Casey Anthony bankruptcy hearing: Key rulings expected - OS

Casey Anthony bankruptcy hearing: Key rulings expected
Legal fight over Casey Anthony's bankruptcy resumes today in Tampa.

By Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel
4:25 a.m. EST, November 5, 2013

TAMPA — An important ruling is expected today in the legal fight over Casey Anthony's bankruptcy, which could decide the fate of the two defamation claims against her.

Zenaida Gonzalez and Roy Kronk have been fighting to salvage their lawsuits against Anthony since she filed for bankruptcy in January. They filed complaints in federal court, arguing their claims should not be discharged like Anthony's other debts because she was "willful and malicious" in damaging their reputations.

Anthony's legal team has filed motions to dismiss the two complaints. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge K. Rodney May is expected to rule on those motions at a hearing today.

If May rules in Anthony's favor, the two defamation claims would likely be wiped away along with her other debts as part of the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process.

Gonzalez sued in 2008 after Anthony claimed her 2-year-old daughter had been kidnapped by a similarly named nanny. The girl was actually dead, authorities determined.

Kronk, the meter-reader who found Caylee Anthony's remains, alleges Anthony's defense lawyers made false statements wrongly implicating him in Caylee's death.

Anthony was charged with first-degree murder in her daughter's death, but acquitted of that charge at trial in July 2011. She has been living in hiding ever since.

This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/caylee-anthony/os-casey-anthony-bankruptcy-lawsuits-ruling-20131105,0,3149783.story