Well to my knowledge, the Z’s are by no means rich or well-off. I wonder how they could afford to hire and pay their excellent defense team. Donations? Pro-bono? Does anyone know for sure?
They had a defense fund. A lot of people mortgage something. It is part of the power of the State that it ihas unlimited resources to bleed someone.
>> Donations? Pro-bono? Does anyone know for sure?
Don’t know for sure, but I bet it’s some of both.
The Zs had a sizeable defense fund; I don’t think they got a lot of it taken away at the bail stage but I could be wrong.
O’Mara seems to be a decent guy who isn’t going to get Z halfway and then leave him high and dry. So I guess you could call that some “pro bono”. Of course, for someone in a service business, sticking around generates goodwill whereas walking away generates bad will, so it’s kind of a business decision.
Then too, this trial has already catapaulted both West and O’Mara into that “whole ‘nuther level” of fame, which can be parlayed into $$$. If — sorry, *when* — O’Mara and West get the acquittal, their cachet (and hourly rate) should soar.
And that doesn’t even include possible book deals, seminar and speaking fees, ...
So, for a savvy attorney with the long view for his practice, the intangibles from doing this trial may alone make sticking it out for uncertain pay a good idea.
Just my guess.
Mostly donations. They are not wealthy. O’Mara is a smart fellow - he’s well regarded by other lawyers here.