Gonzalez lawyers want Casey Anthony bankruptcy moved to Orlando - OS

Gonzalez lawyers want Casey Anthony bankruptcy moved to Orlando

February 6, 2013
By Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel

Attorneys for a woman suing Casey Anthony want her bankruptcy proceedings moved, arguing that Orlando is a more logical and convenient place than Tampa for the parties involved.

Anthony filed bankruptcy last month in Tampa, a move which could end lawsuits pending against her. Lawyers for Zenaida Gonzalez have vowed to keep their defamation suit alive.
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Gonzalez says her life was upended after Anthony said a similarly named nanny had kidnapped her daughter in 2008. The girl was later found dead. Authorities say the nanny wasn't real.

A meeting of creditors is currently scheduled for March 4 in Tampa, but in a new legal filing, attorneys representing Gonzalez argue the bankruptcy case should be relocated to Orlando.

"Transferring this case to Orlando would aid in the efficient administration of this case, promote judicial economy, and promote fairness to interested parties," the motion states, adding that Anthony's assets are located "in the Orlando area" and there is "no apparent connection... between [Anthony] and Tampa..."

Gonzalez's attorneys go on to accuse Anthony of "forum shopping" to avoid media coverage and argue witnesses would be "inconvenienced" if required to travel to Tampa repeatedly.

In response to the new motion, the federal bankruptcy court set a hearing for Feb. 26 in Tampa to hear argument on the proper location for Anthony's future bankruptcy proceedings.

Anthony, 26, was acquitted on all major charges in her daughter's death in 2011. She listed more than $792,000 in debt in her bankruptcy filing, and less than $1,100 in assets.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-02-06/news/os-casey-anthony-bankruptcy-orlando-move-20130206_1_zenaida-gonzalez-gonzalez-lawyers-casey-anthony