Greene Broillet & Wheeler Comments on Judge Michael Johnson's Sentence in People vs. George Russell Weller.
Firm Represents 18 Victims of Santa Monica Farmers' Market Tragedy
SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Greene Broillet & Wheeler held a press conference today after Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson sentenced George Russell Weller to probation in People vs. George Russell Weller. The firm represents 18 plaintiffs in their wrongful death or negligence lawsuits against George Russell Weller arising out of the July 16, 2003 Santa Monica Farmers' Market tragedy. Lily Hoffman, Ilona Lettrich, Mark Miller and Anthony Portillo, who have filed civil suits in the matter, participated in the press conference.
Geoff Wells, a partner with Greene Broillet & Wheeler, opened the press conference and stated that: "The criminal court has spoken, and now it is time for the civil litigants to move ahead full-throttle with their civil suit against Bayside District Corporation and George Russell Weller. There is no doubt that Mr. Weller played a hand in the Santa Monica Farmer's Market tragedy. But, the City of Santa Monica and Bayside District Corporation played a major role because it never installed barricades that would have protected the public's safety on that dreadful day. It needs to step up to the plate and take their share of personal responsibility for what happened."
Lily Hoffman, whose father Movsha Hoffman was killed and whose mother sustained serious injuries in the Santa Monica Farmer's Market incident commented that: "We want to see that justice is fully served in both the criminal case and in our civil case. If Bayside District Corporation and the City of Santa Monica had provided any type of barricade system for east and west bound traffic, as it did for north and south bound traffic, much of what occurred on that fateful day could have been prevented. My brothers and I would still have a father and my mother would still have a husband. We look forward to our day in court and to seeing to it that all parties are held responsible for what happened."
Hoffman continued: "Our family won't ever be the same again. That's why it is so important to us that communities throughout the country that hold open air markets and other events take even greater steps to protect the public's safety."
Editor's Note:
Plaintiffs: Geoffrey S. Wells and Timothy J. Wheeler with the Santa Monica, CA. law firm of Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP represent 18 plaintiffs; Tel: 310.576.1200 (www.greene-broillet.com) All of the Plaintiffs' cases were consolidated by the Court; the lead case is entitled Supino vs. City of Santa Monica, et. al., Case No. SC 080283.
Defendants: The City of Santa Monica is represented by Jeanette Schachtner, Chief Deputy/Civil Liability Division, City of Santa Monica, CA; Tel: 310.458.8328. The City of Santa Monica and Bayside District Corporation are represented by Dana Alden Fox and Phillip M. Hayes with the Los Angeles, CA. law firm of Lynberg & Watkins; Tel: 213.624.8700. George Russell Weller is represented by Timothy L. Walker and Charles J. Schmitt with the Long Beach, CA. law firm of Ford Walker; Tel: 562.983.2500.
