Herald News

Serial filer of bizarre lawsuits adds Drew Peterson to list of targets

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:12:19 -0500

Jonathan Lee Riches, of West Chester, Pa., has filed thousands of lawsuits and motions against celebrities, athletes, criminals and companies — even Wikileaks’ Julian Assange. And now Drew Peterson can count himself among Riches’ targets.

Peterson attorneys seek Brodsky’s financial records

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 06:51:14 -0500

Drew Peterson’s former attorney is fighting a move by his ex-colleagues to obtain his financial records regarding Peterson’s representation as part of their motion for a new trial. Peterson’s current attorneys want the records to help prove their belief that Joel Brodsky was motivated in part by personal financial gain when he represented Peterson. Brodsky claims the subpoena violates attorney-client privilege. Peterson’s attorney Steve Greenberg filed a subpoena seeking the records in preparation for a Feb. 19 hearing on a motion for a new trial. Part of that motion claims Brodsky ruined Peterson’s chances of acquittal, not the least of …

New hearing set in Drew Peterson murder case

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:34:37 -0500

After months of sniping by his attorneys and the filing of inflammatory motions, Drew Peterson finally has a court date in his bid for a new trial. Judge Edward Burmila on Thursday set Feb. 19 and 20 as the dates for Peterson’s hearing for a new trial. If Burmila denies his motion, Peterson’s sentencing hearing will begin immediately Peterson was convicted in September after a 24-day trial of the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. In December, Peterson attorney David Peilet filed a memo in Will County court supporting the defense team’s claims that former lead attorney Joel Brodsky …

Drew Peterson’s attorneys accuse each other of ethical violations

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:43:17 -0500

The battle between Drew Peterson’s attorneys escalated Monday as Joel Brodsky claimed his co-counsel Steve Greenberg suffered from mental illness and had an “intimate relationship” with a TV reporter to draw more attention to himself. Brodsky hurled those accusations after Greenberg charged that Brodsky had botched the Peterson trial by spending too much time chasing publicity for himself and their client and that Brodsky committed a “smorgasbord of ethical violations.”

Lawyer: Drew Peterson’s chance for a fair trial ruined by ‘Carnival-like pranks’

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 11:37:36 -0500

Drew Peterson’s former lead attorney, Joel Brodsky, thought representing a famous client would put him in the big leagues, and focused on his own “self-glorification” to Peterson’s detriment, according to a new filing in the case.

No special treatment for Drew Peterson: Inmate funeral furloughs fairly common

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 06:46:45 -0500

The fact that convicted wife-killer Drew Peterson was allowed out of jail to see his dead mother at a Darien funeral home last week didn’t sit well with some people. But authorities say not only is it lawful, but it’s not uncommon for inmates who loses an immediate family to be escorted to see their loved one a final time.

Drew Peterson let out of jail briefly to attend his mother’s wake

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 06:23:48 -0500

Drew Peterson was taken from the Will County Jail to a Darien funeral home Thursday afternoon to say goodbye to his mother, Betty Morphey, who died earlier this week, according to attorney Joel Brodsky.

Request for new trial brings more drama to Drew Peterson defense team

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:55:28 -0500

Attorney John Paul Carroll gained a vocal critic this week in Drew Peterson’s lead defense attorney, Joel Brodsky, after Carroll filed a motion seeking a new trial for Peterson that claims Brodsky did a poor job of representing him.

Lawyer: Drew Peterson ‘boggled’ by new attorney’s move to seek new trial

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 06:31:08 -0500

The Drew Peterson saga took another bizarre turn Tuesday, as an outside attorney filed a motion seeking to overturn the former Bolingbrook police officer’s murder conviction claiming his lawyers flubbed the case.

Drew Peterson’s lawyers battle one another

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 14:25:10 -0500

Drew Peterson’s fired former attorney is publicly accusing one-time co-counsel Joel Brodsky of “single-handedly” losing Peterson’s just-completed murder trial. Peterson, who remains jailed while awaiting sentencing, weighed in Monday by asking the agency that disciplines lawyers to investigate Steve Greenberg’s conduct during and after the trial.

Legal experts: Little reason to charge Drew Peterson with Stacy’s murder

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 06:24:49 -0500

Legal experts said Friday that pursuing murder charges against Drew Peterson for his missing fourth wife’s presumed death would accomplish little while eating up significant resources.

Drew Peterson jurors: Hearsay evidence was key to verdict

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:02:16 -0500

The jury foreman in the Drew Peterson case said Friday that without the testimony of two key hearsay witnesses the jury “possibly” would not have convicted Peterson of murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

Drew Peterson juror: Hearsay evidence did him in

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:34:22 -0500

Drew Peterson — the brash, cocky former Bolingbrook cop who became a tabloid sensation when his fourth wife vanished five years ago — was convicted Thursday of murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio. A juror said hearsay evidence convinced him Peterson was guilty.

Peterson attorneys predict successful appeal

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:37:31 -0500

Moments after their client was convicted of murder, defense attorneys for Drew Peterson on Thursday expressed confidence Peterson would successfully appeal. “You know what they say, a conviction is the first step in a successful appeal,” Peterson’s attorney, Joel Brodsky, quipped as he walked outside the Will County Courthouse. Defense attorneys blasted the fact that so much hearsay evidence was allowed in against Peterson during the murder trial and suggested there would numerous issues ripe for an appeal. “Our theory is (the jurors) were overwhelmed by the hearsay,” said Joseph “The Shark” Lopez, another member of Peterson’s defense team. “These …

At the Joliet courthouse, singing, chanting and f-bombs

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:54:08 -0500

They belted out a ditty to the tune of a Peter, Paul and Mary classic, heckled some and greeted others with thunderous applause. As the throngs of press migrated outside the Will County courthouse following Drew Peterson’s guilty verdict Thursday afternoon, dozens of court watchers pounced on the opportunity to publicly express their disgust for the former Bolingbrook cop. “Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, hey, goodbye,” they jeered while defense attorneys tried to address reporters on a patch of grass county officials had accused TV reporters of damaging (and had billed them $35 to replace …

Videos: Reaction to the Drew Peterson guilty verdict

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:24:46 -0500

Members of Kathleen Savio's family, lawyers and observers react to the Drew Peterson guilty verdict.