Thread: Jury Awards Family of Daniel Golden $37.5 Million

Jury Awards Family of Daniel Golden $37.5 Million
Last Update: 4:28 pm


Illegal Immigrant Benito Ocampo Albarran

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) - The family of slain Huntsville police officer Daniel Howard Golden was awarded $37.5 million in punitive damages Tuesday by a Huntsville jury.

Golden's family had sued his convicted killer, Benito Ocampo Albarran along with the El Jalisco Mexican restaurant where Albarran worked.

The jury awarded the Golden family $25 million from Albarran and $12.5 million from the restaurant.

Golden was killed in 2005 after answering a domestic dispute call at the restaurant in Northwest Huntsville. According to evidence and testimony from Albarran's murder trial, he shot Golden twice in the head, killing him. Court records indicate Albarran was intoxicated at the time of the shooting. He was sentenced to death for the crime in 2008.

http://www.waaytv.com/news/local/story/ ... ppw0w.cspx

Judge set to decide Albarran sentence
Wednesday, September 03, 2008 By DAVID HOLDENTimes Staff Writer david.holden@htimes.com
Illegal immigrant convicted of killing Daniel Golden

Circuit Judge Karen Hall will weigh aggravating factors against mitigating factors today to determine the punishment of convicted murderer Benito Ocampo Albarran.

A jury voted 10-2 on June 26 recommending the judge impose the death penalty.

The jury convicted Albarran, 34, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, on a charge of capital murder June 19 in the brutal slaying of Huntsville police officer Daniel Golden.

Under the law, Hall, like the jurors in their deliberations to recommend punishment, must weigh the mitigating factors against the aggravating factors.

The aggravating factors the prosecutors have relied on is that Golden's murder was heinous, atrocious and cruel when compared with other capital murders. The defense submitted a list of 200 mitigating factors Tuesday for Hall to consider.

The prosecutors and the defense lawyers will give their arguments today beginning at 9:30 a.m.

According to testimony, Albarran's wife, Laura Castrejon, called 911 on Aug. 29, 2005, and told a 911 operator her husband was drunk, fighting her and acting crazy. Golden responded to the call at Jalisco Mexican restaurant on Jordan Lane.

Albarran was armed with two .38 caliber revolvers when he met Golden in the parking lot and engaged the officer in a gunbattle.

Golden's police-issue, 15-shot Beretta 9 mm pistol jammed and he fell to the ground after he was shot in the stomach. Albarran then emptied both of his revolvers, shooting Golden twice in the head after the officer had fallen.

Hall denied two defense motions Tuesday - one claiming Albarran is not eligible for the death penalty because he is mentally retarded. Albarran's lawyers Richard Jaffe, Derek Drennan and Bruce Gardner based their argument on a June 2002 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which says the execution of persons with mental retardation is unconstitutional....
The rest of the article is $2.95
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/ ... xml&coll=1

this is good news but we all know they wont collect anything

Seize the killer's property and assets, and seize the restaurant business, and freeze all of the restaurant's assets immediately!!!!!!

This punitive damage award is largely symbolic as neither the illegal invader or restaurant will ever pay a dime on this award. But it sends a message that an employer can be held liable for damages if an illegal invader commits a crime while under their employment.

Looks like the owner was an illegal too and he skipped. This has a bit more information.
More families should sue them and their employers as this suit now sets a precedent, his employer brought him here illegally.

There should be more suits against the companies that hire illegal felons that go out in the community and wreck havoc.

Since it is all about making money on cheap labor I think the companies that hire them should be financially responsible for any damage they do.


Jury grants $37.5 million to family of fallen officer
Posted: Apr 19, 2011 10:26 AM CDT
Updated: Apr 19, 2011 6:40 PM CDT
By Elizabeth Gentle - bio | email

Albarran's wife, Laura Castraon, testified Tuesday morning.Huntsville, AL (WAFF) - A jury ruled in favor of the family of murdered Huntsville Police Officer Daniel Golden in a civil suit.

The family sued convicted cop killer Benito Albarran and the restaurant he managed.

Albarran was convicted of capital murder for the shooting death of Golden. Albarran shot Golden outside his restaurant on Jordan Lane in August 2005.

Officer Golden's widow filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Albarran and the owner of the restaurant, Fausto Albarran, who incidentally never showed up to court.

"He was a defendant in the case. He was served with lawsuit papers years ago. The fact he didn't show up I have no control over that," said Plantiff's attorney Matt Minner.

The jury granted the Golden family $25 million in punitive damages against Albarran Tuesday. They also granted $12.5 million against Jalisco Mexican restaurant.

Albarran's wife, Laura Castraon, testified Tuesday morning that her husband drank on the job and that he was abusive.

Defense attorney Ben Rice told the court it didn't make sense to hold the restaurant accountable for Albarran's actions.

Minner argued the Jalisco refuses to accept responsibility and violated the law."That's what the jury found against the Jalisco. That they allowed him to get drunk and turn to this outrage and the result was this shooting," said Minner.

The jury awarded $37 million dollars in damages. But with Albarran on death row, how will they collect?

Minner said they are going after every available asset, not only belonging to Benito Albarran but the Jalisco restaurant too.

http://www.myfoxal.com/story/14473861/f ... nst-killer

Officer Golden's widow filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Albarran and the owner of the restaurant, Fausto Albarran, who incidentally never showed up to court.

Gee what a shock! He's probably in mexico lying low for a while - planning his next illegal entry into the country - to do the same thing all over again.

Another Noble Immigrant that has come here to do what Americans won't do.

I