Case, Staff, & Intern News!
Case News:
Case Dismissed!
Mr. B was charged with illegally transporting non-citizens into the United States from Canada. From the start, the FPD defense team saw problems with the initial investigation into our client. After a visit to the site of the alleged border crossing and site of the traffic stop, the defense team got to work drafting motions and preparing for trial. Summer legal intern, Isabelle Breitfelder drafted two motions: one motion to suppress the suggestive identification and another to suppress Mr. B’s statement made after the safe-harbor period. Summer legal intern, Arthur Fetter drafted a motion to suppress the fruits of the traffic stop made more than 45 minutes after the alleged border crossing. A Seattle investigator provided valuable investigation for these motions, taking photographs and noting the lighting in the area, the winding roads, and the general surroundings. Tacoma AFD, Joanna Martin drafted a motion to dismiss the indictment because of the government’s decision to deport the material witnesses who had favorable information for Mr. B. Seattle AFD, Colleen Fitzharris drafted a motion to preclude use of the deposition of the only material witness who was not deported before charges were filed. Seattle paralegals Janet Stanton, Suzie Strait, Charlotte Ponikvar and Tacoma paralegal Julie Valencia helped coordinate and file these motions with accompanying exhibits. After reviewing the motions, the government decided to dismiss the charges. This was a true team effort. Mr. B was overwhelmed with gratitude. We hope he and his family are reunited soon. Wonderful work by Team FPD and congrats to our client!
Another Case Dismissed!
This month one of our very deserving clients had his case DISMISSED! He was charged with felony assault by strangulation and despite having a very weak case, the government was unwilling to resolve the matter and kept the case on the trial calendar. While waiting for his case to be investigated and hopefully positively resolved, client had to endure uncertainty and stagnation of daily life and work as he could not get his military promotion until his case resolved.
After a lot of defense investigation, Team FPD were able to show the government that our client was innocent of the charges brought against him and the government dismissed the case. Now our client gets to serve his country and provide for his adorable kids. The defense team was made up of Seattle investigator Deb Malcolm, Tacoma paralegal Alma Coria, and Tacoma AFD Joanna Martin and Seattle AFDs Greg Murphy, Vanessa Pai-Thompson, and Mukund Rathi. Congrats to our client and fantastic work by his defense team!
Staff News:
Five FPD staff members traveled to New Orleans for the 2023 Case Management Training and weathered the sweltering temperatures that swept the southeast. The Big Easy was a great location for the first in-person conference since the pandemic. Supervisory Administrative Assistant Jessica Cvitanovic, Administrative Assistant Ana Liza Garcia, Seattle Case Manager Rolando Costilla, and Tacoma Case Manager Maritza Pitot all attended and brought back valuable information about new case types, changes in case opening guidance, and upcoming revisions to the federal defender staffing formula. Madeline Scarp, Administrative Officer, presented on two topics: Introduction to Reports and Administration in dData.
Intern News:
In addition to working hard in the office and the courtroom, our summer legal interns are enjoying their summer in Seattle!
Seattle AFD Andy Kennedy kept up his annual tradition of taking the legal interns to a Mariners game!
And they also enjoyed a nice boat ride around Lake Union!
