"Afluenza" Defense

Parent Cafe
41

<p>I wonder what steps the father has taken to shield assets and involvement with the company. I would not expect him to take the moral high ground and accept any type of responsibility either financial or the consequence his son rightfully in jail. I am sure he sees everyone of the victims as lesser than him and his family. </p>

<p>The company website is down and the LLC formed in 2009 does not list him as an officer.</p>

42

<p><a href=“http://www.fortworthinjuryattorneyblog.com/Petition-Molina.pdf[/url]”>http://www.fortworthinjuryattorneyblog.com/Petition-Molina.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Here is the lawsuit</p>

43

<p>Story about Dad and one business associate. I hope people in the industry drop him like a hot potato.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.berridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Cleburne-Sheet-Metal-1999.pdf[/url]”>http://www.berridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Cleburne-Sheet-Metal-1999.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

44

<p>The usual stay at that rehab facility is 30-90 days, not an entire year. Most clients wouldn’t be spending anywhere near $450,000. Once again, money talks in that they were able to get that kid a bed there for an entire year.</p>

45

<p>^^^^What is the name of the rehab facility? I didn’t find it when googling.</p>

46

<p>You know, google is an amazing thing. In googling this event, I got a hit on the 16 y/o’s parents and their home. They have a 7,300 sq foot home that only has 2 bathrooms. Weird.</p>

<p>I wonder if the parents had tried to get their son help for his alcohol abuse when he was found passed out in a truck with a naked 14 year old girl last year.</p>

47

<p>One of the most outrageous stories I have seen in recent memory. And while many want sentence overturned or modified, does not look like it is going to happen:</p>

<p>[Attorney</a> General?s Office Looking Into Ethan Couch Case « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth](<a href=“CBS Texas - Breaking Local News, First Alert Weather & I-Team Investigations”>CBS Texas - Breaking Local News, First Alert Weather & I-Team Investigations)</p>

<p>Some of you may recall a thread on the Parent forum last spring about a NC teen who rcvd a DUI after leaving the prom drunk - and rcvd a month in jail. It was his first offense and no one was hurt. Here you have a case where 4 are killed and 2 are injured, and Ethan Couch gets no jail time.</p>

<p>If you watch any of the tv coverage, you see this very meek looking boy. But check out his fb photos - he looks very different. Very thuggish. This was at least his 3rd brush with the law. I wish he and both of his parents could all be in prison.</p>

48

<p>

Where is there any report that this judge has a past history of biased sentencing based on race? If there is one shred of evidence, please produce it. Otherwise please refrain from such accusations.</p>

49

<p>jym- I heard it mentioned on CNN last night as a tease. I did not see the story.</p>

50

<p>I’ve been looking around for any such accusation. Can’t yet find it. Did find this though. An interesting read, from a different perspective. [Ethics</a> Observations On The ?Affluenza? Sentence (And None Of Them Involve Criticizing The Judge) | Ethics Alarms](<a href=“Ethics Observations On The “Affluenza” Sentence (And None Of Them Involve Criticizing The Judge) | Ethics Alarms”>Ethics Observations On The “Affluenza” Sentence (And None Of Them Involve Criticizing The Judge) | Ethics Alarms)</p>

<p>I agree that the sentence is horribly inconsistent with the damage he did, but haven’t seen evidence that the judge has a history of uneven sentencing.</p>

51

<p>Nrdsb4-
Looked at the 3 addresses listed for the defendants on the lawsuit filed. Ones is that 7K sq ft residence. Looks more like a snazzy horsebarn- type structure or something. But definitely not just a shack in the woods.
<a href=“http://www.homesnap.com/TX/Fort-Worth/4324-Silver-Creek-Road[/url]”>http://www.homesnap.com/TX/Fort-Worth/4324-Silver-Creek-Road&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>[4324</a> Silver Creek Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76108 - Public Property Records Search - realtor.com®](<a href=“http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4324-Silver-Creek-Rd_Fort-Worth_TX_76108_M89228-94146]4324”>4324 Silver Creek Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76108 | realtor.com®)</p>

52

<p>jym- I read on CNN’s page about her sentencing a minority teen for punching someone who died two days later. That may have been the story pointing out the sentencing difference.</p>

53

<p>I still can’t seem to find it, Tom. Is there a link somewhere?
The lawsuit is pretty incredible. Were the kid’s priors considered? Have they disclosed the amount of the damages? Will they be paid by the kid/his family or the family’s company, the owner of the truck, or all? Surely this family has a large umbrella policy, so probably none will come out of their pockets directly.</p>

54

<p>Here is the article</p>

<p>[All</a> the injustice money can buy - CNN.com](<a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/14/politics/affluenza-jenkins-opinion/index.html?iref=allsearch]All”>http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/14/politics/affluenza-jenkins-opinion/index.html?iref=allsearch)</p>

55

<p>Thanks, tom. Interesting opinion article. Agree that the outcome is ridiculous in light of the crimes committed, but still have to wonder if there is “more to the story”.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, on another forum on which I participate, there is a lively discussion about the expert and the ridiculous “affluenza” term (first used in a book by a relative of a president of GM), which the expert is apparently now really wishing he hadn’t used. The term is being compared to the ridiculous “twinkie” defense. IMO, what the wealthy family was able to do is pay for a top notch, smooth talking attorney who could convince a judge that the world is flat.</p>

56

<p>* Agree that the outcome is ridiculous in light of the crimes committed, but still have to wonder if there is “more to the story”.*</p>

<p>There are many court cases that don’t seem to follow the law, or even common sense, so I no longer expect that I will agree with the outcome.
As for well off spoiled brats getting away with behavior that a low income teen would be penalized for, that isn’t anything new either.
[Daily</a> Kos: Meet the psychologist who got a teen off with probation because he was rich](<a href=“Meet the psychologist who got a teen off with probation because he was rich”>Meet the psychologist who got a teen off with probation because he was rich)</p>

<p>

<a href=“https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/(X(1)S(r0opn155wvun0durxeqoap45))/displayArticle.aspx?articleid=6070&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1%5B/url%5D”>https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/(X(1)S(r0opn155wvun0durxeqoap45))/displayArticle.aspx?articleid=6070&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1</a></p>

57

<p>This is some of the additional info I was looking for-

The civil suits filed sold have a strong impact on the family and the family business. For these folks, hitting them in the wallet may be as big a punishment.</p>

<p>The interviews with the defense attorney [“Affluenza</a>” Doesn’t Justify Teen’s Behavior in Fatal Crash, Psychologists Say | NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth](<a href=““Affluenza” Doesn’t Justify Teen’s Behavior in Fatal Crash, Psychologists Say – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth”>“Affluenza” Doesn’t Justify Teen’s Behavior in Fatal Crash, Psychologists Say – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth) and with the expert [Affluenza:</a> CNN’s Anderson Cooper interview Dr. G. Dick Miller, defense-called psychologist in case of Ethan Couch.](<a href=“http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/12/13/affluenza_cnn_s_anderson_cooper_interview_dr_g_dick_miller_defense_called.html]Affluenza:”>Affluenza: CNN's Anderson Cooper interview Dr. G. Dick Miller, defense-called psychologist in case of Ethan Couch.) make it hard to fathom how/why the judge would listen to that and agree that the sentence fits the crime. Which is why, with her 25 yrs on the juvenile bench, one has to hope there is more to this story that would explain the sentencing decision she made.</p>

58

<p>See my post #41</p>

59

<p>I don’t think I’m being naive, but what exactly is the reason that his sentence should be light because of his “affluenza” upbringing??</p>

<p>I don’t dispute that money buys justice, but how is the judge rationalizing that he should not be put in jail because he was raised feeling no consequences of his behavior? This sentence just reinforces that notion!</p>

60

<p>Isn’t this their website, Tom? [Berridge</a> Manufacturing Co.](<a href=“http://www.berridge.com/]Berridge”>http://www.berridge.com/) ?</p>

<p>** ah yes, the Cleburne site is gone and they morphed into this <a href=“http://www.berridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Cleburne-Sheet-Metal-1999.pdf[/url]”>http://www.berridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Cleburne-Sheet-Metal-1999.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;