Is Drew Peterson’s “hot” attorney hot under the collar?

Reem Odeh, former co-counsel Andrew Abood and George Lenard, and Joel Brodsky leave the Will County Courthouse.

Drew Peterson has seen a fair amount of rotation in his legal team roster as of late. In April, Andrew Abood and George Lenard, walked away from the case citing “irreconcilable differences” with lead attorney Joel Brodsky. Although four more attorneys have been recently added to the defense, only Brodsky’s partner, Reem Odeh, is left from the original triad. But from what we hear, the attorney most regarded as “the hot one” might be more aptly described these days as “hot under the collar”.

A source tells us that yesterday after the defense’s motion to have Judge Stephen White removed from Peterson’s case was denied, Odeh was overheard outside the courtroom venting to a former co-counselor about a move that may have irritated the Judge. “Way to go.” she was heard to utter sarcastically. Visibly annoyed, she expressed her frustration that rather than being taken seriously she has to endure constant remarks about her attire and appearance by co-counsel. She then left the premises for the day.

This would appear to be a repeat performance for the model-turned-attorney, who during the hearsay hearings was also seen storming out of court after arguing with Joel Brodsky.

Although other Peterson defense team members have become familiar faces due to their many media appearances, Reem Odeh has stayed in the background since taking on the case. Despite being praised by Joel Brodsky as being “an essential part of the team,” he is the one who traveled with Drew and sat at his side for numerous interviews.

In January 2009 Odeh was marketed in an embarrassingly patronizing press release, entitled “Drew Peterson Attorney Not Just a Pretty Face.” The release stated, “Reem Odeh wants the public to know that beyond her stunning good looks is a hard-nosed attorney who is detail-oriented and brings keen analytical skills to Team Peterson.” Sounds like something that might need to be circulated amid Peterson’s “Seven Samurai” rather than to the public.

A year earlier, Odeh was quoted in the Chicago Tribune disagreeing with the way her co-counsel was allowing their high-profile client to speak to the press, saying, “I don’t think it’s appropriate. I think it is in the client’s best interest to keep it quiet and focus on the case. But he just says the case is going to make us famous and we’re all going to get book deals.” Joel Brodsky later stated that she was misquoted, although Ms. Odeh herself did not say so.

Will there be a samurai recount in the future? Stay tuned…

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Drew Peterson lawyers asking for trial delay

Drew Peterson was in court today and his lawyers filed a motion requesting a delay in the start of his trial for the murder of Kathleen Savio.

It was just three weeks ago that the team was making statements to the press that they were eager for the trial and would be ready on June 14th, despite losing two of their team to personal conflicts.

“We absolutely want to go on as planned. Drew wants to go to trial June 14, I want to go to trial on June 14 and Mr. Lopez will be ready on June 14,” Brodsky said in a telephone interview…

also…

For their part, Joseph “Shark” Lopez, another of Peterson’s lawyers, said he and his colleagues are primed to go. “We’ll be ready to rock and roll on this case,” Lopez said.

and who could forget…

“These motions aren’t filed to delay the start of the trial,” said Joseph “Shark” Lopez, one of the six lawyers representing the accused wife-killer. “They’re filed for the purpose of protecting Mr. Peterson’s life under the Constitution.

Updates will follow. Check out the comment thread for the latest.

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Drew Peterson’s motorcycle pulled from eBay…again

UPDATE MAY 17: WBBM reports that the second eBay auction was pulled due to complaints, just as the first one was. Also, Joel Brodsky says that the bike has now been sold  privately for a “good price”.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maybe Drew Peterson’s Harley-Davidson warrants a higher-than-normal asking price after all. It seems to be magical — at least it does a good disappearing act. With only three hours left until the end of the auction, and a single bid in the amount of $37,500 for “Drew Peterson’s HD Springer Softail”, the auction page was again replaced with a message reading, “This listing has been removed, or this item is not available.”

The bike was first listed last week with an opening bid price of $50,000. After receiving one bid in that amount the auction was ended when eBay cited a policy against “murderabilia“. Joel Brodsky appealed the decision, stating that his client was not a convicted murderer, only an accused one and after all, “we’re still in America, where you’re innocent until proven guilty“

The motorcycle was soon relisted but within a day the opening bid price was lowered to $37,500 and by yesterday afternoon there was one bid for that amount. Yesterday evening the reserve price on the item was lowered and a second bid quickly followed for $37,600 but was soon retracted; the reason being given that the bidder had entered the wrong amount. That’s where the bidding stopped, until about 7:00 AM this morning when the auction was prematurely ended.

At this point, eBay’s official reason is unknown. Undoubtedly, people have continued to complain about the nature of the auction, since Peterson was so blatantly attempting to profit from his notoriety with no regard for the families of his missing and dead wives. The item photo that showed Drew astride the bike, the title of the auction including his name, and the opportunity to have a Peterson-autographed decal affixed to the bike attempted to justify the highly inflated asking price (the “Buy it now” price was $50,100).

EBay’s offensive material policy states:

Out of respect for the families of victims, we don’t allow the sale of items closely associated with notorious murderers within the last 100 years.
We’ll remove your listing and suspend your account if you’ve been convicted of a violent felony and are attempting to use eBay (directly or through another person) to benefit financially from your criminal notoriety.

Although their murderabilia policy mentions conviction, eBay has previously removed listings that attempted to raise money for a person who was not convicted, but only accused at the time of the listing.

It has also been noted that the listing offered additional accessories to be sold as a package, to the winner of the auction. This is against eBay’s policy and is considered an attempt to circumvent their fees.

The thing that’s clear to me is that eBay has many, many polices for selling on their site. If they don’t want your business it would appear that they can find and justify a way to make a listing disappear. Abracadabra!

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Drew Peterson Trial Delay?

Defense motions could delay Peterson trial
May 13, 2010
By JOE HOSEY

JOLIET — Drew Peterson’s jury is supposed to be picked in exactly a month and a day, but his lawyers are poised to launch a barrage of paperwork that could push back the disgraced former cop’s murder trial.

“These motions aren’t filed to delay the start of the trial,” said Joseph “Shark” Lopez, one of the six lawyers representing the accused wife-killer. “They’re filed for the purpose of protecting Mr. Peterson’s life under the Constitution.”

Another of Peterson’s lawyers, Joel Brodsky, said the defense team has prepared at least nine motions to be presented to Judge Stephen White.

“That’s not unusual for a case of this complexity,” Brodsky said. “There’s a lot of issues we have to get resolved before trial.”

Lopez said he could not go into detail about the motions as they must be filed under seal.

“I’d love to talk about the substance of these motions but I don’t think it would be appropriate at this time,” he said. “I can tell you one thing: They’ll be very interesting.”

Lopez did shed a bit of light on the confidential court filings, saying, “These motions attack some of the evidence” and that they “narrow the issues.” He also said prosecutors might have already received them and that they will be battled over in court.

“These motions will require evidentiary hearings,” Lopez said.  Charles B. Pelkie, the spokesman for the state’s attorney’s office, said prosecutors are primed to pick a jury June 14 and that they “will deal with any motions as they’re filed.”

Drew Peterson and attorney auction their bikes on eBay

Drew Peterson has got a court date on Thursday. It’s his legal team’s last stab at getting him access to the $220,000 line of credit on his home equity — a complaint that has already been dismissed once. Peterson claims he needs that money for legal fees and trial expenses but odds are that the case will be dismissed again.

So what’s a psuedo-celebrity murder defendant to do when he needs cash and needs it quick? Auction off the Harley on eBay! If you are in the market for a 2007 Harley-Davidson Softail, bidding starts at $50,000. Blue book value would normally be $11,000-$18,000 but  this is Drew Peterson’s bike! The item photo even shows him astride it so you know you’re getting not just any motorcycle, but a bike just oozing with high-profile murder defendant-y goodness.

The item description reads in part, “This is the actual bike owned by Drew Peterson and is now being sold in “as is” condition. Accessories to the bike may be available and will be offered as a package deal to the buyer. Signatures on available accessories possible. This motorcycle is 100% authentic and is being stored in the Chicago area. Serious inquiries only.”

Joel Brodsky’s bike for sale as well
How about if you’re Drew Peterson’s lawyer and not only has your riding-pal been side-lined for the last year, but the gravy train of media exposure dried up with your client’s incarceration? Not to fret. There’s an auction for you too, Joel Brodsky! The starting bid for Brodsky’s bike is a much more realistic $8,500.

So if you have a hankering to wrap your face in a star-spangled bandana and skulk around your neighborhood on Drew Peterson’s bike, here’s your chance. Hurry though, bidding ends on May 13th.

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One year since Drew Peterson’s arrest for murder. What has changed?

Drew Peterson as a free man, and in different company on the day of his arrest, May 7, 2009

One year ago, Drew Peterson was arrested and charged with the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Since that day he has resided at the the Will County Adult Detention Facility in Joliet awaiting his trial which is scheduled to begin next month. We’ve continued to follow the case as the year has passed, but what has changed since May 7, 2009?

Legal Representation

A year ago: Brodsky & Odeh, Abood Law, and John Paul Carroll represented Drew Peterson. George D. Lenard joined the case in December of 2009.
Today: Andrew Abood and George Lenard withdrew from the case in April of this year, citing irreconcilable differences with Joel Brodsky. John Paul Carroll had a complaint filed against him in September and appears to have left the case. Presently, attorneys from Brodsky & Odeh, Steven A. Greenberg and Associates, Law Offices of Meczyk Goldberg, Joseph R. Lopez, P.C., and Walter P. Maksym Jr. make up the “Seven Samurai” representing Peterson in court.

Media Exposure

A year ago: When Drew was arrested, he was preparing to fly out to the Bunny Ranch Brothel in Reno, Nevada, to see if he would be a good fit as head of security there. Drew’s last interview was given over the phone to a WLS radio show host, Eric Mancow Muller, from jail on May 27, 2009. He also gave one other in-jail phone interview on May 15, to Matt Lauer of the Today show.
Today: Drew is presently not allowed to give interviews to the press.

Judges

A year ago: Judge Richard Schoenstedt was first assigned to the case; then Judge Carla Alessio-Policandriotes and finally Judge Stephen White. Will County Chief Judge Gerald Kinney made the new appointments. Judge Daniel J. Rozak set Peterson’s bond.
Today: Judge Stephen White presides over the case but is expected to retire in October of this year.

Public Act 095-1004 – The so-called “Hearsay law”

A year ago: The Act was passed into legislation November, 2008
Today: In October 2009, Peterson’s defense lost a motion to declare the act unconstitutional

$20 Million Bail

A year ago: After Peterson’s bail was set at $20 million, the defense filed a motion to reduce it on May 22, 2009.
Today: In June, the Appellate Court denied the petition to reduce Peterson’s $20 million bond.

Change of Venue

A year ago: In July 2009, Drew Peterson’s attorneys filed a motion seeking a change of venue for their client.
Today: The request was denied and 240 potential jurors for the murder trial were brought into Will County court and asked to complete questionnaires