulp Fiction, something like “It would have been worth him doing it just so I could have caught him doing it”?

    j curtis (8bcca6)

  42. Aren’t there elements of a “hate crime” here?
    Does IL have “hate crime legislation”?
    Would there be a Fed violation here?
    How does the Soldiers and Sailors Act apply?
    If only 5% of retired Marines (there are no ex-Marines, only those that are active, retired, or deceased) knew of this atrocity, this guys’ life would be a shambles, regardless of what he attempts to do.
    Personally, I think dis-barment is the least of his future problems.

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  43. I’m waiting for the attorney to cry foul because of all the bad publicity he is receiving. Google his name and it is all negative. That’s got to hurt. Don’t be surprised if he tries to sue somebody.

    tired (e988a4)

  44. If the case is tried on the merits and he is acquitted because the judge does not find criminal intent beyond a reasonable (and that could be only because the judge doesn’t like these kinds of cases and thinks that they should be in the civil division), the lawyer can sue the Marine for malicious prosecuyion. (Although there is some savings in him not signing the complaint.)

    nk (c87736)

  45. The state’s attorneys should be prosecuting this to the fullest extent of the law. This guy is serving our country during wartime. This “lawyer” should do the max for the felony. The absolute max. What an ass. I am surprised he didn’t get the absolute crap beaten out of him. I, for one, would never convict were I on a jury if the Marine had pounded him into a bloody pulp.

    Law (62ca0c)

  46. Shoot! “reasonable doubt”; “malicious prosecution”. Sorry, I’ve got all these overseas friends and relatives calling to wish me Happy New Year. It will be New Year in Iraq in an hour I believe.

    nk (c87736)

  47. If the case is tried on the merits and he is acquitted because the judge does not find criminal intent . . .

    Wait . . . are you arguing that lawyer dude keyed the car but may have lacked the mens rea???? lol

    tired (e988a4)

  48. It’s happened, my friend. To me. I’ll tell you the secret of my success and the reason so many of my clients thought I was a genius. Cook County does not have enough prosecutors, judges, courtrooms, jail cells, jailguards, to treat cases like this seriously.

    nk (c87736)

  49. P.S. And Chicago’s North Shore lawyers make Steven Yagman look like a choirboy.

    nk (c87736)

  50. Well, nk, if the state cannot do anything about these types of crimes, then the victims do.

    Law (62ca0c)

  51. There’s a five-year statute of limitations for civil damage to property actions, Law. The Marine can sue Grodner when he comes back. And I already mentioned Grodner’s vulnerability him being a lawyer. Forget the criminal case if Mike is not around to testify. Illinois has a 160-day speedy trial statute for defendants free on bail.

    nk (c87736)

  52. What’s the cap on small claims cases in Illinois? And, is the s/l the same?

    tired (e988a4)

  53. NK,
    could McNulty ask for a continuance until after his deployment is over?

    paul from fl (47918a)

  54. I don’t think the criminal case matters as much as the civil case. First, if everything we’ve read is true, this Marine has damage to his car and he’s spent time on this. Money damages fixes that better than criminal law justice, even if there is restitution. Second, the standard of proof is lower in a civil case than in a criminal case. And third, apparently Grodner was arrested. If that’s admissible (it may not be without a conviction), that hurts Grodner in the civil case.

    DRJ (09f144)

  55. I’d love to know what Grodner had in his pockets at the time of his arrest and if there were any paint scrappings on any of the items.

    tired (e988a4)

  56. nk…
    Again, I raise the question:
    How does the Soldiers and Sailors Act apply?

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  57. I don’t believe it does, AD. I’ve only seen the affidavit in the civil cases I have defended.

    nk (c87736)

  58. nk

    But could he not be deposed in leu of being in court?

    Scott Jacobs (a1de9d)

  59. Here it is. I think I’m right.

    nk (c87736)

  60. Link for Another Drew.

    nk (c87736)

  61. Scott #61,

    Nope. Right of confrontation.

    nk (c87736)

  62. In any case, the State has the burden of proving this case with a victim who may or may not be around. The burden of going forward with the evidence and the burden of persuasion. Analogize it with a horse race this way: You have always to be first — not just finish first. In a city like Chicago, where half the murders are unsolved and two-thirds of the rapes are not even reported, do you guys think that the State’s attorney is going to waste a two or three man felony team and a very precious spot on the felony trial calendar over a $2,400.00 case where there is no possibility of jail time and the complaining witness only wants to be compensated for his loss?

    nk (c87736)

  63. With the Mayor’s son serving in the military, Hizzoner might be persuaded to take a personal interest if he hears about it in the press or on the radio.

    daleyrocks (906622)

  64. Cook County State’s Attorneys are extremely professional. They are also under special rules as prosecutors. There was one case, about seven(?) years ago, when it appeared that they bowed to political pressure to retry a case because a lot of politicians thought the first trial was mishandled. The Illinois Supreme Court handed them their heads in reversing the conviction and those responsible for bowing under the pressure might still retire as prosecutors bu they will never be appointed judges.

    nk (c87736)

  65. nk…
    Thanks for the link. It would appear that the Act would not apply to any criminal matter where the Sgt was the victim/accuser. However, it would prevent the SOB/perp from filing a civil case and getting a default judgement for lack of appearance.

    I would fall back onto a Hate Crimes prosecution, by the Feds perhaps.

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  66. “They scratch your car, you put one of them in the morgue. That’s the Chicago way.”

    Ok, I may have botched that quote.

    Chicago doesn’t really have a myriad of diagonal streets. Elston, Clybourn, Ogden, Milwaukee, Lincoln…that’s about it. I’m just sayin is all.

    the wolf (3cd7f8)

  67. When the “rules” are thrown out, the crazies like Grodner come out and since he has come out to play, I would think there are also others out there that will now want to play too!

    Sue (e25fba)

  68. Gee…

    Where’s David on this string??? I would have thought he’d have some other sexual comment about Marines here too….

    Just wish I were a rich man….so I could pay for an attorney to represent my fellow Marine….for years and years and years of his pleasure at watching the buttwipe lawyer try to defend himself….

    reff (99666d)

  69. DRJ, this is worth an update: It’s also fun as heck to read, from Ace of Spades HQ.

    I like the judge! I hate the lawyer in question. You will too, even more than you do now if you read this.

    Christoph (92b8f7)

  70. This is an even better link (more direct)! And it’s very sweet:

    …I overheard the State’s Attorney expressing her intent to prosecute this guy to the fullest extent. It seems as if BlackFive is the sole catalyst to this story getting out and I am sure Sgt McNulty has probably heard the effect of yours and other blogs from the results of today’s proceedings to include several Marines and civilians who showed up in his support.

    Jay R Grodner was called before court and in his absence, the Judge issued a warrant for his arrest effective immediately. Sgt McNulty was departing the court when Grodner rolled in to the courtroom more pathetic than anyone I had ever seen. The Judge had questioned him on his tardiness and he explained that traffic had been busy and he ‘made a wrong turn’. The Judge chastised him for his tardiness, pathetic excuses, and that he was lucky the warrant had not been executed prior to his arrival.

    In addition to being disciplined for being involved in a scheme to forging documents, it has been reported to CLR that attorney Jay Robert Grodner has since then engaged in a conflict of interest with his clients, has abandoned his clients, has engaged in false billing, has engaged in a fraud upon his clients, provided ineffective assistance of counsel, and has engaged in a “fraud upon the court”.

    Christoph (92b8f7)

  71. I recommend the Sgt. file a complaint with the Illinoise State Bar association. I’m sure the board would find Grodner’s actions unethical.

    Proud American (9587e8)

  72. He was not just involved in a scheme to forge documents. While an Assistant State’s Attorney, a prosecutor, he forged voters’ names on petitions to put a voter referendum on the ballot.

    And in clearer answer to Xrlq’s question in comment #29, from Grodner’s own case in the Illinois Supreme Court:

    However, the decision whether to impose discipline does not rest on whether a respondent has been convicted of criminal charges–it is determined by whether the lawyer’s conduct contravenes professional standards. “The purpose of the criminal prosecution is not the purpose of a disciplinary proceeding. Punishment is not the object. The object of such an inquiry is to determine whether the attorney is a proper person to be permitted to practice his profession. [Citations.] The attorney is being disciplined not because of his conviction but because of the conduct.”

    nk (c87736)

  73. It’s starting to sound as if dis-barment would be the best possible outcome (from Mr. Grodner’s viewpoint).
    Is there serious jail-time in his future?

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  74. No. Likely not even a conviction.

    nk (3bed3d)

  75. Why not a conviction?

    Christoph (92b8f7)

  76. Reasonable doubt. We’re taking the Marine’s word for what happened but the court doesn’t have to. A competent lawyer can take apart his story. And if he is Iraq, the case will be nolle prossed at the next court appearance and will be dead 160 days after that.

    nk (3bed3d)

  77. What’s the standard in front of the ARDC?

    Christoph (92b8f7)

  78. Clear and convincing evidence. What is more important, however, is that rules of civil procedure are followed and most important of all that the respondent can be subpoenaed and deposed.

    nk (3bed3d)

  79. Maybe they can do video or audio testimony.

    DRJ (09f144)

  80. “the respondent can be subpoenaed and deposed”

    1. Under oath? 2. You think his testimony would hurt himself?

    Christoph (92b8f7)

  81. DRJ @ 7:04 PM — yeah, with the proliferation of cheap web cameras, why can’t testimony from the Marine Sgt. just be taken remotely in this case by the court?

    Christoph (92b8f7)

  82. Not for the complaining witness, in the criminal case. It’s too important to have him present to observe his demeanor and composure under direct and cross in order to judge his credibility. Maybe for a doctor or other expert witness whose testimony is not really in dispute and is only needed to fill a blank in the record. (There are practical considerations, too. Is it easy to set up a contemporaneous, two-way, video link to Iraq?)

    nk (3bed3d)

  83. I’ve had video chats with girls from Iraq, nk, so I must assume it’s possible.

    Did you know Arab women were centuries ahead of western women in a certain trendy grooming choice?

    Christoph (92b8f7)

  84. I don’t even have a clue what the trendy grooming choice is.

    nk (3bed3d)

  85. And re you #83, any sane lawyer would admit keying a car and opening himself up to restitution for #2,400.00 before committing perjury or other fraud on a tribunal.

    nk (3bed3d)

  86. Here’s a video of one of the ways of achieving it.

    Christoph (92b8f7)

  87. Some federal courts in West Texas use video-linkups in trials, and I’m sure the military has video links. But when it comes to personal use of military video links, I suspect they reserve it for special events like births.

    DRJ (09f144)

  88. Good to know, DRJ. Thanks. Surely DOD could also reserve it for giving testimony… if operational needs allowed the member to be present and a court requested the member? It’s access to a place to sit in front of a computer and look into a camera/mic. It ain’t that big of a deal.

    Christoph (92b8f7)

  89. It’s not the video equipment that’s the problem. The limitation is the secure satellite link.

    DRJ (09f144)

  90. Christoph # 89,

    There are some things men were not meant to know.

    nk (3bed3d)

  91. That’s another thing that I have no clue about. I would get a writ of habeas corpus for prisoners I needed in court, routinely. Could the prosecutors writ in the Marine?

    nk (3bed3d)

  92. We have a standing court order. If a court doesn’t use video links, I doubt the existing procedures would accommodate it. They could probably enter a special order but I doubt they would want to go to the trouble for one case.

    DRJ (09f144)

  93. NK, your quote actually leaves me more pessimistic than I was before. I understand that people can be disbarred for conduct irrespective of a conviction. However, forging documents is one thing, and keying someone’s car is another. The former is a crime of moral turpitude, almost a no-brainer for the bar even if the offense were only a misdemeanor, or even if some technicality precluded it from being considered a crime at all. The latter is almost a no-brainer the other way. No bar would disbar an attorney for a misdemeanor keying that wasn’t directed at a judge, opposing counsel, a former client, etc. The only reason to disbar under these circumstances is because it was a felony. And without a felony conviction to support that theory, where are we?

    I think it is sad but true that this asshole lawyer from Chicago (but I repeat myself) will skate.

    Xrlq (b65a72)

  94. Aren’t there some exceptions to the statute of limitations when the complainant is active duty military, and unable to be produced at a specific time due to being called up for duty? If not, it is a horrible loophole in our system that could make this Sgt. a victim of a crime that could not be effectively prosecuted because he was returning to his position overseas.

    The Sgt’s insurance company (USAA?) should handle the damages, and then go after the asswipe with everything they have to recover every penny, plus costs, fees, etc …

    JD (bad43f)

  95. This is clearly a case where the lawyer should plea down the offense and pay restitution. Saves the state money, saves the lawyer more scrutiny and embarrassment, and shows the Bar that he’s willing to accept some responsibility.

    In fact, if this guy has even a twinkling of intelligence he has already paid the Marine his measly $2400.

    What really pisses me off is that the Marine’s leave was precious. He’s going to the sandbox now, and he deserved his vacation first. How much time did he have to devote to this stupid mess when he should have been hugging his mom and watching football? What a bunch of crap.

    And he gets falsely accused of being a racist, because he’s a marine, and stupid morons think marines are all crazy white arkabama assholes. If you’re a racist, the military is the last place you should work.

    How many democrat lawyers stuff ballots? Scary thought. And just know, if this lawyer could have killed that marine, he would have. He’s do worse, too. Our society is not ok right now.

    Jem (9e390b)

  96. The IL Lt Gov’s office is following this story.
    It’s been rumored that at least one Trib columnist is working on this story.
    National veteran’s advocacy organizationa are following this story.
    Apparently, the entrepreneurial Mr. Grodner, esq. may run an “Entertainment Agency” of some sort, likely as a home business in Highland Park, IL. It’s been reported that an answering service is taking calls for the company, Jay R. Grodner & Associates, PC.

    VFF-IL (00eecd)

  97. Good. Thanks VFF-IL.

    DRJ (29b04b)

  98. It’s been rumored that at least one Trib columnist is working on this story.

    I’d sure like to see this leave the “it’s been rumored” stage.

    There are at least a half-dozen Chicago Radio and TV outlets, The Reader, Sun-Times and Tribune that can’t all be siding with one lawyer against a deployed Marine. This story isn’t that hard to chase down.

    steve (b9b6dc)

  99. The lawyer’s business is certainly taking a hit from the adverse publicity. I assume he will have to change the name and get a partner to front for him.

    tired (c95465)

  100. The lawyer’s business is certainly taking a hit from the adverse publicity.

    I don’t doubt it.

    Is there evidence for that?

    steve (b9b6dc)

  101. Now that people have found his photo and sex ad, you can count on it.

    tired (28bf91)

  102. Sex ad?????

    Scott Jacobs (425810)

  103. The criminal case is over. (Scroll down on the comments.) Grodner pleaded guilty and got supervision, which is essentially a long continuance that will leave him no record of a conviction, and $600.00 restitution. But the way he mishandled his case is unbelievable. If he handles his clients’ cases in the same way, he should not be a lawyer. I think he has big problems — emotional, cognitive and possibly chemical dependence.

    nk (a07608)


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