Casey Anthony's attorney wants judge to dismiss civil case

CASEY ANTHONY CASE

Casey Anthony's attorney wants judge to dismiss civil case
Casey Anthony's attorneys want the defamation case against her dismissed,
claiming it was filed to generate publicity for a law firm with offices
in Orlando.

Sarah Lundy |Sentinel Staff Writer1:49 PM EDT, May 18, 2009

Casey Anthony's attorneys want the defamation case against the single mother dismissed,
claiming it was filed to generate publicity for a law firm with offices
in Orlando.

A hearing is set for Tuesday before Orange Circuit Court Judge Jose R.
Rodriguez, who is overseeing the civil case.
The Morgan & Morgan law firm, which has offices in Florida, Georgia
and Mississippi, is representing Zenaida Gonzalez, a 38-year-old Kissimmee mother of six.

In July, Anthony told investigators that a baby sitter named Zenaida
Fernandez-Gonzalez abducted 2-year-old Caylee Marie a month earlier.

The toddler's skeletal remains were found Dec. 11 in woods less than a
mile from the Anthony home in east Orange County. Anthony is charged
with first-degree murder and her case is pending in criminal court.
The civil lawsuit was filed in September. So far, several people,
including Anthony's parents and brother, have been questioned under
oath by John Morgan, Keith Mitnik and other attorneys at the law firm's Orlando office.
Anthony's attorney, Jonathan Kasen, have not attended any of the interviews.

In documents filed in February, Kasen contends Gonzalez has failed to
show how Anthony has damaged the Kissimmee woman's reputation. He
questions whether Gonzalez lost her job and failed to find new
employment because of Anthony's actions.

He also points out that Anthony told detectives last summer that she
did not know the Zenaida Gonzalez from Kissimmee when shown a picture
and reported she wasn't the baby sitter she claimed took her child.

"The only reasonable conclusion that can be drawn about the plaintiff's
suit was that it was filed solely to generate publicity for the
plaintiff's law firm," Kasen wrote.

Kasen could not be reached today for comment.

Mitnik scoffed at the argument and added that the original complaint
will be amended, adding statements Anthony told her mother, Cindy
Anthony, about his client. This will make Kasen's request to dismiss
the case moot.

He plans to request the judge's permission to seek punitive damages

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/caylee-anthony/orl-bk-casey-anthony-civil-case-dismissed-051809,0,3124642.story

Casey Anthony: Gonzalez attorney predicts fireworks

posted by halboedeker on May 18, 2009 6:18:59 PM

What happens next in Zenaida Gonzalez's defamation suit against Casey Anthony?

A South Florida attorney representing Anthony will argue tomorrow for the suit's dismissal.

But Gonzalez attorney Keith Mitnik told WESH-Channel 2 that the original defamation claim is being amended and that Gonzalez's team will seek punitive damages. Gonzalez says her life was destroyed after Anthony linked her to Caylee Anthony's disappearance. Casey Anthony is charged with the first-degree murder of her 2-year-old daughter.

WESH offered a preview of what's coming tomorrow. "Mitnik tells WESH2 there could be some fireworks," anchor Jim Payne said.Just what we've come to expect in this saga.

WESH, WFTV-Channel 9 and WKMG-Channel 6 reported that deputy Richard Cain had resigned today.

"He was supposed to appeal tomorrow to get his job back," WFTV anchor Bob Opsahl said. "The sheriff's office fired him for lying about whether he investigated the site where Caylee's remains were eventually found."

WESH anchor Payne said Cain sent in a two-sentence resignation notice.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2009/05/casey-anthony-wesh-asks-if-gonzalez-lawsuit-is-on-life-support.html

Proffer for Punitive Damages

http://www.forthepeople.com/Zenaida_Proffer_in_Support_of_Punitive_Damages.pdf