Caylee/Casey Anthony Case: Macaluso Nets Shawne Merriman Thru TMZ
San Diego, CA– Member of the defense team for Casey Anthony, currently undergoing serious charges from the California Bar Association,Todd Macaluso, has time for a new client: Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers.
photo courtesy of TMZ
Merriman is accused of choking Tila Nyguen “Tequila” his reality MTV girlfriend.
Todd Macaluso takes on his first case as a lead defense attorney and not a aeronautics litigator in civil court.
Macaluso is currently undergoing California Bar complaint proceedings, alleging millions of misused client trust accounts, as well as facing an almost 6 million dollar lawsuit from a former client.
“There was absolutely no wrongdoing on the part of Mr. Merriman,” Macaluso told The Associated Press by phone. “He essentially was doing what was appropriate under the circumstances in trying to protect the safety of Miss Tequila. There were numerous eyewitnesses that will support his version of the events that transpired at his home.”
Todd Macaluso is back in court on the Bar charges September 23, 2009.
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I laughed out loud when I saw his name in a Tila Tequla story yesterday. It’s a small world…
Yet another male who doesn’t like and can’t take rejection. I’m thinking at this point: settlement in return for her agreeing to not press charges? And a big retainer for Macaluso.
Todd Macaluso got his PR people out there right quick. The news reports of this yesterday were astonishingly tainted.
Here is Mr. Macaloso’s problem: the ethical violations alleged against him (unlike the ones lodged against Baez by Dominic Casey) are based on actual violations of his professional (and fiduciary) duties to clients (and not someone who had some shady business arrangement with him).
I am very interested in the TMZ connection, see where I am going with that?
B
Casey Anthony really has one heck of defense team. Gypies tramps and thieves. Is there anyone of them who does NOT have ethical legal issues pending in another state? I did get a chance to listen to the tapes…..I can see why Baez wanted them keep silent…….They didn’t paint this family in a good light. Talk about a bunch of enablers. I can not believe how dysfunctional they were. Casey stole money from every family member and ran up credit cards ….At no time did george nor mommie dearest do a damn thing about it…..My god. Perhaps in hindsight if they had had the balls to really take a stand against this Casey…Caylee just might still be here today….They knew what Casey was and they DID NOTHING……George and Cindy should have gotten custody of Caylee ……Casey was MIA for a month and NEVER once did These two so called grandparents do or say a darn thing to the authorities……They think by sitting still and NOT taking a hard stand against Casey, was somehow in the BEST interest of Caylee? BS……..ENABLERS….Maybe they were both waiting for the “second coming of Casey”……
chitownlady, I get your frustration, and I am sure there were numerous missed opportunities to intervene re: casey’s mental health—-but during those 31 days in particular, I don’t think there are any authorities that they could have turned to. Cindy was still more or less in contact with Casey, so technically she wasn’t a missing person. And she was over 18, so was free to go where ever she wanted with her own daughter, so…who could have helped the Ants find her?
Also, sadly, it was already too late for Caylee from the day kc left on the 16th, probably long before they worried about her being missing. Just tragic.
What’s that Blink??
Till Tappin’ Todd taints Tila Tequilla’s ties to TMZ??
They pay top dollar for images and video
B
Whoa Nelly!!!
They get their money’s worth, too. They were reporting MJ’s death long before others.
SUZ….thanks for your comments. My own daughter is 21…..(no kids) thank god……I have great communication with her. I know if she has a job….I know where she is….(I ask)…….Just because they ar 21 doesn’t mean they are “grown up”…..Plus Casey lived at home…..From all that has been said about Casey, she has had quite the history. AT what point in your opinion should a parent step in for the safety of their own grandchild? Another reality, Casey had expressed that she didn’t want to have the baby….. Again, at what point does a parent have the right to MAKE her have it? It seems that it was what CINDY wanted…..NOT Casey…..I guess your correct, in the tragic ending for Caylee. SO many should’a could’a and what if’s….Perhaps Mommy dearest should have seen the behavior Casey was expressing towards Caylee and maybe. just maybe she would have gotten custody of her for her own good. casey has been lieing through her teeth for years. Why George and Cindy allowed it….we will never know. WHy didn;t they step up tot he plate to PROTECT Caylee from Casey’s lifestyle, who knows. And yes….its all frustrating from all that we the general public know about Casey that her parents did nothing…..Just went on with their lives like Casey was MOM of the Year….all the warning signs were there from day one. RESENTMENT is masked in different ways…..George being an ex cop and Cindy being a nurse didn’t see any warning signs is really hard to understand….Let’s just all pray that Caylee gets justice…..Even if George and Cindy still believe the NANNY did it…..Just why after all the evidence that is it these KNUCKLEHEADS do not get or see…..Thanks Suz
I imagine Macaluso is going for the settlement. More than once, I have prevented friends from driving home while a little too happy, being unwilling to drive them myself. Never once did it occur to me to choke them into submission. If Ms Tequila has marks on her throat, this is all over but the writing of the check.
Didn’t the defense JUST get finished whining to Judge Strickland about how they have to focus ALL their energy on Casey right now, to the extent that even her check fraud trial should be postponed? So I guess there’s just SO MUCH to do to prep for her murder trial, that Macaluso can take on another high profile client with deep pockets and media cameras close by? These people….. (Shakin my head)…..
The owner or producer of TMZ is a lawyer, right? I don’t know that TMZ had any finance behind the Casey Anthony defense, it that’s what you meant.
I guess Mac is already reaping the benefits of the Casey Anthony dog & pony show. Attention seekers galore! I’m throwing up in my mouth a little bit with all the parties involved in this one.
This is how people make money in this country. Love me, hate me, just don’t ignore me, and don’t forget to pay me!
B-
Are we getting to the source (or one of the sources) of the Casey Criminal Defense Fund?
*****
All-
Just in case readers here did not look further, here is the Notice of Disciplinary Charges filed against Todd Macaluso. (Quite a different set of circumstances than the he said/he said nonsense between Dominic Casey and Jose Baez).
http://members.calbar.ca.gov/courtDocs/06-O-14552-1.pdf
His attorney filed a timely response, placing blame on his office staff (without naming anyone in particular, or offering to provide testimony to support that claim).
OH.. and…
You see, his brother died unexpectedly of a heart attack, and this caused Mr. Macaluso to be “unable to focus and concentrate on some of his responsibilities he had previously performed in his office”; he “entrusted those duties to office staff whom he believed were capable of fulfilling them.” (For SEVERAL months? Puh-lease.)
(Particularly with regard to the personal and business expenses–keep reading til the end of the Notice).
*****
You know what? I am sick of the lawyers in this case. I am. With their “my back hurts”, and their “I have classes to teach!”, and their “my brother died so for several MONTHS, there were some fishy goings on with the CTA” crap.
TOO BAD. SUCK IT UP. GET TO WORK. DO YOUR JOB. DON’T PLAY THE COURT. DON’T VIOLATE THE RULES OF CONDUCT.
Baez OUT AND OUT LIED to Judge Strickland about the nature of his contractual agreement with Tony, Leonard, Rob and Tracy (Shut up with that laughing, lady– this is not a JOKE or a gossip swap at the hair salon; you were being INTERVIEWED BY LE on a MURDER CASE, for cryin’ out loud.)
BOy thanks to most of you for expressing my frustrations. Yes: George and Cindy had to be totally blind to leave Caylee to the care of her wild-child mom. Yes, those defense team lawyers need whacked with a big stick. WHACK!!!!!!
4 chitownlady
your comments is to funny but all so true. Is this going to make his participation in the team a little problem! as far as publicity and credibility.??
Silver
We are on the same page! I am flabbergasted. If someone in your office really did screw up that bad, would you hesitate to 1)name the person , 2)demonstrate their “fingerprints” on the act and 3) show the course of disciplinary action that you had taken with this person, ie firing them? Why doesn’t the bar investigate these claims/excuses? Tony Padilla stated on another website that the original contract with Baez has not yet been produced to the state. If this were a lay person, not an attorney, being asked to produce an item to the court, and they neglected to do so, their ass would be reamed by the judge. Why so loosey goosey with the lawyers? Is this typical?
Judge Postpones Decisions In Civil Case Against Casey
ORLANDO, Fla. — There was no ruling Tuesday on the latest motion in the civil case against Casey Anthony. Casey’s defense team took on the attorneys for the woman whose name matched the mystery babysitter Casey claimed took her daughter. They’re trying to get Zenaida Gonzalez’s defamation case thrown out.
more at link http://www.wftv.com/news/20788309/detail.html
chitownlady, as they say, you don’t have to go to Egypt to see “de Nile”—casey’s parents are a great example of sticking one’s head in the sand to avoid an unpleasant truth.
I agree with you that they should have intervened earlier—much, much earlier. But I just think that if they called the police to report casey missing during those 30 days the cops would say, How old is your daughter? and cindy would say, 22. And they would say, Lady, she’s an adult. Do you have any reason to believe she is in danger? cin would say no. They would say, when is the last time you talked to her, and cin would say well she texted me yesterday, but… and the cops would say there is nothing we can do. At least I THINK that’s how it would have gone.
Silver, then you really should read this.
A lawyer in the Casey Anthony murder case has been cleared in yet another ethics probe. (Read letter)
Jose Baez, who was the first lawyer to join Casey’s defense, was being investigated by the Florida Bar over accusations he was “receiving fees on the Casey Anthony case with an agreement to publicize her story.”
The complaint was filed by a woman named Shannon Stoy of Pennington, NJ. Her connection to the case was not immediately known.
The complaint also accused Baez of receiving services from a company called PMC “that could be considered non-client party compensation.”
The Florida Bar questioned Baez in response to the allegations and found “insufficient evidence” that he had violated any rules.
Baez provided a statement saying his agreement with Casey contains no clause that would allow him to gain financially from her story.
Baez added that the services he received from PMC were “provided gratuitously.”
This is the second time in a week that the Florida Bar has announced Baez has been cleared of ethics violations.
In a statement last Tuesday, the Florida Bar said they found “insufficient evidence” that Baez told his former private investigator not to call authorities if he found the body of Caylee Anthony
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-bk-casey-anthony-jose-baez-complaint-090809,0,6134889.story
# 19 Blink
Whoa…That one was a personal defeat??
Not personal, but close to home, yes
B
They know who I am, I gave some things to Kealing a long time ago, and thank you.
B
westside-
As the kids these days say, “WORD!” (lol! I think;)
I cannot account for those who breach their professional/ethical duties. It makes me IRATE. (Can you tell?!)
If what you are saying is correct, it is the STATE who is requesting the contract. Remember, the State (is a party to the action) is not the COURT.
JMO, but I don’t see Strickland as being “loosey goosey”. He rules on Motions before him in a fairly timely (and fair) manner. He has shown respect for the process by exhibiting the face of impartiality in the courtroom. Not that ANY judge would or should, but he sure didn’t laugh in Baez’s face when he stumbled through that horse-manure about the “Privacy Agreement” being “encompassing” (which he mispronounced on more than one occasion). (I don’t think he understood the argument he was even trying to make. It wasn’t a good or valid one, but his inability to even articulate it was maddening. Honestly, that was PATHETIC.) (The fact that he strode back to the defense table with that prideful smirk on his face made it even worse. He should have been thoroughly embarrassed for not only LYING to the Court, but for his absolutely PITIFUL performance. The man is in WAY over his head.)
OH. Which just reminded me.
How about him LYING to the media about what Casey whispered to him.
How did “GET ME THE F*** OUTTA HERE” translate into that crap about her wanting to hold her head up high or whatever.
No respect for his ethical obligations/his PRIVILEGE to be an active member of the Florida Bar.
I have come to the conclusion that unless it is egregious, he is teflon, although I dont know how.
If this does go to trial, there will be 2, no doubt in my mind
B
Blink, I’m sorry if I offended anybody or did something wrong, if this was in any way personal to you concerning my post #19. I just thought blinkers would be interested.
Joan, absolutely not. News is news of this case. I felt compelled to act, and would do it again.
B
Silver–do forgive me for bothering you to answer a simple question but aren’t you Honorable Silverspnr? I keep seeing posts calling you and atty. but I understood you to be a judge. Please help. Sorry to bother you…crawling back into my corner now.
Silvr-
ok if you prefer not to answer.
B
Baez misrepresented the decision. They did not say the allegation was “unfounded”. They said there was “insufficient evidence”. Big difference.
If sufficient evidence comes to light…
Sorry Silver
Now and then I enjoy using all sorts of archaic sayings like “loosey goosey”, etc. It reminds me of my grandparent’s generation. But you are right, Strickland is very even and patient. The contract issue was out of his hands. I was frustrated with all of the ‘shannigans’ (another oldie, but goodie, for vintage words, lol),
and needed to vent!
I’m so sorry B and Silver, I thought it was mentioned before. I do apologize. Maybe I just assumed it from all I’ve read. I even went and watched some of the trial of the case mentioned from Tennesse by Silver in a different thread regarding the death penalty questionnaire. Again I apologize and you know what they say about assuming? Just showing my ignorance and should stay in my corner.
It was innocent, no prob
B
Thanks Blink. You are one amazing person.
Nope, we are the sum of our parts here, but thanks
B
#26 Silver
Also, Baez does not appear to differentiate between innocent vs not guilty either; I just know that I’m going to get Kleat in an uproar over this!
Although I am not a certifiable shrink, I must make a comparison observational diagnosis. The A’s seem to have acute Brady Bunch Syndrome. Appearing that life is fine and dandy to anyone and everyone that will bother to listen and observe them from a distance, but turn the cameras off, take the smell of money out of the air, and most importantly, spend more than a 30 minute time slot around them, and it’s the Manson/Partridge family Christmas special. The Anthony’s need to drop the facade, start being accountable for their actions (longshot), and stop playing society for saps
Blink, in your opinion, how damaging will Tracy’s and Leonard Padilla’s team’s testimony will be towards the defense? I would say that nothing should be shocking anymore, but hearing Tracy’s description of when Casey came home from jail, and the only things she wanted was a shower and figure out what was for dinner. wonder if those two things to do were on Zenaida’s “to do” list?!?!
Leonard spent like 5 minutes with Casey, total. Tracy and Rob spent the time with her, what he knows, he really knows from them or others.
B
westside-
No objection to use of archaic sayings=) Just wanted to (hopefully) disabuse folks of the notion that judges in real courtrooms should behave like the judges they see on those TV entertainment type shows like “Divorce Court”, etc.
Blink-
Even the Teflon Don eventually went down, right? I hate to say this, let that ship sink after this storm. (In other words, let Casey be stuck with him.)
Nope, your correct. Tactical decision on my part, Trojan Horse and all that
B
Melissa-
I’m an attorney, and most, if not all of the judges here are attorneys.
Hope you enjoyed watching portions of that TN trial.
Hi Blink and Buddies,
Apparently there was a full moon in San Diego over Labor day weekend. Females were over indulging from the Gaslamp Quarter to the Beach areas. The poor cab drivers were having to call LE for help, since their fares were so darn drunk they couldn’t say where they lived or were even passed out in the cabs.
I was learning this while lurking in the Sheddy case, I was listening to the police scanner. Lo and behold, I heard a very unusual disturbance call. LE was intereacting with squad and discussing this entirely inebriated female that was insistent she be transported to the hospital to be checked out. She was yelling and screaming like a banshee in the background and I thought to myself, this gal should give up drinking. And then I really had a chuckle when I heard who this female was and she was twittering the next day, about being allergic to alcohol. IF she is so inclined to say that she wasn’t drunk, then she should have been transported to county mental health. She was totally out of control and this was with LE standing there.@!??? These 20 somethings are so out of control today. Where is their self esteem ?
Just another “sparkling weekend” in sunny san diego. I guess you could infer that I’m in crazy Mac territory.
Could someone please tell me why CA & GA hearing is still on tomorrow since the case itself is in a sort of legal-time-warp ? Does this mean they can compel them to answer depo questions for the case that may not be for quite some time ?
I must add, I have NEVER seen a Soap Opera in my life. They were banned in my home by my Mother and I continued on this same rule in my household. My Mother said her reasoning was based upon the fact their content was lacking in entertainment value, educational value, and was just a lot of miserable people doing miserable things to one another. She felt they could be a bad influence on a less educated society……Do you suppose these players in the Anthony and Sheddy, etc., etc., etc., cases have all been nourished/educated by the Soaps??? Disproportionately Dysfunctional ???
P.S. When Casey said she felt like she was troubled and wanted to be committed to her two (2) friends and they contacted her the next day to check on her and she said, ” All’s fine, I talked with my Mom!”…I have to wonder if PPD, hormonal changes after Caylee birth and or a new experimentation with drugs, (like Annie’s Zanax, coupled with her troubled initial mental capacity, (socio-pathio-narciscis) all grouped together were driving her over the edge of sanity??? JMHO
I would venture to guess, that Cindy has kicked herself a thousand times for not taking heed of KC’s need. So Sad, especially for Caylee.
I just have one comment to make about George and Cindy. Cindy had apparently wanted to take charge of Caylee and adopt her. Cindy was the one who insisted KC keep the baby, and not put her out for adoption. Can you imagine if Cindy had not interfered, Caylee would probably be alive today. Anyway, my point is Cindy is not what you would MOTY. So, if she and Georgie had in fact petitioned the court for custody of little Caylee and they had been awarded custody, what makes anybody think that Cindy would be any better a mother to Caylee than she was to KC? I mean, George and Cindy have had their heads stuck in the sand all of KC’s life and KC never had to pay the consequences for her actions. They were both enablers. What makes us think that Caylee would be any better off with Cindy? Had Caylee been adopted by someone outside of the family, that poor little girl would have stood a better chance. She would be alive today.
Shoozeyque #37 — I agree with you. The lesser of two evils in this case was Cindy, but only by a nose. Caylee would’ve lived to adulthood with G&C as her custodial caretakers. But based on what I’ve seen of all 4 Anthonys (G&C, Lee and Casey) I’m also convinced she would’ve had significant issues of the emotional/psychological/personality variety. She’d be in double trouble, with Casey as her bio mom and G&C as her role models for all intents and purposes. A complete disaster of both nature AND nurture, as I see it, with the added stress of constant infighting between Casey and her parents. If Caylee had a more sensitive, compassionate, non-narcissistic nature than the other members of her family, I think those very qualities would’ve make her existence inside that group even more damaging to her. It’s hard to contemplate that even if she had lived, Caylee’s world inside the House of Anthony would’ve been far from ideal, even on good days, and so much less than she deserved.
suz the anthonys have beeing swimming denile’ for the whole lenth of this drama of caseys.
sparkling
too funny poor cab drivers what a nightmare dilema ! but what could the cops do?
also silver its nice having you here with you insight as an attorney. helps us out alot
much appreciated:)
shoozeyque and jan: Just before little Caylee disappeared the Anthony home was a disaster zone. G+C were on the brink of divorce and financial failure. The ONLY reason Cindy did not go through with the divorce is because she did not want G to get half the house. There is no way they’d still be together today if not for little Caylee’s death. There is also no way they would have been given custody of that baby.
Now, disgustingly, they are “living the life”, not working, doing basically nothing of value because of money gained from the murder of their granddaughter. HORRIBLE PEOPLE!
It seems as though Casey’s Dream Team should actually have the name The Scheme Team.These people are just as dirty as dirty can be.And now they are going to try to point the ROTTEN Finger at one of the people who gave of their time and energy to look for Caylee.Now you can’t get any dirtier than that.I think they want the names of the searchers so that they can find out if anyone of them have a criminal record.And if they happen to find one who does,that person no matter how innocent he/she might be,they will be thrown under the bus.AM I RIGHT ON MS.BLINK? I think I am.This is going to hurt future missing persons searches.AND BY THE WAY,IS THIS PART OF THE REASON THAT ANDREA LYONS IS SO SUCCESSFULL,CASTING BLAME ON INNOCENT PEOPLE? IF IT IS,SHE NEEDS TO COME BEFORE THE ILL.BAR FOR HER ACTIONS.
I DON’T THINK BAEZ SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN OFF OF THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM.THE FLA.BAR NEEDS TO MAKE HIM TELL WHERE THE MONEY FOR CASEY’S DEFENSE IN COMING FROM.I THINK THE STATE AND THE PUBLIC HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW HOW SHE IS PAYING FOR THESE PEOPLE TO HELP HER OUT OF THE HOLE THAT SHE DUG FOR HERSELF.
Ms Tequila dresses and looks like she’s trying to be a lesser version of Pam Anderson! Oh well….glad my daughter doesn’t dress/act like that!
Well, I have just finished listening to Judge R in the civil case and am confident that John Morgan is probably throwing up at this moment. Dominick Casey only has to prove to the court signed confidentiality contracts and that is it! Work Product, work product and more work product. Mitnick and Dill were shot down time, time and time again. Waited all these months for nothing except humiliation and being given a whipping by a very argumentative and arrogant (IMO) judge. This case sunk today…quicker than a submarine with screen doors. No justice for Zaneida.
Today’s hearing (kind of a bust, unless I missed something while my video was buffering for the umpteenth time)
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-bk-casey-anthony-update-090909,0,165700.story
PP #44 … I completely agree. I am incensed by today’s hearing. God forbid anyone’s rights in this case other than the accused’s be considered.
this judge, it seems, would never have missed the date juggling of Mr. Dominic Casey, and he likely would not have missed the facts about Baez and his little contract ‘games’. On the other hand, he may not want this case to go anywhere near the criminal case in it’s inquiries, such as Mr. Mitnik’s direction today.
He may toss this case altogether now with the DP on the table– Casey should be able to once again point the finger at Zenaida, or Roy Kronk, or whomever. (whom, not ‘who’ as this judge would say)
Dominic Casey is as much about covering up a crime as anyone. And did you catch it that it was NOT he who was contracted by Baez’s Law Firm, but DP Investigations that entered into the contract.
Baez contracted the work while Dominic searched the woods for a body of the baby???
And what about Mr. Hoover– Dominic Casey told Mr. Hoover, a volunteer with NO ties to any privacy arrangement or requirement, that he was going to find the baby and bring her home, and that she was not alive.
And Cindy told (later denied in depo) Sgt. Allen that she sent people into the woods to search (subsequently, cindy claims proof that the baby was not there).
Kronk could be a good patsy for Casey– he may wish he had never got involved.
Could the resources in the Anthony camp, such as retired police officers, lawyer friends, have researched and found Kronk’s early calls, and then somehow, after the November ‘clearance’ proof of the woods via Dominic Casey and the camera documentation, planted the information so that it would leak back and be planted in the hands of someone like Roy Kronk, who would then take it upon himself to go back to the place he visited in August, but this time, find the bag and the skull.
Perfect set up, Baez couldn’t have done it any better, if he did indeed pull this off, with the Anthony help. Set up your own patsy from the call records/tip lines from August, give them time to learn the guy’s background then set him up for the fall.
suz,the point isnt about about cindy reporting casey missing(she talked to her practically every day )its about her reporting CAYLEE missing, i dont what law rules there are about grandparents whose grandchildren live with them filing missing person reports, but you better believe i wouldve placed several phonecalls to missing persons at the very least asking advice,on the day of or there after writing MY CAYLEE IS MISSING,i wouldve called child protection services,i would ve been reviewing my options very seriously,casey had never left the nest,or been gone more than 3 days,a two year being left in a hotel room with people you had never met,in another town,if you want to believe that cindy believed that.i give cindy up to two weeks,on june 30 ,i would be past the point of worried i would now be desperate.
and thats not even taking into account all the weirdness(gas cans,car accidents,jacksonville wedding(just all of a sudden jeff’s mom is having a wedding),car in shop) during june16-30.