Posted on 11/18/2005 12:46:00 PM PST by nickcarraway
(AP) A jury reached a verdict Friday in the wrongful death civil case against actor Robert Blake, acquitted of criminal charges eight months ago in the death of his wife.
The jury finding was to be read in court later in the day. If they found him liable in the May 2001 death of Bonny Lee Bakley, jurors could order the former "Baretta" star to pay damages to her children.
Jurors had begun deliberations Nov. 4; Friday was their eighth day.
Blake was acquitted at his murder trial last March. Bakley's four children sued the 72-year-old actor in 2002, claiming he should be held responsible for their mother's death and forced to pay damages.
Eric Dubin, an attorney for the children, contended that Blake despised Bakley, believing she trapped him into marriage by getting pregnant, and that he decided to get rid of her so he could raise the daughter he adored, Rosie, by himself.
Blake did not testify in the criminal trial but took the stand in the civil case and denied the allegations.
Bakley was found shot to death in Blake's car on a street near a restaurant where they had just dined. Blake claims he went back into the restaurant to retrieve a handgun that he carried for protection but had left behind in their booth, then went back out to the car and found his wife mortally wounded in the passenger seat.
If they decided Blake was behind the killing, jurors were then asked to determine if he collaborated with his former handyman, Earle Caldwell.
Any wagers? This trial's been such a circus -- with a wacky judge as ringmaster -- that I bet Blake gets away clean.
Again?
I say he will again be found not-liable or whatever the terminology is.
That anyone cares about this at all shows a profoundly screwed-up sense of priorities.
Where's the CBS story on Iran having a blueprint for an atomic weapon?
Verdict to be read at 4p ET.
It's California. All bets are off for anything that makes sense.
Ha! True!
This is about wealth re-distribution. The soak-the-rich tendencies of California juries will determine that Blake is liable.
If her "income" was largely derived from scams, is it reasonable for her family to expect to be compensated for that?
Would it be reasonable, in the event of some award, to countersue for unjust enrichment?
Just exactly what is the life of a grifter worth?
You are absolutely correct that this is about wealth redistribution. It is also a second bite at the apple when they have failed to get their pound of flesh. See Post No.10.
If one has been found not guilty in criminal court, how in the name of all that is legaleze, can they be taken to court in a civil action for the same thing?
I could understand civil damages if they were found guilty in criminal court, but not if they are found not guilty..
Found "Liable" for death. Damages to follow.
Ordered to pay $30M in damages.
I'm shocked.
Mind if I take a shot at it? :)
Criminal court is the judgment of the action and civil court is the judgment of the liability.
Basically, criminal court decides if he did it and civil court decides if its his fault that it happened, particularly since he left her out there in the alley alone because he 'forgot' his gun.
If it is found to be his fault, is he accountable (or 'liable) for paying monetary damages to Blakely's children.
I thought he was fairly good in The Little Rascals and when he played the little Mexican kid in that Humphrey Bogart movie
LOL!! I doubt he has 1/1000 th of that left after his criminal trial.
That's ridiculous. 30 million? He'll do an OJ and they'll never see any of it. Besides, does he have their daughter? Wouldn't she be the rightful person to receive any money? Or is it her sister that will get it all?
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