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ROBSON & SAFECHUCK NEW CASE UPDATES:
This past month Dan Reed filed a request to record the court hearings—a sign he remains obsessed w/ MJ & working behind-the-scenes for future LN content.
This request was granted but with restrictions to not film judge, witnesses or jurors.
This past month Dan Reed filed a request to record the court hearings—a sign he remains obsessed w/ MJ & working behind-the-scenes for future LN content.
This request was granted but with restrictions to not film judge, witnesses or jurors.
Both cases have been reassigned to Mark Young. This was a court decision, not a request by either side.
The prior judge (Beckloff) took a new role in 2019. (Note: He originally expected to remain the judge due to his "institutional knowledge" of all MJ probate cases since 2009.)
The prior judge (Beckloff) took a new role in 2019. (Note: He originally expected to remain the judge due to his "institutional knowledge" of all MJ probate cases since 2009.)
An in-person status hearing was originally slated for March 19, 2020. This was one that Dan Reed planned to be present at with his camera crew.
Due to conflict and/or COVID-19 it was rescheduled for June 11.
(Expect to see Dan/Amos, Wade, James and presumably Anthony Edwards.)
Due to conflict and/or COVID-19 it was rescheduled for June 11.
(Expect to see Dan/Amos, Wade, James and presumably Anthony Edwards.)
SAFECHUCK CASE:
The estate's original demurrer of James' case referenced other issues unrelated to the statute of limitations.
The appeal court did not address any of those outstanding issues.
The estate intends to file a renewed demurrer, focusing on these undecided matters.
The estate's original demurrer of James' case referenced other issues unrelated to the statute of limitations.
The appeal court did not address any of those outstanding issues.
The estate intends to file a renewed demurrer, focusing on these undecided matters.
SAFECHUCK CASE:
Further, MJ's team expects to conduct a full discovery against James, just as they did for Wade.
They estimate 10 months to complete it (circa Feb. 2021).
They will then file a motion for summary judgment based on this discovery if any causes survive demurrer.
Further, MJ's team expects to conduct a full discovery against James, just as they did for Wade.
They estimate 10 months to complete it (circa Feb. 2021).
They will then file a motion for summary judgment based on this discovery if any causes survive demurrer.
SAFECHUCK CASE:
MJ's team will argue that both of these cases should remain separate and will legally contest all attempts by Finaldi to consolidate them into one.
The estate will argue that while the issues of law are common, the claims & facts of each case are very different.
MJ's team will argue that both of these cases should remain separate and will legally contest all attempts by Finaldi to consolidate them into one.
The estate will argue that while the issues of law are common, the claims & facts of each case are very different.
SAFECHUCK CASE:
Meanwhile Finaldi wants to consolidate both cases into one for all future proceedings.
This is strategic by Finaldi to muddy the waters of each weak individual case, by pretending they share common claims & patterns and so witnesses only need to appear one time.
Meanwhile Finaldi wants to consolidate both cases into one for all future proceedings.
This is strategic by Finaldi to muddy the waters of each weak individual case, by pretending they share common claims & patterns and so witnesses only need to appear one time.
SAFECHUCK CASE:
Finaldi does not anticipate any notable filings in the near future beyond opposition to the estate's future motions (e.g., demurrer / summary judgement).
Safechuck does plan to "seek financial discovery" to calculate desired punitive damages ("it's not about $")
Finaldi does not anticipate any notable filings in the near future beyond opposition to the estate's future motions (e.g., demurrer / summary judgement).
Safechuck does plan to "seek financial discovery" to calculate desired punitive damages ("it's not about $")
ROBSON CASE:
Unlike James' case, the estate based Wade's initial demurrer request purely on the statute of limitations (now overturned due to AB 218).
As such, they anticipate filing new motions citing other causes of action similar to the renewed causes pending in James' case.
Unlike James' case, the estate based Wade's initial demurrer request purely on the statute of limitations (now overturned due to AB 218).
As such, they anticipate filing new motions citing other causes of action similar to the renewed causes pending in James' case.
ROBSON CASE:
The estate anticipates another six months of new discovery in Wade's case. This will include all of the post-dismissal materials including his 2017+ interviews, LN claims etc.
They will then file motions for summary judgement based on other faulty claims as well.
The estate anticipates another six months of new discovery in Wade's case. This will include all of the post-dismissal materials including his 2017+ interviews, LN claims etc.
They will then file motions for summary judgement based on other faulty claims as well.
ROBSON CASE:
There are still six outstanding motions in Wade's case from 2017 that will be re-argued and decided, largely from Robson's side.
This includes motions relating to attempted depos (e.g., Jonathan Spence), Lily Chandler, Tabitha Marks, Marion Fox, Leroy Whaley.
There are still six outstanding motions in Wade's case from 2017 that will be re-argued and decided, largely from Robson's side.
This includes motions relating to attempted depos (e.g., Jonathan Spence), Lily Chandler, Tabitha Marks, Marion Fox, Leroy Whaley.
ROBSON CASE:
Like James' case, Finaldi does not anticipate any noteworthy filings in the near future beyond responses to any that the estate files.
However, Finaldi also plans to "seek financial discovery" in Wade's case to determine punitive damage amounts ("not about $"
)
Like James' case, Finaldi does not anticipate any noteworthy filings in the near future beyond responses to any that the estate files.
However, Finaldi also plans to "seek financial discovery" in Wade's case to determine punitive damage amounts ("not about $"
)
DISCOVERY PROCESS:
The defense already has 75,000 PAGES of case docs including Wade's discovery.
They've done almost none for James due to his early dismissal.
They now intend to conduct an independent mental exam (as they did to Wade) as well as request JS depo & discovery.
The defense already has 75,000 PAGES of case docs including Wade's discovery.
They've done almost none for James due to his early dismissal.
They now intend to conduct an independent mental exam (as they did to Wade) as well as request JS depo & discovery.
DISCOVERY PROCESS:
The defense will seek discovery from James' family, other parties & experts.
They will also invoke international discovery aimed at Amos / Dan Reed for depos and to obtain video recordings from LN and so forth.
They estimate 10 months to complete this.
The defense will seek discovery from James' family, other parties & experts.
They will also invoke international discovery aimed at Amos / Dan Reed for depos and to obtain video recordings from LN and so forth.
They estimate 10 months to complete this.
DISCOVERY PROCESS:
The estate notes how Finaldi's depositions for Wade's case also spanned to discuss James (even more-so considering many didn't recognize Wade at all).
However, both sides may still have to re-depose some to ask more targeted questions pertaining to Safechuck.
The estate notes how Finaldi's depositions for Wade's case also spanned to discuss James (even more-so considering many didn't recognize Wade at all).
However, both sides may still have to re-depose some to ask more targeted questions pertaining to Safechuck.
DISCOVERY PROCESS:
Finaldi argues their participation in "an Emmy award-winning doc + media and sexual abuse survivor advocacy events" was irrelevant to the case
. But he does not anticipate objecting to the defense seeking discovery of that (wonder how many tapes Dan 'lost').
Finaldi argues their participation in "an Emmy award-winning doc + media and sexual abuse survivor advocacy events" was irrelevant to the case
. But he does not anticipate objecting to the defense seeking discovery of that (wonder how many tapes Dan 'lost').
DISCOVERY PROCESS:
Finaldi argues he may need up to TWO YEARS to perform discovery in Safechuck's case due to the "range of national and international locations of abuse" etc.
Finaldi still can't prove James was ever employed by MJJ Productions as claimed during abuse timeline.
Finaldi argues he may need up to TWO YEARS to perform discovery in Safechuck's case due to the "range of national and international locations of abuse" etc.
Finaldi still can't prove James was ever employed by MJJ Productions as claimed during abuse timeline.
DISCOVERY PROCESS:
In Wade's case, estate may deposed Wade again for residual matters from before (possibly pertaining to his book which he initially claimed was privileged).
They need six months for new discovery of Wade and his family, spanning to UK discovery of LN/Dan/Amos.
In Wade's case, estate may deposed Wade again for residual matters from before (possibly pertaining to his book which he initially claimed was privileged).
They need six months for new discovery of Wade and his family, spanning to UK discovery of LN/Dan/Amos.
DISCOVERY PROCESS:
Finaldi expects to require another 6-12 months to complete depositions and other discovery processes relating to Wade's case.
Technically Wade's case could be extended three more years, but more realistically will be extended 18 months or lesss.
Finaldi expects to require another 6-12 months to complete depositions and other discovery processes relating to Wade's case.
Technically Wade's case could be extended three more years, but more realistically will be extended 18 months or lesss.
ESTATE SUMMARY:
The estate anticipates 6-10 months of new discovery in Wade & James' cases. This includes post-2017 materials including international discovery relating specifically to LN, Amos Pictures and Dan Reed. They will also file new motions for demurrer/summary judgment.
The estate anticipates 6-10 months of new discovery in Wade & James' cases. This includes post-2017 materials including international discovery relating specifically to LN, Amos Pictures and Dan Reed. They will also file new motions for demurrer/summary judgment.
FINALDI SUMMARY:
Finaldi doesn't expect major motions in either case this year. He wants to consolidate both cases. He wants 1-2 years for James' case. He won't contest James' mental exam but feels the relevance of LN materials are "minimal at best." Dan plans to film hearings.
Finaldi doesn't expect major motions in either case this year. He wants to consolidate both cases. He wants 1-2 years for James' case. He won't contest James' mental exam but feels the relevance of LN materials are "minimal at best." Dan plans to film hearings.
