Michelle's family hires Morgan & Morgan

The family of missing mom Michelle Parker has retained Morgan and Morgan law firm as representatives to help navigate them through the legal process. That's the same Morgan and Morgan from The Zenaida case. Yes, I must admit that from seeing their ads on TV even before the Casey Anthony case, I always said if I needed legal advise, I would go for them!

One day after police named Michelle Parker's ex-fiancé the prime suspect in her disappearance, new details have emerged about the missing mother of three's relationship with Dale Smith II, and the couple's violent past.
According to public records, the couple was involved in a domestic violence case involving children in 2009. Parker and Smith have 3-year-old twins together.
Public records also showed Smith was previously convicted on drug and domestic battery charges.
Smith joined the U.S. Marines in 1996, but was dishonorably discharged as a private in 2003.

Police said Smith is their only suspect in his former fiancée's disappearance.
Orlando Police Chief Paul Rooney said Smith would not take a lie detector test when asked.
Parker's mother and sister stood with Rooney during Monday's announcement, and are now begging Smith to come forward with answers.
"If you made a mistake and it was just a second of 'Oh, I lost my head,' or whatever, and you didn't know what to do, our family needs to have Michelle home. We need to heal," said Michelle Stewart, Parker's mother.

"We want to ask him, if he's out there watching, and I want to say to him directly: Help us," said Lauren Erickson, Parker's sister. "If you know something, let her be a mother to her children. Work with us. That's all we're asking -- for you to work with us and come forward, and if there's anything that you know, that you're holding back, please just work, just help us."
Dale Smith has hired prominent Orlando attorney Mark NeJame to represent him. NeJame used to represent George and Cindy Anthony.

No video but we have deposition transcript from Casey!

Here's the link to the PDF of the Casey's deposition in the Zenaida Gonzalez suit:

http://www.wftv.com/documents/2011/oct/31/deposition-casey-anthony-zenaida-gonzalez-civil-su/

Thoughts?

Casey's deposition video will be coming soon!

Casey Anthony's 45-minute videotaped deposition may be public this week through the Orange County Court Clerk's office. She plead the fifth through most questions. Morgan & Morgan have stated that will challenge this, since they believe she had no basis to plead the fifth. They intend to file the videotaped deposition with the court to request a hearing. If they prevail, Casey will have to answer the questions.  In the video deposition, Casey mentioned that she hasn't spoken to George or Cindy since October 14, 2008.  This was when she was indicted and arrested for murder.

In the video, there was a white screen behind Casey and she was wearing a Phillies cap, oversized Dolce & Gabbana glasses, and a white V-necked top.Morgan said that it appeared she was wearing a wig and that she appeared to have more color on her face. Not the dull grey we are used to seeing.

The deposition was between John Morgan, his son Matt, and attorney John Dill.  Zenaida was not present. Casey was with her lawyer Charles Greene and an associate of Greene's.

Greene invoked Casey's  5th Amendment right against self-incrimination to almost every question posed. The questions included inquiries into the disappearance of Caylee, her connection to Sawgrass apartments and Zenaida Gonzalez. Hmmm....that doesn't make her seem guilty or suspicious at all.......Hmph!

Casey wears disguise

Today was the videotaped deposition as I reported earlier. Apparently she felt it necessary to wear a disguise. WHY?
"She had a Phillies ball cap on. She had gigantic sunglasses. She had a long -- I think it was a wig," Morgan said.

The lawyer said that she seemed annoyed to be there and that her body language said it all."She had deep breathing -- nostrils flaring. She was clearly annoyed, but composed and courteous," he said.

Anthony was asked about Gonzalez and about the disappearance of Caylee. "Basically, they weren't going to answer any questions, and so we got enough we feel to go ahead and take our motion now to the judge to compel her to answer these questions," Morgan said.
They will take the taped deposition to a judge and make plans to move the civil case forward. Morgan said he hopes to one day force Anthony to answer his questions and eventually win compensation for damages for his client.

Casey gets away with it again!

  As of this morning, a new judge has taken over and taken charge in the civil case against Casey Anthony.
At an emergency hearing Friday, Circuit Judge Lisa Munyon denied a motion from Zenaida Gonzalez's attorneys, Morgan & Morgan, for a deposition scheduled for Tuesday.
Gonzalez is suing Casey for defamation. She claims Casey ruined her life when she told authorities a nanny by the same name took her daughter, Caylee, in 2008.  Gonzalez lost her apt., job, and even friends over this lie. 
Friday's hearing was pushed back from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. following a motion to remove Judge Jose Rodriguez from the case.  No explanation was given. Casey's attorney was the one that wanted Judge Rodriguez to step down after 20 minutes of sidebar.
Shortly after court went to recess Friday morning, defense lawyers from Casey's criminal murder case filed a notice of appeal to review the four guilty verdicts she received for lying to law enforcement.
Once the appeal is filed, Casey would not be required to answer any questions in any deposition until the appeal is over. Basically she can plead the fifth. Hmm...sounds fishy.

Attorney John Morgan served the subpoena to Casey in jail last Tuesday, just hours after a jury acquitted her of first-degree murder. He said he wants Casey to appear for deposition on Tuesday, July 19, at his office in downtown Orlando.
Morgan then filed an emergency motion on Wednesday, asking Judge Rodriguez to compel Casey to appear for the deposition.
Greene said he has another trial scheduled to begin on the same day, and if Casey was to be deposed at that time, she would have no choice but to plead the fifth.
Casey's civil lawyer said the criminal trial for her was "a grueling experience that has left her emotionally and mentally exhausted."
Gonzalez's attorneys said they are worried Casey might leave the Orlando area after her release, but they would do everything in their power to find Casey, should she flee Florida.
They also said they hope to get to the bottom of what happened to Caylee Anthony.
"We've had this case since 2008," said attorney Keith Mitnik, with Morgan & Morgan. "We've been on the back burner, and I'm about to get hot."

This is happening as reports from ABC are stating  that George Anthony said he doesn't want his daughter back in his house. The report said George Anthony also is pushing Caylee's Law, The law would make it a crime for parents not to report a child missing in a timely manner.  Casey Anthony likely had no plans to move home and is willing to talk only with her brother, Lee.

As some people have been making offers to Casey, one company that is not proposing any monies to Casey is playboy. Hugh Hefner told HLN today that even though he knows many people would be interested in a spread involving Casey (don't know who!), he does not run a magazine that exploits people. He would not be interested in having her pose.  Macy's is also reporting that the shirt that Casey was wearing during the verdict cannot stay on the racks long enough. People are buying them as soon as they get new ones in. They are planning on dressing up as a Casey for Halloween.  

Vasco Thompson Speaks!

Casey Anthony's defense's surprise witness spoke out Friday in front the Orange County Courthouse.
According to Casey's defense,Thompson had contacted George 4 times the day before Cindy called authorities to report Caylee missing.
Thompson, with attorney Matt Morgan of the famed law firm Morgan & Morgan said he has nothing to do with the Casey Anthony case.
"I have no idea who George Anthony is, I've just seen him on TV. I've never talked to George Anthony," Thompson said.
Morgan claimed Thompson was brought in as a "scapegoat."
Thompson said the phone number referenced in the defenses' motion wasn't used until February of 2009.
"I don't know why they got me involved in all this mess," Thompson said.
Thompson was convicted on kidnapping charges from a 1997 arrest. He's been out of prison since November 2004.
With these new revelations, it seems doubtful that Judge Perry will allow him to take the stand.