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Michael Schiavo lawyer
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | March 25, 2005 | WorldNetDaily.com

Posted on 03/25/2005 11:32:07 AM PST by WBurgVACon

The judge who tried the Terri Schiavo case and most recently rejected Gov. Jeb Bush's request to intervene, received a campaign contribution from the lawyer pressing for the brain-injured woman's death, raising questions of a conflict of interest.

According to Florida's Department of State, Pinellas County Circuit Court Judge George W. Greer received a contribution of $250 for his 2004 re-election campaign from Felos & Felos, the law firm of George Felos.

Felos, known as a "right-to-die" advocate, represents Terri Schiavo's estranged husband, Michael Schiavo, who won a court order from Greer to have the woman's life-sustaining feeding tube removed one week ago.

The contribution's apparent conflict of interest was raised by an Internet site investigating the Schiavo case, the Empire Journal, and by Rev. D. James Kennedy's group Renew America.

The contribution from Felos came May 7, 2004, one day after Pinellas County Circuit Court Judge Douglas Baird ruled "Terri's Law" unconstitutional. The Florida Legislature's measure was designed to enable Gov. Bush to intervene in the previous instance in which Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed.

The contribution from Felos was the only one made that day, indicating it was not part of a fund-raising effort.

The Empire Journal also reported contributions to Greer were made by three other lawyers who represented Michael Schiavo at various stages in the case.

Deborah Bushnell, Gwyneth Stanley and Stephen G. Nilsson each contributed at least $250 to Greer's re-election campaign, as did court-appointed attorneys representing the husband's interest, Pacarek & Herman and Richard Pearse.

WND attempted to reach the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission, the independent body that investigates complaints against state judges, but there was no response.

Felos' office in Dunedin, Fla., also could not be reached.

The Empire Journal notes that in Florida, a judge is not required to recuse himself if he receives a contribution from an attorney in a case over which he presides.

Nevertheless, a contribution can establish the appearance of impropriety, and the state's code of judicial conduct requires a judge to remove himself in such a case.

Ronald D. Rotunda, professor of law at George Mason University, told the Empire Journal he sees such contributions as problematic.

He cites a 2002 poll of the American Bar Association concluding 84 percent of all Americans are concerned that the impartiality of judges is compromised by their need to raise campaign contributions.

Rotunda said judicial campaign contributions constitute or appear to constitute a tacit quid pro quo in which the judge favors or tilts towards the contributor-litigant.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: judicialcorruption; schiavo; terri; terrihysteria; terrischiavo
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1 posted on 03/25/2005 11:32:09 AM PST by WBurgVACon
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To: WBurgVACon
Michael Schiavo lawyer gave to judge's campaign

Gee. I'm so shocked.
2 posted on 03/25/2005 11:32:59 AM PST by DustyMoment (Repeal CFR NOW!!)
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To: DustyMoment

Yeah...big surprise...as they say "follow the money."


3 posted on 03/25/2005 11:34:09 AM PST by housewife101
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To: WBurgVACon

It's just a big death orgy with these people.


4 posted on 03/25/2005 11:34:35 AM PST by beaversmom
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To: WBurgVACon
Nevertheless, a contribution can establish the appearance of impropriety, and the state's code of judicial conduct requires a judge to remove himself in such a case.

doesn't that mean he can be taken off of the case now?

5 posted on 03/25/2005 11:35:26 AM PST by WBurgVACon
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To: housewife101

And we found it.


6 posted on 03/25/2005 11:35:30 AM PST by international american (Tagline now fireproof....purchased from "Conspiracy Guy Custom Taglines"LLC)
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To: housewife101
Yeah...big surprise...as they say "follow the money."
Yeah, people would do anything for $250. I mean, look at what it'll get you.
7 posted on 03/25/2005 11:35:45 AM PST by Clara Lou (Hillary Clinton: "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.")
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To: WBurgVACon

Judgenfuhrer Greer: "The money must flow. On your knees or die."

8 posted on 03/25/2005 11:36:44 AM PST by Diogenesis (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: WBurgVACon

There has got to be more to it than just that little campaign contribution...maybe the promise of more, maybe blackmail somewhere. Why sell your soul for such a small amount of money?


9 posted on 03/25/2005 11:36:48 AM PST by Aria
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To: WBurgVACon

This whole charade reeks of corruption.. I hope it will be possible for law enforement agencies to investiagte this. But considering the political connections involved, it will be like getting to the Rose Law firm billing records.


10 posted on 03/25/2005 11:36:57 AM PST by MisterRepublican (End Judicial Tyranny Now!)
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To: DustyMoment

Shocked that there is gambling going on in this casino.

The good news that this guy is going to be up for reelection. What a nice message his defeat would be to other like minded jack-@#% judges. Apparently, there are plenty.


11 posted on 03/25/2005 11:37:27 AM PST by HonestConservative (Bless our Servicemen!)
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To: WBurgVACon

$250 sure buys a lot in Florida (seems like a non-story to me)


12 posted on 03/25/2005 11:37:40 AM PST by hattend (Liberals! Beware the Perfect Rovian Storm [All Hail the Evil War Monkey King, Chimpus Khan!])
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To: Clara Lou

 

GREER DONOR

AMOUNT

POSITION

ACTION

Lawyers For
Michael Schiavo

Hamden Baskin III   

Felos & Felos           

Deborah Bushnell    

Gyneth S. Stanley   

Steven Nilsson        

Beth Wilson             

 

$500  & $500
$250
$250
$150 and $250
$250 and $250
$250 and $100

Michael Schiavo’s Lawyer[s]

Greer
denies many or all of Schindler’s in favor of Felos
Greer Allows hearsay as evidence/disallows Schindler’s statements

Felos former chairman of board
of directors of Hospice of Florida Suncoast

 

 

Daniel Grieco                

 

$300

Employer of Michael Schiavo at time of Feb. 25, 1990 then attorneyOf record for Michael up until the malpractice award,
 

Incident when injuries occurred to Terri,Reappeared as attorney for selected pleadings

State/County
Employees/Elected

Frank Nagatani

$50 and $50

 

DCF Attorney

Squashed
testimony for DCF Investigator to appear on behalf of abuse allegations

 

Bernie McCabe

In-Kind

State Attorney

Allowed underling to appear in campaign ad for Greer
Will not call Grand Jury

 

Everett Rice

$500 & In-Kind

Sheriff/State Rep

Didn’t conduct criminal investigation into what really happened to Terri or allegations of abuse after initial incident
Allowed Deputy & use of county property to appear in campaign ad for Greer

 

John Carassas

$100

 

Deputy Attorney General

Florida Deputy Attorney General, involvement with
Rice in Sept. 2003 motion for Greer recusal dueTo improper discussion of case
 

 

James Hellickson        

 

$150 & In Kind

Assistant state attorney in office of Bernie McCabe, Pinellas/Pasco State Attorney


Appeared in Greer Campaign Ad

 

 

Paula Shea

In Kind

Assistant Pinellas Public Defender

Appeared in Greer Campaign Ad 

 

Andrew
Sasso            

 

$100

Officer in Guardianship monitoring program and

Guardian ad litem pool

Was supposed to:
“evaluate information about the well-being and property of all persons adjudicated of having a legal incapacity so that the court can fulfill its legal obligation to protect and preserve the interests of the ward,”
FL COURTS

Misc. People w connections

Richard La Belle           

 

$100

Member of Board of Directors of
Advocacy Center
for Persons with Disabilities

Supposedly ACPD
doing investigation into Schiavo case
 

 

Battaglia, Ross, Disus and Wein     

 

$250

Principal Kelli Crabb is past chairperson of Hospice Foundation of Florida Suncoast and member of Board of directors
 

 

 

Gus Bilirakis       

 

$40 cash

Former Hospice Board member and of American Hellonic Education Progressive Assoc. (AHEPA)
 

Felos past Governor

 

Divito and Higham           

 

$250 and $250

Law firm employed by St. Petersburg/Venice
Dioceses

Terri’s Dioceses

 

 

 

 


More? Click here

13 posted on 03/25/2005 11:38:12 AM PST by Diogenesis (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: MeekOneGOP

This could be major. New evidence?

[Emphasized at the top of my 'homepage' [profile], while biting tongue....]


14 posted on 03/25/2005 11:38:24 AM PST by Arthur Wildfire! March (<<<< Profile page streamlined, solely devoted Schiavo research)
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To: housewife101

Reminds me of the story about the airline standards probe, circa 1996...

IIRC, Gore was appointed to head some commission to look into airline security, he was lobbied by the wife of some obstructionist Senate Minority Leader (rhymes with a**hole), to recommmend little or no upgrades to be made. The airline industry ended up making a major contribution to the Clinton/Gore reelection campaign of that year.

Allegedly, one of the discussed improvements was reinforcing/securing airplane cockpit doors...nothing ever became of that, though... /unfortunate heavy dose of sarcasm


15 posted on 03/25/2005 11:39:29 AM PST by Christian4Bush ("In Common" for 1000, Alex: Beached whale, terrorist, juvenile murder 1. "Whom can U not starve?")
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To: DustyMoment
Lawyers and law firms routinely give money to both candidates in every race in the hope that it buys them some consideration at trial. $250 is a piddly amount, probably the minimum he thought he could contribute without it looking like an insult.

I wish we would spend more time on the issues instead of innuendo and demonizing.

16 posted on 03/25/2005 11:39:53 AM PST by Dog Gone
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To: DustyMoment
IMHO, our STATE LEGISLATURE is to blame here, they could have passed a law that THE STATE OF FLORIDA wants to err on the side of life. In cases where (a LIVING WILL IS NOT PESENT) and a spouse has abandoned their role as spouse, another family member (who is willing to err on the side of life) will be granted custody their child. This would cover the SCHIAVO case, and any future cases like it. UNFORTUNATELY the Florida Senate (9 RINOS)

Florida State Senate - 9 Rino's to REMEMBER

failed to act, and that is the issue. I believe the courts are correct in the LEGAL sense, and the FLORIDA LEGISLATURE is to blame for FAILING to give the courts a leg to stand on.

17 posted on 03/25/2005 11:40:03 AM PST by davidosborne (www.davidosborne.net)
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To: Diogenesis

The big black robe is perfect. He reminds me of the way Death is pictured, or a black vulture.


18 posted on 03/25/2005 11:40:05 AM PST by winner3000
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To: Diogenesis

I've seen that multiple times. So what? Lawyers donate to judges. What do you think of that? What are the odds those same lawyers also donated to Greer's opposition in the last election? They do it where I live. I repeat: Big deal.


19 posted on 03/25/2005 11:41:10 AM PST by Clara Lou (Hillary Clinton: "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.")
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To: Clara Lou

ALSO::

Judge GREER's wife is on the Board of the Hospice.
Felos was on the board.
There is a 14 Million law suit against the Hospice.
The CEO female of the Hospice is a DEATH ADVOCATE.

I call this the DEATH FACTORY.


20 posted on 03/25/2005 11:41:53 AM PST by Zenith
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