UPDATED: Blood Boiler: ANTI-MILITARY LAWYER DAMAGES MARINE’S CAR ON EVE OF DEPLOYMENT
H/T to Memeorandum for the link to this story at Blackfive about an asshole Chicago lawyer named Jay R. Grodner and Marine Sgt Mike McNulty, who is on activation orders to Iraq (second tour) :
While saying goodbye, at about 11am, he noticed a man leaning up against his car. Mike left his friend’s apartment and caught the man keying his car on multiple sides.
After caught in the process, the man told Mike, “you think you can do whatever you want with Department of Defense license plates and tags”. (In Illinois you can purchase veteran, Marine, or medal plates. Mike has Illinois Marine Corps license plates.) During the exchange, he made additional anti-military comments.
Mike called the Chicago police and had the man arrested. A citation against the man was issued for misdemeanor criminal damage to private property.
After sending the car to the body shop, it was determined there is $2400 in damage, making this a felony. Mike went to court Friday morning to collect the damages against Mr. Grodner and file felony charges. Though the damages are over $300 (the amount which determines felony or misdemeanor) Grodner offered Mike to pay his deductible, $100, and have Mike’s insurance pay for it.
The Illinois States Attorneys tried to coerce Mike into accepting the offer. Appalled, Mike said he wanted this to be a felony. The state told Mike that it was not worth pursuing felony damage against Grodner because they don’t have the time. In addition, the state prosecutors told him that he would never it ‘would be difficult to recover the damages’ from Grodner because he is a lawyer.
Instead, the State asked Mike if he would accept probation for Grodner. Mike accepted, probation was offered to Grodner, and Grodner declined the offer, saying within ear shot of Mike, “I’m not going to make it easy on this kid”. Mike’s next court date is tomorrow, Monday, December 31st, to pursue misdemeanor charges against Grodner.
Mike’s leave is over on January 2nd when he reports to Camp Pendleton before heading to Iraq.
Jay Grodner knows this and is going to file for a continuance until Mike is gone and cannot appear in court.
By account of the Illinois State’s Attorneys, Grodner is likely to get away with defacing Mike’s car with no penalty because, 1) Mike is about to deploy to Iraq and will not be available to appear in court, and 2) Grodner is a lawyer and can get out of this very easily.
So, does anyone have any ideas about how to proceed? All peaceful and rational ideas are welcomed. We are contacting the media about this, too.
Please pass this story on to anyone you know that might be able to help.
Update 12-31-07: The hearing is today. After about four hundred emails offering help, I’ve taken down the email address for now. I will post updates as they occur. There are several options and we’ll see what happens in court first before Mike decides on the next move.
And, BTW, a sincere thanks to all the Chicago Police Officers for their adivce and offers.
Let me be clear. I do not anyone to harrass the lawyer, threaten him, damage his property or propose any other illegal suggestion. We can win this one clean and fair - one way or another…
I will update the post when the hearing is complete. Until then, let’s discuss the story as we know it! I feel that the Marine was put off by the legal system. They don’t have time? Make time. This Marine is going to fight in a war..which side do you think has more time…could it be that the defendant is a lawyer? Will he lose his license if convicted?
Others blogging:
Eugene Volokh / The Volokh Conspiracy: ACTIVE MILITARY WITNESSES/COMPLAINANTS IN CRIMINAL CASES :
CraigC / protein wisdom: A**hole of the Year ” This jerk manages to pull off :
Jimmie / The Sundries Shack: Don’t Let the Anti-War Coward Get Away with His Crime
Curt / Flopping Aces: Military Hating Lawyer Keys Marines Car
Robbie / UrbanGrounds: Jay R. Grodner ” Anti-Military Chicago Lawyer Vandalizes a Marine’s Car
Dan / Riehl World View: Citizens for Legal Responsibility On Jay Grodner
Bill Hobbs: Lowest Life Form Yet Discovered
Hang Right Politics
JustBarkingMad
Outside The Wire
Ace of Spades HQ
Absolute Moral Authority
Chapomatic
UPDATE FROM AN EYEWITNESS IN COURT:
United States Marine Sgt. McNulty’s car was keyed by Attorney Jay R Grodner on 12/01/07.
The Sgt.’s leave is over on January 2nd when he reports to Camp Pendleton before heading to Iraq for his 2nd deployment.
The hearing was scheduled for 12/31/07 @ 13:30. It was held at Circuit Court of Cook County - outlying court branch 29 -Belmont & Western, Chicago IL. This is 6 miles NW of downtown Chicago and approx 65 miles round trip from where I live.
Sgt. McNulty was in civvies. He was there with family & friends and his attorney.
There also appeared to be a couple of supporters sitting in the gallery.
I sat in the last row. With my eyesight & hearing shot, the following is the best I can make out.
The court is secured by the Cook County Sheriff’s office The judge ( I didn’t hear his name or see his nameplate) convened the court early - at 13:24. (Courtroom 29 - I believe it was Felony court)
Sgt. McNulty was called at 13:33. Jay R. Grodner was a no show. The judge issued a bench warrant for Mr. Grodner @ 13:36.
Sgt. McNulty filed the complaint and raised his hand and swore that it was true.
I thought that was the end of it, so I got up to leave and waited in the waiting area for the Sgt. to come out.
A Marine PFC, in dress blues, cut & razor sharp, walked in to lend his support.
Sgt. McNulty and his entourage came out, then was called back into the courtroom for about 10 minutes.
He came back out to leave. I met them outside. I gave Sgt. McNulty FRegards and a Semper Fi and told him we have his back and that thousands have his back.
He thanked us for the support.
Jay Grodner (or a representative) must have showed up, as, when I talked with the Sgt.’s attorney, he said Grodner wanted a continuance to get an attorney.
The case was continued and will go to fruition and Sgt. McNulty wont have to re-appear.
Based on the somber mood of the situation, I decided not to take pictures.
If anybody else was there, maybe they can fill in more blanks.
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December 31, 2007 - 12:23 PM on December 31st, 2007
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December 31, 2007 - 12:33 PM on December 31st, 2007
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December 31, 2007 - 01:11 PM on December 31st, 2007
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December 31, 2007 - 01:42 PM on December 31st, 2007
MAKE THAT JERK LAWYER PAY FOR THE DAMAGES AND MAKE HIM DO THE LABOR THEN REVOKE HIS DRIVERS LICENS FOR 5 YEARS
December 31, 2007 - 02:17 PM on December 31st, 2007
While not revoke his license forever snowy. This is a vicious evil thing to do.
December 31, 2007 - 07:01 PM on December 31st, 2007
Hmmmm, My guess is that the Marine is insured with USAA. Want to see an attorney pay up? They got an illegal alien to pay up for not having insurance and running a red light right in front of me in 2004.
For that matter, the proper method to respond at this point in time would be for Naval JAG (Marines are part of the Navy) to file a complaint with the State of Illinois Bar association. As an officer of the court, the attorney could face having his license to practice revoked for being involved in a felony. I would also insist on felony charges being filed and give a Naval JAG officer power of attorney to pursue the case.
There is also another little trick that really gets under the skin of these people. The fact that on many military bases, they have lists of businesses who are considered as being unfair to military members. Exactly how well will this moron’s law practice do if it becomes public knowledge that he willfully defaced a Marine preparing for deployment’s car and refused to pay for the damages? I’m betting that a large Advertisement to that effect in a large paper in Chicago would probably put him out of the legal business. Especially if the people paying for the ad offered (I’m not going to say threaten, that might constitute extortion) to include the names of his clients (court records are public records) as supporting such an anti military act. Perhaps a nice, not so subtle, email to that effect to his clients would get the point across.
December 31, 2007 - 07:09 PM on December 31st, 2007
This scum bag should be personally and permanently defaced.
December 31, 2007 - 08:05 PM on December 31st, 2007
Jay R Grodner is an Idiot
Here is a photo of our attorney friend when he’s trying to pick up some dumb liberal sluts
January 1, 2008 - 11:27 AM on January 1st, 2008
FAO has some great ideas. I think Grodner also should be convicted of a felony; I believe that would keep him from practicing law again. Someone who is capable of such a juvenile idiotic act should not be an officer of the court.
January 1, 2008 - 11:34 AM on January 1st, 2008
According to the update that I posted and the one at the link to Blackfive…I believe we are talking felony! He will be deployed and it appears that the court will accomodate his absence…
January 1, 2008 - 11:53 AM on January 1st, 2008
That’s great news. I am very happy that the system will not let this degenerate weasel scumbag Grodner escape justice just because a better man is serving his country.
January 1, 2008 - 12:24 PM on January 1st, 2008
You don’t go after an attorney in court, that’s his battlefield of choice. You go after him in a manner that will really hurt him, you cost him his clients and/or his license. Pick your battles and where you fight them. This guy seems to think that he can win in a court room, so you crucify him in the public square. Ambulance chasers have little save their reputations and once that gets destroyed, they lose everything.
I’m a firm believer in hitting someone where it’s going to hurt most and in a manner that will cause the most damage as quickly as possible. Few things will prevent a fight like asking the other guy if he can afford to be out of work indefinitely, and advising him that that will be the result if he starts something. Someone needs to ask this jerk that question. Ask him if his license and reputation are worth $2500 to him.
January 1, 2008 - 01:04 PM on January 1st, 2008
The blogs have been going after his business! Big TIME!
January 1, 2008 - 02:25 PM on January 1st, 2008
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