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Recently I was lucky to have met Paul J. White, CPA/ABV,CVA who mentioned that it might be fun to have me speak at one of their groups, which led to speaking at the Beverly Hills Bar Association dinner and other lawyer groups. When you meet Paul J. White, he is “a cool breeze!” Soft spoken and the real deal, a total class act! Well the next thing I know I am in touch with my attorney friend Ron Litz, and Leah Lasseube the Director of Marketing for the very prestigious firm of White, Zuckerman, Warsavsky, Luna, Wolf, Hunt LLP, Certified Public Accountants. In my many years on this planet I have learned that great companies and great people surround themselves with even greater people than themselves, and here is Leah Lasseube! When you meet the people involved with this organization, you soon understand why they are number one in their field.

Well, I thought what about all the lawyers whose cases I sabotaged through the years, and just in general being a pain in some of their backsides, professionally speaking! You know what, no one cared, one guy at one of the earlier meetings did say that he knew who I was and was looking at me somewhat sternly, but by the end he was warming up to me. No surprise, as I have always said I am a nice guy, most of the time…some have even said that I was charming! Then again, back in those days they would have said almost anything to get those handcuffs off!

This is a wonderful opportunity for me as it does give me a chance to flesh out my thoughts and to share some ideas with family law lawyers, who appear anxious and very interested in what I am saying. If only my youngest son would be that attentive when I’m speaking! The feedback is also very insightful as to the legal mind. Some asked me questions as to what about this section of law, and this legal decision…if I had to give that much thought to what I did, I would never get out of my pool! I just always try and stay within the guidelines of the law, and I have to say that in 16 plus years I have managed to keep myself and my clients out of jail! A lawyer is supposed to think like a lawyer and not like a P.I….we both have our jobs to do.

This again has been a great opportunity given to me by Paul and his firm, White, Zuckerman, Warsavsky, Luna,Wolf, Hunt LLP, and I will always be grateful to them.

Never one to miss an opportunity to find good help in all areas dealing with a divorce, I have found two young ladies who own and operate a credit help company called Armored Credit Solutions. They are located at 531 Main Street, El Segundo, California 877-422 FIXX (3499…How clever!)

How many times have I had to deal with people going through a divorce and they cannot get their financial responsibilities together? Hundreds of times. These two women have a great presence, and best of all they are smart! I liked them the first time I spoke with Gabriella and she was telling me that my current client was on the verge of being broke…this same client told me that she had hundreds of thousands in reserve and not to worry! There are the key words, “not to worry”…hmmm! Gabriella called me to explain that there was not hundreds of thousands of dollars, and this ship was sinking and fast! Knowing this can also help the client to get a clearer understanding as to what is going to happen: HOMELESS and BROKE! If a client is trying to save him or herself, I am in for the long haul. If they are buying $$$$$ cars and partying, well then I deserve to be paid as much as my contract allows, why should I take a hit? Sara and Gabriella get this and get it good. They have their fingers on the pulse, can make decisions fast, have some great verbal skills when they have to deal with creditors, and they are effective! But you have to listen…the tough part for people who do this! If you paid attention you would not need Sara and Gabriella in the first place!

They help with restoration, education and protection, they are an amazing duo! Sara Magers and Gabriella Twigg will act as guardians of your accounts and if you listen to them, they are some great hired talent. They will work with getting you back current with your creditors and will even assist with budgeting your money!

They can be present for the short term or long term. Call them, you will not be disappointed.

Bulletin: a “Restraining Order” will not protect you, and in some cases it may well cause the earth beneath your feet to become singed!   First, a little background on cops and domestic disputes.  As a former police officer, I can attest that every cop knows to watch out when responding to the infamous family knock-down.  Why, you ask? Well, at the time, the little missus hates this cockroach that she is married to — or with whom she just fornicates!  However, when the boys and women in blue show up and smack lover-boy over the coffee table, and he grabs his nose and whimpers like the bitch that he is, that is when “Hotcakes” falls back in love with him, and now we are having to deal with her lard ass, too!  A little rough but true, and many police officers have lost their lives dealing with “domestic issues” — again, in plain words, just people who gave more thought to the purchase of a parakeet than to whom they would be bumping uglies with!

Well, now we come to the reality of the “Restraining Order.”  Oh, if you believe some of these nitwit “security experts” that they can  protect you — or another incompetent who wrote a book after taking care of a very famous and very old starlet’s panties and bras — then good!  But for the rest of us, having this piece of paper is useless most of the time.  Its greatest utility may be to the type of person who gets a restraining order for revenge, to show how much of an annoyance she can be to the poor Ex.  Or to almost ruin someone’s life, as these orders are reported and kept on permanent record — the “restrainee’s” actual guilt is not important, so this is too often used as a dirty trick!  Which has the unfortunate side effect of cops not taking Restraining Orders as seriously as they might.

A Restraining Order is most effective against people who want to obey the law and not put themselves in potential further trouble. You know, the generally reasonable type who would obey an order, or even the rules of the road!  But for what I call “God’s 3%” it has no impact; they don’t care about rules and will violate a restraining order as fast as the issue hits their ears!  If someone really wants to harm you, a piece of paper isn’t going to stop them.  Now if you have the ability to have someone watch over you that is fine; however, even presidents and heads of state with the best security teams in the world are hit, and if the threat is that serious, they will also kill whoever you have watching you.  Example, the poor armored car courier, he is walking with a bag of money, do most attackers have a physical confrontation? No, they just shoot them and take the money! The guard is just an obstacle to what the goal is and that is the taking of the money.  And likewise, if you have someone who is acting as a barrier and the threat is real…remember the barrier in the OJ case?  Was it possible for this kid Ron Goldman to protect Nicole? of course not!

Oh sure, a firm like mine can provide advice and some direction for you to be safer and make yourself a smaller target.  But you must also keep in mind that you are your own safety net in the end, and it might come down to just that: you, your wits and the attacker!   And for the knucklehead, he or she will care less about a piece of paper and will still drive by or do things to make you feel unsafe.  And you know what, the cops will often be unable to enforce it!  In the big city you might just as well make thousands of “soft copies” as it will make a great toilet tissue!

The police in our major cities can hardly deal with day to day crimes, never mind you and your bad decision-making abilities when it comes to mates (hmmm, maybe you would have been better off visiting a local sex shop and picking up batteries on the way home!). Not only are they too busy, but they can be jaded because of their experiences with domestic disputes and “revenge” restraining orders as I mentioned above. This is not so much the case in small towns, having had experience in both small and large police departments.  Your smaller departments take things a little more seriously and have the time to deal with them.

Sometimes not getting a restraining order, even when it is justified, can be the better way to go.  It’s a question of psychological gamesmanship, and you need to think it through.  Are you dealing with the kind of nutjob who will see it as even more of a provocation to come after you and those around you, just to prove that he can no matter what you do?  Unfortunately, we read about the final outcome of this tale way too often.

The point I am making is that many times restraining orders DO NOT WORK!  It is a piece of paper, not a bulletproof shield.  But when you have a real problem, I have found that the police will be more likely to take action when the information you give them is real and accurate.  Don’t wait to report threats and threatening activity, do it immediately and keep a good record of each event and when it occurs.  Women who are going through this tend (understandably!) to come across as emotional and maybe even hysterical and exaggerating.  Having an advocate — ideally someone with some credibility in the eyes of the law — who can calmly and clearly back up your claims will also help get your situation taken with the seriousness it deserves.

Doreen Marie Olson, Esquire is one of the founding partners of Meyer, Olson, and Lowy LLP. I have know Doreen for more than 10 years. She is a force to be dealt with in court and when negotiating. She has a no nonsense attitude about her and that comes with being confident in her work, and she is all of that and more! And if you are lucky enough to have her and her team working for you, hold on — you have just engaged a machine! (by the way all of the partners here are all well-dressed and a sense of class permeates the entire suite, I love this place) And why not, you deserve the best and if you can afford Ms. Olson’s firm and have the ability to pay, it does not get much better than this!

Meyer, Olson, & Lowy is an all female firm located in Century City and they occupy almost the entire 14th floor. Very high end and very comfortable! Ms. Olson is also Bi-lingual, speaking Spanish as well as she does English and this, too, is a big plus…how cool you can kick ass in two languages! When you have all of this going for you my rating has to be a very cool four stars!

Check them out at 10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 1425, L.A. California 310-277-9747

Nazarian’s Rating: ****

Well, this will be my last day till the VERDICT and the SENTENCING….I just wanted to see the legendary Bert Fields, “The Lawyer Who Never Loses!”  I even invited him to lunch, I want to meet him, just as I was friendly with Melvin Belli and Marvin Mitchelson, two legends of the legal world.  Say what you will, Bert Fields is one, too. Many of these BIG firms are shifting like the San Andreas Fault,  every time I walk by I look up as to make sure one of the partners are not taking a “flyer” to end the misery!  Can you imagine, they thought they were untouchable, and now look. But remember this, when they were hitting their stride in defense of their hotshot clients, they were the best money could buy!  For the old guys who cares, they are so very rich and ready to retire anyway and so they won’t be ‘greeters’ anymore…they are set for life  (GREETER, at your big law firms they are the guys you are paying for — or rather their name — and seldom get, instead you get lower so-called “partners” or worse yet, the “junior associate,” aka: the one who bills you to death!).

Well, so much for seeing the great Bert Fields!  He was present a few days and I guess no one can say he did not show up — he did and “they were not ready” for him…Too bad — my lunch invitation is still open!

Stan the Man Ornelas continued to hold his ground and he did it as a pro, yes or no to Hummel’s attempt to gain ground for the Dummy!  Special Agent Ornelas made it look easy, why not?  He is telling the truth!  Oh sure, they tried to get him on the cross for giving the Dummy some info on a possible drug house not too far from his own home. “Did you call the FBI?” was one question, why should he ? He pays taxes and reported it to a Sr. Sgt. with the LAPD, aka “Da Sarge,” aka “Da Dummy”…end of story!

Well, as soon as Chad Hummel got done, up walks Mr. Adam Braun…I don’t know, but it seems this judge does not take much in the “give him a break” department! Perhaps as a former Asst. U.S. Attorney, the judge thinks Adam should know it all.  Well, she just “sustained” him to death, she was doing it so fast that poor Adam looked like a mosquito in a room full of swatters!  Mr. Braun has a great strategy and has been very low key for most of this trial,  and when he does try he gets “smacked” in away only a petite female Federal Judge can do!

Then comes Ms. SooHo, very soft spoken but effective as to getting her point across and she did well, but so what — Special Agent Ornelas is telling the truth as he has done right along so that takes the wind out of her sails and she just drifts…her guy is guilty anyway and in the end her effort, I hope, will make her feel good!

Well, Bert Fields is a no show today but hey, I get to meet and speak with the interesting Zvonko “Bill” Pavelic.  He was very clear that he is a Investigative Consultant…“I am not a P.I.,” he tells the prosecutor!  Danny Davis’s name came up again today and I was having flashbacks of my days with CDC and working out in Chino and piles of cow shit! And how bad they would smell in the damp morning air!   These dam allergy pills I am taking make me drowsy, or was it that name again!!??  Mr. Pavelic is right out of Central Casting, and I found him very interesting.  While speaking with a couple of reporters the question came up as to comparing Mr. Pavelic to Mr. Pellicano! Well Mr. Pavelic has no license and does well, Mr. Pellicano “had” a license and may be still doing well!  However, I made a comparison that it would be like letting loose a herd of Clydesdale horses and letting them run through a well manicured lawn…and that is to some degree the style that I have when given the choice! Scorch the earth beneath their feet!   I am not saying that I have the same style as Mr. Pavelic, but I would say there are similarities…two different cop backgrounds!  Bottom line, it is the first time I met him and I think I like him!

This is how crazy people can get sometimes, LMAO…someone said to me that can you imagine if Pellicano Investigative Services, Nazarian and Associates, and Mr. Bill Pavelic Investigative Consultant would have joined forces, what that would have been like?  One thing for sure I would have let Pellicano handle the fee agreements and I would let Bill do the interviews, at night, of course, and well I would be in charge of booking all of our travel and investments!  There I go again, it must be the allergy pills!

This will be my last post till the verdict, I promise…my friends at the courthouse tell me that I am becoming addicted to this…maybe!

Can this trial get any more insulting? First I pay $8.00 to park my car on Tuesday the 15th of April only to have Chad Hummel stand up and start what was a brilliant attempt to take a shot at a mistrial! Chad has a presence and even as Judge Fischer was trying to shut him down, the voice would not quit! Chad’s attack almost had Lally and Saunders doing the famous “He did it!,” pointing at each other! What did Mr. Hummel think when he put his dummy on the stand? Throw chocolate kisses and discuss the finer aspect of policing Los Angeles? Anyways, I was out in less than an hour and I could have parked curbside…8 bucks, Chad!

Wednesday was funny in so much that we got to watch the “dummy” try and convince everyone that he only told a “falsehood”…this is the word that “Da Sarge” uses when he lies. Dummy! Mr. Mark Arneson has got to be either one of the dumbest SOB’s in the world, or actually thought he was doing good! Saunders roasted the crap out of him and he just sat there and lied! He looked like a four year old with a mouth full of cookies, and when his mother asks “what happened to the cookies?” says while spitting crumbs all over her, “I dunno.” Saunders showed how Da Sarge falsified his “Sgt’s logs” for the L.A.P.D., and it was nothing short of pathetic…Arneson could have been the inspiration for the Dragnet theme: dumb duh dumb dumb! After court as he walked to his car with his wife, a uniformed officer was talking to him up the street from the court house…that too seems funny why anyone in uniform would want to be seen with him.

One of the bright spots was when FBI Special Agent Stan Ornelas took the stand…he goes up right after Arneson gets off. I was wondering if the court was going to call for a clean up crew to wipe up the piss and sweat generated by Da Sarge. This guy, Ornelas is the real deal, he was the Lead Case Agent on this case and a guy who knows his stuff! Stan became an agent when becoming one was tough. 30 years of tracking down the bad guys — now don’t get me wrong, it is still tough to get into the FBI, but I am talking old school here folks! As for having to sit in the same spot that the “Dummy” had just vacated, it had to be one of the worst things this highly respected member of the FBI had to do in years! Mr. Hummel I think may have made one mistake putting Arneson up on the stand and now he is talking to a guy who is going to tell the truth, Stan Ornelas, Special Agent! I think we will all see, as will Mr. Hummel, that when you tell the truth it is very easy! Unlike watching Mr. Arneson try and remember what lie was what and when, and we already know that “Da Sarge” is not the sharpest knife in the drawer…

One other thing, it was made very clear that Mr. Arneson was a financial wreck. And Mr. Saunders new nickname is “the Griller!” — he did a brilliant job of showing how this guy could not even keep his own home in order and pay his F’n bills! “Help me Anthony.” Funny thought, you know like the George Foreman Grill, we have the Saunders Grill and on the box we could have Arneson, covered in olive oil and garlic (for all the Goombahs) and of course the Pelican, we would need good olive oil from the mutha land! All ready to be grilled, hey another product idea, we cold have Silly Dogs by Mark Arneson — eat one and be silly and tell stories that no one believes!

Stopped by the courthouse Tuesday hoping to hear Bert Fields on the stand, but there was Mr. Hummel attempting to knock over the chessboard (always a strategy when facing checkmate)!

What? a mistrial? When pigs fly was the attitude this morning! And Judge Fischer was not amused when she had to dismiss the jury. She did not look happy when she took the bench and was even more annoyed with the strategy of the defense to follow Mr. Hummel’s attack! Why would she, the defense was doing all they could to make this trial go into a tailspin and crash and burn…Chad is a very bright lawyer and has the voice and the presence to pull this off, except not today. And he has for the most part led the charge, but today his horse may have pulled a muscle! The Judge was visibly annoyed by all of this, and was not looking very pleased this morning to begin with! It may have been that she knew what was coming.

Prosecutors Saunders and Lally tried to bring the tone down and even tried to be as cooperating as they could with the defense, Mr. Hummel wanted to go the full monty! I may swing by to watch the Prosecution dust off Mr. Arneson just before they “gong” him into the land of silly. I swear that as he was questioned by Mr. Saunders he was morphing into Pee Wee Herman!

When one looks at the issue it was much ado about nothing…and Mr. Hummel may wish he had not put Arneson on the stand to begin with. Or was he hoping that the prosecution would take a shot at this “cop for hire” who was just trying to make Los Angeles safe for all of us by helping the Pelican! Well, that just flew out the window like a fat albatross.

I caught a glimpse of Bert Fields this morning and he looked like he always does, successful and not a care in the world. He is after all Bert Fields and one of Anthony Pellicano’s best friends, as Anthony would have us all believe. I don’t doubt him, not on this one…

Your humble correspondent will be giving a talk on “Private Investigators and Family Law” tonight at 7:00 to the South Bay Study Group at the Manhattan Country Club in Manhattan Beach, and again on May 7 to the Beverly Hills Bar Association at McCormick & Schmick’s in Beverly Hills at 6:00.

Well, for me the Pellicano trial is very much winding down, I did stop and visit for a short time on Friday to hear Anthony muddle through his defense strategy. I have always considered Anthony Pellicano as my adversary, and playing fair, I don’t believe that he could compete with me in what I do and I certainly could not have done what he did. To underestimate this guy would be a mistake. On one hand, I do to some degree understand his loyalty — but not that “Omerta” bullshit as that seemed to be right up there with “bar talk,” and many of us can relate to when someone drinks too much, the Johnny Walker testimonies!

Anthony is still staying tight-lipped, and looking at what he did and who he did it for does casue me to wonder, how did he keep it under wraps for so long? And when will he get his payday…he has to have one coming! He has kept so many secrets secret that you have to wonder what will be his reward for his silence. Prior to going away, he was being paraded around by Michael Viner with talk of a book deal and the rest…that I am sure will come, however, he will have tons of judgments and that, too was obvious just from all of the lawyers in the courtroom…the tone was “the big pay back,” you know, for all of those who were terrorized.

As for former Sgt. Arneson, to try and play it off like he was “doing good” is insulting to everyone, especially the LAPD, and continues to make him look like crap in a gutter. He at one time was a good cop and has a brother who is still with the LAPD and a highly respected member, I should Like to add! Sitting behind me the other day on Friday were 2 young ladies and one a little older; one of these young ladies was Josi, 17 and Tori, 18 they were with their mom, Kat Pellicano — also a very attractive woman! The girls were dressed nicely like young teenagers and Kat also looked well-dressed. Anthony, with wonderful children like this, how could you ever have looked at some of these tramps who worked for you as “like a daughter?” You, my friend, were lucky it would appear in love and foolish in your attempts to be above the law. You have two incredible girls and a wife that certainly cares!

As for the others, Ray Turner, Kevin Kachikian, and Little Abner Nicherie, I have been easy on you in my writings and for reasons I am not sure. Mr. Turner, it does appear from the evidence that you, too, were very good at what you did. And how you must have felt hearing of the hundreds of thousands of dollars Anthony was making off your ability…we will never know for sure how much you were paid, but I hope it was worth it. And now your son Ray has to follow in the shadow of your reputation at the phone company. And to have watched your phone company colleagues — the ladies who liked you — who now may have financial disasters on their hands, all because of you.

Kevin Kachikian, I believe that you knew exactly what you were doing, and for what. You are too smart not to have known. You will be fine and will go on, no one knows what the jury will do and what the court will do when that time comes, but your silence and that of your attorney was deafening!

Little Abner, whatever, I will always recall what you said to me on the elevator in the early stages of this trial, I had stated to a couple of people I was with, “when a wiretap is done right, you will never find it!”, and you, without missing a beat, said “that’s right.” I guess you would know! Funny comment.

To all of you I wish you the very best that the remainder of your lives can give to you. If I offended any of you with what I wrote, well it was just what I was thinking. And I believe that you are all guilty, guilty as the day is long. And we are all so lucky that we live in a country where we get to play this game of “justice.” Otherwise, in times gone by, you would have been hung, stoned to death or dipped like tea bags in a cold river. Either way, I have found your crimes fascinating and at the same time, the price that you sold out for even more fascinating! Excluding Anthony Pellicano, short of taking over the bank he got paid very well for what he was able to do! And again, I wish you all well!

To all of the reporters that I spent so many mornings and days with, what a bunch! Some of you I had met while you were doings stories on me, and I am sure that our paths will cross again on other issues in the future. You men and women are the best (with the exception of two who I will not miss at all…I think you know who you are!), you can always call me if I can be of help! And thanks for helping me with my quotes and fact-checking!

Security at the Federal Court house was amazing, the U.S. Marshals, the retired officers who protect the building, the FBI — and my favorite of all is Special Agent Stan Ornellas and the always well-dressed female agent who sat next to him. All of these people made me feel safe and secure and I thank all of them too! I will be back for the verdict and till then, I am out of here!

My experience with Anita Busch was one that came from the heart in my initial contact, and again that was what I feel. It was a little disconcerting that she had forgotten all of the support I tried to give her, and the advice to try and keep her safe. No, I did not believe all of what I was hearing and apparently was wrong as to my thinking the L.A.P.D. was not involved (now we know Sgt. Arneson was!).

On the day that Ms. Busch gave her testimony she made statements as to her being “used” by two people who were to do a book with her. Well, I sat next to one of these guys in court for almost a week and I have to say he seemed like a complete gentleman to me. He introduced himself to me as a friend of Tom Lange (retired LAPD detective on the O.J. Simpson case) and that he had written Tom’s book. We spoke and even laughed at times through this trial. I knew him as “Dan,” I never put the name “Moldea” to this big powerful man that I had enjoyed speaking to for almost a week!

I received an e-mail from Mr. Dan Moldea this morning telling me what he thought of the comments I had received from John Connolly. I have a very large man who is angry with me, I recalled the first time I shook his hand and I may have even said, “wow, you could squeeze grapefruits.” A firm handshake — not one of intimidation, but strong!

When I said that John Connolly told me that the problem was that “Moldea was hitting on her,” I never gave it a thought, Anita is an attractive young woman. Also when John Connolly told me that “Moldea” wanted to use “code names,” that too, did not seem like a big deal based on who they were dealing with. Also the comments were not my allegations, they were comments that John Connolly had given to me over the phone.

Having met Dan and now putting the name with the face, and based on my experiences with Anita Busch and John Connolly, I have to give Dan’s comments as much thought and respect as the others’. And if I did anything to upset Mr. Moldea, I apologize; however, the comments that John Connolly made about “Moldea” did not seem then and do not seem to me now to be terrible in the way they were said. The following is a copy of Dan Moldea’s e-mail to me in its entirety:

Dear John:

I’m the one you said in your story was “some guy named Moldea”

John Connolly is being less than truthful when he told you that I was the reason for the breakup of our partnership. The simple fact is that John, while under contract with Anita and me, intentionally concealed the fact that he had made a separate deal with Vanity Fair to write an article about Pellicano. We were caught completely flat-flatfooted by this news. It was an unadulterated act of betrayal by John, whom we had treated as a close friend. In the end, Anita and I rewarded John’s treachery by forcing him off our team in January 2004.

Please ask John about all this. If he denies it, I’ll be happy to supply you with the documentation, as well as correspondence from John, lauding me and my work. (In addition, I don’t know what John is talking about when he claims that I “wanted to use code names.”)

Next, for my response to Anita’s testimony, please go to this link: http://www.moldea.com/Busch-response.html.

Also, please note that her very friendly postcard to me was sent seven months after the last time I saw her. Do you interpret her words as evidence that she was upset with me or that I had behaved inappropriately towards her? In fact, I was always a gentleman with her, as well as a loyal friend and colleague–just as I always was to Connolly until he double-crossed us.

And I resent like hell that you would publish this garbage without asking for my comment, especially since you and I have met, sat together at the trial, and then exchanged emails.

John, I’d like you to retract all of the allegations you made against me–because all of them are false and unfair.

Sincerely,

Dan E. Moldea

Well it must have felt like Christmas in April today for the defense as the Government went from 112 counts to 79! Yeah they say! I guess, but how deep have the prosecutors already dug the hole that may bury the Pelican and his gang of 3?  This case was the toughest on Pellicano and Arneson, and again today the prosecutors played a tape of Arneson taking another big order from the big Feathered One.

It went something like this: Pellicano tells Mark Arneson (aka “Da Sarge”) that he needs a few things, and he starts.  B69507**   B70926** and a name, Mirella *****,   A9653***  11-00-00, Esther ****  5-88-** and several more.  You hear Arneson say, “that it?” and his next response is “let me jump on it.”  One thing Arneson did right and that was to hire Chad Hummel…if Mr. Hummel cannot get this guy out of the crap he is in, no one can!  Chad is a force to be dealt with, and he has style and a commanding presence.

Early on the Pelican still has Wayne Reynolds stuck in his throat, I can only guess like a bony fish!  Pellicano tells the court that Sherry Wainright would testify that Reynolds had “bugged” someone…hmmm, maybe his current supervisor at Conde Naste? What happened to the love, “Pops?”

Again, no one should underestimate Anthony Pellicano, this guy knows something and many are wondering what he is up to.  There is more behind this case than what has come to the surface during the trial.  In spite of where he sits today he is not stupid, but he is arrogant and, and as someone told me today, he just felt that he was above the law.  Only time will tell what he is up to and I am going to be one of those waiting.

One of the most well known entertainment lawyers was present this morning, Marty Singer, Esq.  The man is a legend and not too many people do well going up against this counselor of law, he knows the game and plays it well!  Today he is with an employee of Sylvester Stallone, Kevin King Templeton — aka  Kevin King, aka Kevin Templeton — anyway, this guy has name issues!  “Kevin” gave testimony about Stallone getting his “tits in a ringer” about his investment in Planet Hollywood, otherwise known as a “donation.”  LOL…He took the advice of his business manager Kenneth Starr and then sued him for not giving him good advice…Oh the rich!  Well, Starr hires Bert Fields and yes, here comes the Pelican! And he of course records his call to Starr, and it would appear that he knew things about what Stallone’s lawyer was going to do and who he wanted to locate! How he doin’ dat?????  It must be those damn “unorthodox methods!”

Then we all found out that Sly’s alias when he travels is “Johnny Friendly” (I was travelling with a VIP client last year and I was checked in as none other than “Mr. Pretty”…and I enjoyed being called that…when you stay at the Ritz they remember your name, I heard all day, “good morning, Mr. Pretty,” “can we get that for you, Mr. Pretty,”), there were a couple of grins as a few knew what was up!  And of course there was Arneson’s handiwork and the usual Pellicano “pass me your money” dance, and on and on…

Mr. Stallone’s lawyer, Mr. Lawrence Herbert Nagler, was one of the sharpest witnesses to date, this guy has been a lawyer since 1966!  And he looks great and is interesting in his delivery, his office is 310-473-1200. This guy was up against Greenberg, Bluster and Fields and he did very well, even with the other side knowing what his plans were thanks to the Pelican’s phone tricks!  Associates said Nagler hired a P.I. to “sweep” his office for bugs — too bad, the only thing that got swept was his money…YOU CANNOT FIND A TAP THROUGH A SWEEP…CAN’T DO IT!!!  Mr. Starr paid Mr. Pellcano $25,000 on 2.14.02 and again on 2.20.02 $50,000…hey, don’t knock those “unorthodox” methods!

And again in the recorded tape of Anthony and Starr discussing what they learned from the wiretaps, you can hear the dribble of, “You cannot say anything about this to anyone in the world,” and Pellicano goes on to say, “I will call Bert (as in Fields)”.

The United States Government rested its case at 12:35 P.M.  I have never done this before but I tell you these prosecutors and the agents and the courtroom security did a brilliant job!  Now we get to see the defense team try and gain some ground, I am not sure if they can.  I will follow up as I can in the next several days and will be present when the verdict comes down and will report it as it happens!

Anita Busch was called to testify on April 9, 2008 and I am writing about it now as I needed to clear my head and catch my breath! Sometimes people will forget, and sometimes people will re-invent history to what they may believe accurate or not. At one point while telling her story of terror she mentions or someone brings up John Connolly, my pal the book author. Well, Anita tells the court that it was John Connolly from New York City that gave her advice as to her safety…perhaps later on he did this, as any former cop will do — we love to give advice on stuff we should just not get involved with. But it was ME who met with Anita and Paul Lieberman of the Los Angeles Times at Art’s Deli in Studio City!
At that time this young lady was terrified, and it would seem after all of these years she still is! I not only met with her and Paul, but I gave her great advice and I also offered to “sleep in her doorway” to try and give her peace of mind, at no charge! We also spoke many times a week on the phone and I am sure Anthony heard what I had to say. On some “facts” in this matter I was wrong: Anita was steadfast that the L.A.P.D. was involved some how and that her phones were not working right. She was also convinced that this was the “mafia” and I was very doubtful that it was. However, after what I heard yesterday who knows? I also heard Michael Ovitz tell Anthony Pellicano to go and get me some information! And say what you will, giving Anthony any marching orders is a little like telling a Doberman not to bite too hard, tough to do and even tougher to control!

I also spoke with her at length while her cat was very very sick, and after the poor animal died. Anita is a wonderful pet lover and this cat was her world when much of it was falling down around her. I don’t believe now, nor did I then that she is a bad person (she had a reputation in some circles for being difficult). After a few months, during one of our many phone calls she asks me, “Are you working for Pellicano?” I don’t believe we spoke again till yesterday April 9, 2008! It would seem that my advice and friendship were not taken seriously and again it is as I say, if it is “Free or Cheap,” it is not worth anything and not respected! Then again, one can hardly blame this woman for being paranoid about who could be trusted during what she went through. And I still to this day wish this young lady nothing but blue skies and warm days, she has been through a great deal of terror and sleepless nights but at this point she should realize that there was no “bogeyman” after all, just good Ol’ Anthony and the car with no plates that many have had to deal with through the years! At one time I even waited for it, it never showed up and I was sorry it hadn’t as I had a surprise for the driver and passenger that would have been a real topper!

As we sit in the audience of the court, we are all shown Arneson’s handiwork the same as we have seen almost daily, but this time it is the private info of Anita Busch. And then we see the DMV request for a picture, and this has to be taking its toll on Anita and it looks to be doing just that! And the billing statements showing when and where she was watched by Denise Ward, the fired former LAPD cop! This has not been a great trial for showcasing the Los Angeles Police Department…One is beyond greedy and the other — what can I say? — had to have hit her head during that “on duty” wreck she had!

Antia tells us of the time when out of nowhere, the phone rings and asks, “Are you Anita Busch?” and then hangs up, classic Pellicano shit! Just classic! And then there is the ultimate threat, the dead fish and a rose and a hole in the windshield of her car, all for what? What friggin’ movie did these A-holes fall out of? She is a reporter and her articles pissed off the Little Lord Fauntleroy of Hollywood, Michael Ovitz, and so she gets all of this? Oh, the new theory is that is was the “mafia” — I am still not buying it, it may have been a series of coincidences but I am not convinced! Only because the Big Bird was flapping around! Terrorizing a girl who is by herself and again for what? A newspaper article, that is hot now and under my bird in a few hours? And Ovitz spends $75,000 to fuck with her? Perhaps making a friend would have been a better way to deal with this! But Oh no! I am rich and I am powerful…and now the whole world knows what a little penis you are!

The crushing moment for Anita was describing in great detail the attempt to run her over. She tells of walking to her rental car and hearing a motor rev or race to a menacing tone and seeing a dark colored Mercedes rolling towards her! And how she saw herself dead and thinking that “this is how it ends!” And sitting frozen in her seat and holding a death grip onto the steering wheel, and to look at this piece of shit with his finger to his lips as to say “quiet” and then waving two fingers! Great routine is it not? She describes for all of us the, “sickening smile on his face”, she also was telling herself, “lay down Anita”, but could not move! If only someone with a 9mm had been around to catch these wannabe mafia clowns in the act (it wasn’t the first or only time for this routine, nor was Anita the only victim), these “goombah” games would have been all over but the crying! While describing the terror she broke down in tears on the stand, and I bought it as I was there in the early days and knew what she was going through. And now to be in the same room with the SOB that was possibly responsible for some or all of this had to be like reliving a nightmare!

At one point she left her home for a couple of months, and while she was gone someone compromised her computers and took her e-mails. She couldn’t use her phones and at one point called for help from the phone company and her savior arrives, Clifford Shillingford, a field tech who checks into his office and speaks to another savior of the day, Teresa Henry, a now retired technician who actually finds the wiretaps! Or “half taps” or “pairs” or just what they are in this case, WIRETAPS! And Ms. Henry will tell all of us that she unhooked them and threw them away. Ms. Henry will testify that in all her years she had never seen such a thing. I was out of the picture by then, but this had to make Anita feel better, how lucky can you get, to have these two dedicated employees of the phone company go the extra mile! Mr. Shillingford tells the tech at the office when told what they are, “just take it off.”

It was mentioned that Anita Busch and John Connolly and some guy named Moldea had joined together to write a book. The title was to be “A Woman at Risk,” but when pushed further she said that there would never be a book about her. And that she backed out of the deal with Connolly and Moldea as she “thought I was being used.” John Connoly told me that it was Moldea’s fault as he tried hitting on Ms. Busch and she did not like it! Mr. Connolly also told me that Moldea was getting carried away with all this as he wanted to use “code” names for all of them and John was having no part of it. LMAO, “Gaspar” is that you?

UPDATE:  see Dan Moldea’s response to the above here

Pellicano attempted to cross her and came across as an incompetent bully, and it just stunk, him trying to be compassionate and asking if she “needs a moment?” Hmm…no, but a throwing ax perhaps! At first she would not look at the “fluffy one” but then did and called him by name…she was getting stronger and was, I hope, realizing that he was through, and that it was her and her misery that brought the Pelican down! Dead fish and all…now that is a book title, “The Dead Fish”!

One of the names from my past in this trial is Pamela Miller, I remember speaking to her very briefly when she was represented by Cary Goldstein, Esq. One of the things I recall telling her, as I did with everyone in her situation, was to use disposable phones. No phone bill to get from people like Happy Ray, and even better, nothing to tap The government can tap a cell phone, and it is said that “cloning” is a good possibility also…but with a disposable I don’t see this as an issue. When the time runs out, go get another one! Do Not Buy More Minutes!

Pamela Miller was terrorized, I believe, almost as bad as Anita Busch, another victim of Pellicano and his crew, let’s start by saying that! I know that the defense is claiming that if they can get RICO off the chart of charges. that will be a victory. However, it does not appear to me that one could work without the other, Pellicano could not do his “deeds” without Arneson, and Turner was needed for the phone company, and Kachikian at Pellicano’s direction put it all together — THE CREW!

Pamela Miller worked as a nanny for a woman named Taylor Thomson. Ms. Miller gave an affidavit on behalf of the father of Ms. Thomson’s child in their custody battle, which didn’t endear Ms. Miller to Taylor Thomson. Ms. Thomson, heiress of a Canadian media empire, is a very wealthy woman and best buds with Bertram Fields! Damn, don’t you love the circle of friends, and we know who you get when you hire Mr. Fields! God dam Pelicans! And the tapes are there, all of them — and it is clear that Ms. Thomson’s assistant is talking to Pellicano and he asks, “You OK, Sweetie?” Hmm, why is he being nice to her, she does not write checks! And then there is the “Queen Bee,” Thomson herself beginning to whine about the money, and she asks for a “statement.” Well, that sets the Pelican back on his duff, and he explains why it is better that one does not exist…BUT, if you want one I will get one to you! She asks about getting a “twofer” investigation, but the Pelican is quick to tell her that if she wants the father/ex investigated, that is going to be another $25,000…and $25,000 for this and that and it’s “get the oil, the rub down is about to start!” I love this guy, what did he do with all of this money?

Pamela Miller was great on the stand — she was as solid a witness you could have. And her lawyer, one of the best in these United States! None other than Neville L. Johnson of Johnson and Johnson, LLP: 439 Canon Drive, Suite 200, Beverly Hills, California 90210 310-975-1080. Mr. Johnson was sitting like a Cheshire Cat after a big meal, he is representing some of the BIGGEST victims of the Pelican and his crew! I heard he was shopping for some big trucks to haul the money back to his office! People, this man is on a mission and he seldom makes any mistakes.

Ms. Miller’s parents were terrorized, and even her brother — a minister — was forced to move due to the constant stress that was put on him. It was the Pelican calls in the early mornings, and the threats and the cars with little cowards sitting in them…someone should have taken these bastards on! However, Pamela Miller as well as Anita Busch will one day be compensated big time for what was done to them. Pamela has a five star lawyer…I hope Ms. Busch has someone as good!

For me to sit and say that I don’t like rich and generous people would be a lie! And I try not to lie much. I have noticed something, IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY YOU CAN SCREW YOURSELF!!! Many of these people could have hired damn good lawyers for a fraction of the price, but hired you know who, or should by now. Also they hired Anthony and the Crew and got so screwed in the end you have to wonder if hiring a P.I. with old-fashioned worn shoes and an office without a computer lab would not have been a little better. Then again, if they had done that they would not have met Special Agent Stan Ornelas and his other friends at the F.B.I. (a very cool guy and what he must have been like as a young agent)!

We start the morning off listening a recording of Anthony “working” one of his clients. This time it is Mark Cohn, who had problems with the government prosecuting him for all kinds of things! 4 Star Financial Services was in trouble and it would appear that all of this guy’s associates are from “colorful” backgrounds! The Pelican goes in for the big fish, the wind is rushing past his beak as he dive bombs — this is a big fish and this Pelican is hungry!

Anthony sings the same old song, “I am not supposed to have these records” and “this cost a tremendous amount of money” and it would not be a Pellicano song if it did not have the old favorite, don’t tell know one! And one of the verses is a loving one, “send me more money!” This guy is working these rich SOB’s and loving it, and why not, he is selling a service and they are willing to pay and pay and pay and they do!

Mark Cohn tells Pellicano “I don’t have a record!” I wonder if that is still the case? All of the witnesses and victims it appeared had been run by Arneson and that, too, is going to be helpful for the other side as we can be assured that someone will call or visit them at night and make them reconsider coming forward to testify! And what appears to be the end of the conversation, we hear Pellicano tell Mr. Cohn, “I wish you had got to me sooner!” and at the end we hear what I hate, “Ok, partner, you take care.” “Partner, Pal, buddy, sweetie, honey” are all set ups for a con!

Now 8:50 AM, and who walks in but Michael Ovitz, nicely dressed and with two lawyers,”Suits!”. He is well spoken but does the “my lawyers took care of it” routine. Ovitz was the founder of Creative Artist Agency and after 21 years moved to work at Disney in October 1995. The big move would cost Disney millions as things did not work out, and they paid Ovitz to leave…and leave he did with the bank he towed behind his car! This pay out has to be the reason why it costs so much to get into Disneyland! He comes across as a decent guy, but no one believed it. The story is that he is a miserable person who knows he is very rich. He tells the court that it was his lawyers who brought Anthony in and paid $25,000 for each separate issue they wanted him to look into, $75,000 in all.

It was in the spring of 2002 that Ovitz first called Pellicano. Bernard Weinraub and Anita Busch were the New York Times reporters who had really gotten on his nerves. He was tired of the negative articles being written about him, and he was upset that these articles might prevent him from selling his management business, AMG. So he turned to the Pelican, who recorded the phone call while they spoke. And there it was, Mr. Ovitz sitting in the hot seat and his voice being heard through the courtroom! He wanted embarrassing information on both of these pains in his ass. Mr. Ovitz tells us all that the articles were “wildly embarrassing to me and my family” and all he was looking for was “a graceful exit from the business,” AMG. Ovitz was sitting on the hot seat and gulping water like an old goldfish with a bladder problem. I bet a good martini would have helped with his anguish! This guy does not like being in the public arena when he has no control, and today he had none. At the break when many left the courtroom, he and his two lawyers never left the safety of the courtroom. To hell with the restroom…especially if it might mean having to deal with more reporters, who might not be too happy about the way he treated their comrades!

On Ovitz’s initial call to Pellicano, Anthony was his gracious self. He spoke about someone being ill in his family and Ovitz offered his assistance at UCLA medical center! Must be a money thing, many miserable people donate money to hospitals and museums…I wonder if Mr. Ovitz did that? “I need to see you” states Ovitz to the Pelican! “My best friend Bert (Fields) loves you,” “I love you,” all this love…I am getting sick! Ovitz makes it clear that he needs about 1/2 an hour and tells the Pellican, “I am not coming to your office!” Funny, this one is rich and not so stupid…and how was it that he became aware of the “powers” of Anthony Pellicano? Could it have to do with all that “Love?” And he then pays the Pelican $75,000 in CASH! In the initial attempt, Ovitz tells the Pelican that it would be “beneficial” to him and to the Pelican; when asked by the prosecutor what that meant, Ovitz explained that he would pay him (Pellicano). Oh, you betcha you are going to pay, and much more than 75 grand! I think Anita Busch will be looking at some “beneficial” Ovitz cash soon.

Ovitz was doing some big time Pelican feather fluffing, telling the prosecutors that Pellicano “moved around in the community at the highest levels” (BULLSHIT! He knew he did not need to leave his office! You know, those “unorthodox” methods)…Ovitz states “I reached out because I needed information.” Hmmm! “I wanted all kinds of information.” As to the large sums of money, Ovitz stated that Pellicano needed it to run his business! And I am so sure that we all were believing this bullshit — Oh my god, Ovitz is getting stupid right before our eyes! Pellicano gave Ovitz the code name “Gaspar” so he could call and no one would know who it was…except we already know that Pellicano would blurt out Ovitz’s name at the drop of a hat to “impress” his other clients. Omerta oshmerta.

Chad Hummel, Esquire was making Mr. Ovitz squirm right in front of us. It was as if he was skinning this multi-millionaire in a way that not even Pellicano had thought of! As the cross went on it was apparent that this guy was not upset with Pellicano, and go figure that one out. He is sitting in a Federal Court house and being grilled in a way that he never ever thought possible. He had just heard his recorded voice all over the court and he is still sitting comfortably! One has to wonder if this is the route of least pain, or was there much more? Was the silence we are seeing in Pellicano going to be rewarded by some of these people someday? You know — later, much later? Many of these moguls had secrets, and I believe that Pellicano knows so much that I have no doubt in my mind that he goes to sleep with a smile on his face…not too sure about the rest of Hollywood!

This recent comment from “Jenny” under “Choosing a Lawyer” deserves it’s own post:

Hi John, I recently stumbled upon your web site. I am entertaining the thought of engaging a divorce attorney. We are not rich or famous. How much does one of these high powered attorney’s typically cost for a typical divorce? My friend is into hers for over 800K between the two of them. I certainly do not have even close to that kind of money. Can I expect to pay around 80K or less?

Thanks for “stumbling” and I was glad to get this! I am not sure where you are, but that has little to do with the initial process. You do not need a fancy firm with a fancy address (and fancy fees). There are some fine sole practioners out there. With the budget you are working with, you will need to be the “captain of the ship.” Make sure you are real clear with whoever it is you are going to deal with that this is it. Better yet, tell them all you have is $35,000 — better not to tip your hand! You won’t get a big firm, and that may be a good thing. Also keep in mind that the soon to be Mr. Ex could be held responsible for your cost. And be sure that you, too, pay attention to what the lawyer you choose is doing and how the
time is being spent! I have found when you try and be reasonable this will go a lot easier — be prepared to make concessions as to who gets what and why. Don’t let spite and ego cause you to spend $1000 to fight over an $80 lamp.

Visiting the courthouse is not a bad idea to watch the process and see what and how it is done. It will be a good lesson and you might find a lawyer that you like there. But don’t go just on reputation in your choice, you have to be careful and always pay attention to what’s going on if you plan on getting through this relatively unscathed. It is a difficult time but don’t go on autopilot once you have a lawyer…at the end of the day, you still have to be your own best advocate. You will get battered but you have to be careful and focus on what matters. If you and the soon to be Mr. Ex are not reasonable, the only people who will win will be people like me and the lawyers. And again, play your cards close to your chest and
don’t ever tell your lawyer how much you really have in the “vault” — you are on a budget and you need to focus on that!

I wish you all the best,

John

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