Thread: CA Judges Caught Taking Millions In Pay-Offs - Vid

Richard I. Fine: County Influences Judges With Double $ Benefits, Developers Pay To Play

Internet Exclusive Video News Blog: 8:19 min
Release Date: March 06, 2011

Video: http://www.fulldisclosure.net/Blogs/95.php

Los Angeles, CA In an 8 minute video news report former U.S. Prosecutor Richard Fine describes his strategy for returning integrity to the California Court system and the reasons why State Superior Court Judges cannot sit on cases where they have received money from parties who appear before them. At a hearing on March 10, 2011 he is asking the Supervising Judge Elihu Berle, in Department 1 to rule on his Motion to Null and Void all Court Orders issued by Judge David Yaffe in the controversial Marina del Rey development case Marina Strand Colony II Homeowners Association vs. County of Los Angeles.

Motion To Null And Void Is Hot Potato
Since September 2010 three other Judges have refused to hear Fine's motion: Judge Yaffe abruptly resigned from office after refusing to hear the matter, Judge Ann Jones, recused herself because she had discussed the matter with Yaffe and Judge O'Brien refused a hearing and but denied the motion. According to L A County Auditor's Records attached to Fine's Motion to Null and Void JudgeYaffe has taken over $850,000 in double benefits payments from the County while sitting on cases where the county is involved, Judge Berle has taken $637,000 and Judge O'Brien almost $300,000. Fine contends that by taking these payments from the County, the Judges are disqualified from hearing the case based on the Judicial Canons of Ethics and the State Constitution prohibits such payments.

Pay To Play Influencing Supervisors On Redevelopments?
Fine's Court documents point to an alleged "Pay to Play" political contribution scheme between the Del Rey Shores Developers and the elected County Board of Supervisors who have given over $350 million in double benefits to all the L A. County Judges since 1987. He states that Marina del Rey Developers Jerry and Pat Epstein and their development partners, Hollywood Icon, Kirk Douglas and his wife Ann Douglas have given Supervisors thousands of dollars in contributions since 2008 a fact that he contends makes the votes in favor of the controversial project were illegal. Richard Fine was the former attorney representing homeowners who oppose the development, at the time he landed in L A County jail in solitary "coercive confinement" for 18 months for "civil contempt" of court. This was an unusual occurrence for a prominent former U. S. Prosecutor who served in the Department of Justice in Washington D.C.

What Will Judge Berle Do?
A total of three Superior Court Judges, have refused to hear Richard Fine's ten page Motion to Null and Void all Orders issued by Yaffe in favor of the Del Rey Shores development. Now a fourth, Judge Berle, is faced with the same decision. Will he refuse to hear the matter too? Is there any Superior Court Judge who is not conflicted by the County double benefits that can hear this case?

I wonder how often this goes on?

It is said that lawyers are the only profession that can accept a bribe and call it a fee. This might be hard to prosecute.