How is the Defense Spending the Taxpayer's Money?

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http://www.wftv.com/video/25921351/index.html

How the defense is spending the money now that the taxpayers are footing the bill, sure is different than how they pinched pennies before!!! Did we ever see the document, the ABC contract, and the documents Baez forgot to bring to the indigency hearing? Did we ever find out for sure if it was him who brokered the deal?

[ame="http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5845721#post5845721"]Prosecutors Ask For Hearing On How Baez Is Getting Paid - Page 18 - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community[/ame]

After all of his "I don't know, I didn't bring any documents with me. I would have to guess. I am not sure, I could look then bring the documents to the court", non answers about how he spent Casey Anthony's money....I sure don't trust him with the taxpayers money. I am thoroughly offended that Jeremy Lyon has charged thousands and thousands of dollars for harassing TES volunteers that are wholly irrelevant and were nowhere near Suburban Drive. Jose sure didn't do any work on TES documents for two years, until she was declared indigent! What in the world?

They have me with "Resistance" from Casey's relatives in Ohio, yet they want more money to go there and harass the folks too. Enough already. I am sure the state could feed many hungry children or contribute for the county hospital needs or anything at all rather than waste money like this. Good grief!
 
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Did Henry Lee recently bill the state, ONLY FOR COSTS, because he said on Nancy Grace he was doing this for free?December 15, 2008 Dr. Lee says he is indeed working Pro Bono:
"GRACE: Tonight, a stunning discovery allegedly of a trail of bones leading to a child`s skull. All of this just 15 homes away from grandparents George and Cindy`s home.

Straight out to special guest joining us right now, famed forensic pathologist Dr. Henry Lee. He is a forensic scientist and a consultant on the Anthony defense team. Dr. Lee, thank you for being with us. Dr. Lee, what have you heard regarding a trail of bones leading to the child`s skull?

DR. HENRY LEE, FORENSIC SCIENTIST, CONSULTANT TO DEFENSE TEAM: That`s the first time I heard. We were in Florida yesterday. However, as you know, the coroner (ph) did not judge (ph) did not prove that. So the other defense expert, we did not have chance to observe, nor examine anything.

GRACE: Dr. Henry Lee, everyone, famed forensic scientist, is on the Anthony defense team. Dr. Lee, you are saying the judge denied a particular motion. Was that to allow you and other defense experts on the scene while police were processing it?

LEE: Not exactly observe. Not really join examination. But many time, you know, like (ph) cases, most of time, they allow for defense expert to observe. Some of the time, we even join together, work on the searching (ph) of the remain or search of the trace evidence.

GRACE: To Sheryl McCollum joining us tonight, crime analyst and director of the cold case squad at Pine Lake Police Department. Sheryl, I find that highly unusual, that defense experts are at the initial processing of the scene? No way!

SHERYL MCCOLLUM, CRIME ANALYST: No way. With all due respect to Dr. Lee -- and I`ve trained under Dr. Lee -- no way are they going to be on my crime scene. They`re not necessary. They`re not needed.

GRACE: Back to Dr. Henry Lee, who, as you all know, is a famed forensic scientist on the Anthony defense team. Dr. Lee, I`ve just got to ask you, you know, tot mom Casey Anthony was siphoning gasoline from her family`s car to fill up her own tank. How the heck are you getting paid? I`m sure you`re costing a pretty penny. Dr. Lee does not come cheap.

LEE: No, we did not get any pay for that and for -- I`ll say, you know, this country, as you know, everybody entitled a defense. And many forensic experts, we do pro bono cases and that`s our obligation to our profession. As an expert, we look at evidence, doesn`t matter inculpatory, exculpatory, we report (ph) as it is. I don`t think should be labeled as a defense expert going to just for defense. Many time, found more evidence, inculpatory evidence, than the police found. There -- you know, case history, case example, many time we`re allowed to work on the case together. Many of my cases, I let the defense expert observe. It`s nothing wrong.

GRACE: So Dr. Lee...

LEE: Nothing unusual.

GRACE: Dr. Lee, are you telling me that you are working on the case pro bono, for free?

LEE: Yes."

My question is how common is this really for someone like Dr. Lee to work pro bono on a case that does not have publicity?

Update_____Thanks to KrissKross
He is billing for his time!!!
[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5847003&postcount=79"]Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - Defense Files Motion to Seal Penalty Phase Discovery Documents[/ame]
How is the defense getting by with this? It seems so blatant?
 
In this hearing Jose said he could not remember how much his experts had been paid! Now, suddenly bills for current work are being turned in. What were they doing back then, for free? Don't the dates on their work show up on the reports, contemporaneous with the actual lab work? Joy Path, no way would a scientist change dates to current dates in order to be paid, right? Are we to understand the trial begins in five months and they are just getting started?

[ame="http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5846895#post5846895"]Prosecutors Ask For Hearing On How Baez Is Getting Paid - Page 18 - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community[/ame]
 
[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4618629&postcount=1"]Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - Legal Questions for Our VERIFIED Lawyers[/ame]


It may not be a check from Jose Baez's Casey Anthony trust account..but they indeed are profiting. The state can ask them that on the stand to discredit them, you went on morning talk shows on a book tour, under the guise of discussing this
case, right?
These folks, lining up to work for free as Cheney says.... it is really not for charity, imo

I heard one lawyer say one time, in order to be a high profile attorney you have to REMAIN high profile, keep your face in the media.
 
It would be interesting to have a spreadsheet on each expert witness including how many national interviews they have done on Caylee's case.
I find it odd that LKB left just as the defense realizes their ONLY shot at a defense will be the scientific evidence.
IMO it's a huge mistake to try and convince a jury that there was no human decomp in the trunk.Waste of time and money.If Caylee had not been found,maybe, but 2+2 still =4!
 
http://www.wftv.com/video/23473853/

http://www.wftv.com/video/23474395/

How much of what they told the judge turned out to be true?
How did Mrs. Barrett go from Baez imploring upon the Judge that she was the one with the extensive relationship, she and her family to Cheney brining in Anne Finnell and basically wanting a do over? At the time of this budget hearing Jose opined, "She can't be replaced". The judge replied, "No one is irreplaceable".

Here Jose cites a rule that says the documents related to defense invoices for experts should be under seal.
Orlando Sentinel was there to object.
The JAC argued and objected.
 
Judge Perry is telling Jose here he wants time records from the times that Mrs. Barrett interviewed who, where and when , "So that there will not be any duplications", so it seems he does not want Mrs. Finnell interviewing the exact same folks!
He said "I will go over her billing with a fine tooth comb. JAC will go over her billing with a fine tooth comb".

Here Jose cites a rule that says the documents related to defense invoices for experts should be under seal.
Orlando Sentinel was there to object.
The JAC argued and objected, and that under Florida law that would be impossible.

http://www.wftv.com/video/23478429/index.html
http://www.wftv.com/video/23475978/index.html
http://www.wftv.com/pdf/23461818/detail.html
http://www.wftv.com/pdf/23461773/detail.html
http://www.wftv.com/slideshow/news/23472968/detail.html
http://www.wftv.com/video/23473636/index.html

This was in May of 2010. Now seven months later, Mrs. Finnell wants someone else? I don't understand. The defense fought tooth and nail that it was imperative for them to have Mrs. Barrett, only.

Baez argued that the media, "leeches" and "pseudo news media" are most interested in having access to the documents but, while there's a public right to know, it could damage her right to a fair trial. In its motion, the defense wrote, "Documents and requests for funding will lead to endless speculation as to the defense strategy for defending Miss Anthony and could ultimately affect her right to a fair trial."

“Quite frankly, the Orlando Sentinel is going to have to find another way to sell newspapers,” Baez told Judge Perry on Thursday.

Baez made further arguments to support the defense motion and then Judge Perry responded by pointing out Florida Statute 119 http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0119/ch0119.htm which deals with access to public records.

“One more question, Mr. Baez, before you take your seat. The JAC is a state agency,” Judge Perry said. “Are there any particular statutory exceptions under [statute] 119 that you’re relying on or are you just relying on what you just told me?”“I’m relying on my previous arguments,” Baez said.

He is too funny.

In this hearing Jose asked to speak to judge in camera about, hold on to your seat....nineteen experts. The judge asked how many have they officially listed on their current defense witness list. Two, Baez answered.
Did I hear that correctly?
Mrs. Drane=Burdick indicated that there are experts who have made themselves known by giving interviews and showing up at the crime scene. Mr. Ashton mentioned that there was a list of experts mentioned in open court by the defense, on December 12th, Cathy Riches, an entemologist and many others, already.
He wants the taxpayers to pay for 19 experts that aren't even on his witness list for the state to depose? Mrs. Drane Burdick told the judge when they ask why they haven't listed them, and have been told the experts have not finished their work and therefore they do not have to list them.
http://www.wftv.com/video/23474629/ Judge Perry used the case that Jose sited in his own motion to rule against him.

He also admits in this part of the hearing that indeed they are looking into the background of some of the TES volunteers. Whooooah!
 
In this hearing Jose said he could not remember how much his experts had been paid! Now, suddenly bills for current work are being turned in. What were they doing back then, for free? Don't the dates on their work show up on the reports, contemporaneous with the actual lab work? Joy Path, no way would a scientist change dates to current dates in order to be paid, right? Are we to understand the trial begins in five months and they are just getting started?

Prosecutors Ask For Hearing On How Baez Is Getting Paid - Page 18 - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community


Underlined BBM!:innocent: ABSOLUTELY part of the documentation of the analytical process is the date and time record so the :loser:defense gang:loser: had better NOT change dating on the scientific reports:croc:! The one "out" mechanism they do have is the receipt date of the formalized hard copy document, that can be D E L A Y E D as long as necessary by either the author/or the recipient to avoid recipe. discovery process. Now on-going "chats" regarding what the information may/may not reveal are part of the lawyering process and confidential. :crazy:(and probably very very very depressing to this defense gang:crazy:)

So...if I'm Werner Spitz, M. D. and I completed the second post on or about December 27th, 2008 and fortuitously took specific body samples for tox. testing, FedEx'd them to Henry C. Lee, Ph.D in either West Haven, Meriden or Branford, Ct. from Orlando, FL; his analytical testing COULD/SHOULD have commenced THEN! Or as consulting specialists who share credentials as Werner does as board certified in anatomical, clinical & forensic pathology, they neatly, securely, and efficiently pack up their samples in a good ole trusty container labeled with biohazard emblems, either trudge thru TSA as the only carry on permitted :)blushing:eek:r try to pull favor with the crew!:blushing:) or load up one's vehicle trunk but head for home base with the specimens securely under one's control! :banghead:ANY WAY, the specimen doesn't sit on a shelf until the defendant is declared indigent before evaluation!:banghead:

:twocents:On a more practical note: HOW THE HE77 would any of the scientific community KNOW that the defendant was going to SIGN AWAY her rights to a "rapid trial" process? :twocents: Time to "exonerate" with differing scientific evidence her was JUST as tight as the time frame the state was working under (YES, I realize that the defense does NOT have to "exonerate" per se but hopefully ya get my drift!). :twocents:Can't you JUST picture the courtroom IF the speedy trial mechanism had been in play and the defense experts waltzed in and said "oh Your Honor, we didn't test anything yet 'cause the defendant would have to pay our HUGE consulting fees at this time!):banghead:
 
http://www.wftv.com/news/25921057/detail.html

Mason claims to have found 150 new EquuSearch witnesses who searched the exact area where Caylee Anthony's remains were found. Jeremy Lyons billed taxpayers almost $8,000 in September and October. After all that tax money was spent, prosecutor Linda Drane Brudick told the judge the number of new possible witnesses was greatly exaggerated publicly by the defense.

"When I asked Mr. Mason about that he told me he believed there would be 6 to10 individuals that may qualify as having relevant information,"

Defense expert Dr. Henry Lee has billed state taxpayers more than $8,000 for three days worth of work and travel from Connecticut.
 
People here, you are reading my mind! Back in May, at the JAC hearing, Judge Perry made it very clear he wouldn't allow Baez to squander the state's money and that he would go over the expenses with a fine-tooth comb and he has said that since as well.

Even so, he uas squandered his precious PI hours on the futile TES issue. The fact that Perry gave Baez a whopping 60 more hours at the last hearing was a test, I am sure. How would Baez use those hours?

I read in the media today that the company he hired for transcriptions charged $1 more per page than allowed by the JAC. What was he thinking? The JAC, I believe, even supplies an approved vendor's list!

As for contracts for all his expert witnesses? I suppose the State won't be willing to accept it was all done on a handshake or a "verbal agreement"? Let's hope some of the expert witnesses took the time to follow JAC guidelines and insisted on a well-written contract for their own protection.

Oh, and by the way, did he ever produce the original contracts for the Padilla crew? What about Dominic Casey's contract? I do believe that the Florida Bar told Casey to take it to civil court.

I also have to wonder if Perry will politely blow his cork when he reads the defense motion for a taphonomy expert.

The man thinks he can spend the state's money the way he spent Casey's money.

Sorry, rant over. When this case is over, it won't be over for Mr. Baez IMHO.
 
:twocents:Just for a refreshing idea:twocents:: Would it NOT be an interesting discussion to get on record from the defense gang EXACTLY what the terms "pro bono" mean to THEM? Obviously, JB missed the correct translation (pro bono publico is the correct phrase, shortened to "pro bono") from the LATIN (and he a good Catholic school graduate, at that!:banghead:) meaning "for the public good".:truce: My cynical :waitasec: guess, the usage translation of THAT bunch is "professional begging" from the public troth.


IF these defense experts rolled into town with the understanding that the PRO BONO ism was strictly regarding his/her intellectual property, THEN the strict commitment per se has/was met. :angel: (again, the documents requested by JA should clarify what was "promised" to whom & when). Usually the standard lifestyle amenities are PROVIDED to the consultant by the defense team/or family/or a subsidy/or covered via personal $$$, covering the fees for laboratory testing are ALWAYS pre-arranged if one intends to utilize one's own employment agency :)snooty:If it's a tax based agency, You #$%^ well BETTER be sure you're NOT misusing government funds!:snooty:). Never run across a case where it was a secret held tighter than Fort Knox!:dance:
 
Casey Expected At Hearing On Case Finances
Updated: 9:58 am EST November 29, 2010

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Casey Anthony is expected back in court on Monday. Prosecutors had to call for a hearing to get important information regarding defense experts; the information includes how much the experts were paid.
cont...
http://www.wftv.com/news/25921057/detail.html


VIDEO REPORT: Prosecutors Claim Casey's Defense Team Wasting Taxpayer Money
Updated: 9:08 am EST November 29, 2010
http://www.wftv.com/video/25946123/index.html
 
Murder Docket Updated 2:

12/01/2010 Motion for Additional Hours of Investigation


Motion for Prior Travel of Out of State Experts:

http://www.wesh.com/pdf/25975125/detail.html

I am wrong in remembering that the state was quite clear from the beginning of the indigency process that it was clearly laid out that travel expenses for out of state experts and attorneys would not be covered by the state of Florida? And that any agreements with such professionals should take this into account? Was this not the whole hearing where the subject of a bag of oranges came up? Was the court not apprised that the experts were fully aware of the terms that would be placed because of the indigency filing, and were happy to play along with them?

Also todays motion requesting ("demanding" more like it) more investigative time has the potential to bring on the most entertaining hearing to date. I suspect between these two motions JB is heading towards a massive spanking where they will tear through his billing and his records and his use of funds. Something they have been promising to do since they first requested that KC be declared indigent.
 
I am wrong in remembering that the state was quite clear from the beginning of the indigency process that it was clearly laid out that travel expenses for out of state experts and attorneys would not be covered by the state of Florida? And that any agreements with such professionals should take this into account? Was this not the whole hearing where the subject of a bag of oranges came up? Was the court not apprised that the experts were fully aware of the terms that would be placed because of the indigency filing, and were happy to play along with them?

Also todays motion requesting ("demanding" more like it) more investigative time has the potential to bring on the most entertaining hearing to date. I suspect between these two motions JB is heading towards a massive spanking where they will tear through his billing and his records and his use of funds. Something they have been promising to do since they first requested that KC be declared indigent.

I hope and pray you're right, the defense has a spanking coming!

I just don't see HHJP allowing any additional hours until the defense provides an accounting of their "fishing expedition". MOO
 
The only good news is that even now, two years later, the defense has nothing. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they asked if the judge could rule on the trial and not a jury. Whatever it takes to make sure the case does not have to get tried again, is the lesser of the two evils, as far as this huge waste of money.
http://www.wftv.com/video/23474629/index.html
http://www.wftv.com/video/23473853/index.html
http://www.wftv.com/video/23474395/index.html


What did we learn about Mrs. Barrett, the defense, in May insisted , literally "Quite frankly, I don't think she can be replaced".
 
This is the first case I've read where a defense team is fishing to find the defendant innocent instead of dealing with the evidence. I've never witnessed someone try so hard to convince a court of innocence. Usually, I've seen defense attorneys attack the evidence and not try to create evidence to prove innocence...Do I have this backwards??? Am I in the twilight zone???

In a court of law, a person is innocent until proven guilty, so why do I feel this defense team is trying to prove her guilty, er, ahh, I mean innocent??? Seems the more they strive for innocence the more convoluted they make this trial. It should be an easy trial to prove for all the evidence points one way and that would be towards ICA....JMHO

Now I thought His Honor said no more fishing expeditions, yet because death is different he's allowed more investigative hours...I guess His Honor doesn't want room for an appellate issue and risk getting a guilty verdict overturned. I trust in CJBP, I trust that he knows what he's doing and why he's doing it!

What ever happened to the accusation of witness tampering with JL??? Is it being investigated??

Justice for Caylee
 

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