Hunter S Lawyers

Officials of the U. S. attorney's office Wednesday accused Nancy Hoover Hunter's lawyers of "egregious misconduct," escalating an unusually acrimonious dispute over documents in Hunter's fraud trial. In a written response to defense allegations of misconduct, prosecutors asserted that Hunter's lawyers are conducting a personal vendetta against Assistant U. S. Atty. S. Gay Hugo, designed to "rattle" her so she will commit an error that could be grounds for a mistrial or a successful appeal.

The fraud and tax-evasion trial of Nancy Hoover Hunter resumed Wednesday amid acrimonious exchanges between one of Hunter's lawyers and a prosecution witness. Testimony continued in the trial after a 3 1/2-week vacation. Hunter faces 234 counts related to the J. David & Co. swindle, which defrauded about 1,200 people of nearly $90 million. Prosecutors maintain that Hunter had intimate knowledge of the company's Ponzi scheme, but her attorneys say she was blinded by love for J.

The judge in the Nancy Hoover Hunter fraud trial on Friday turned down a request by her lawyers that a mistrial be declared because prosecutors had failed to turn over documents related to a witness who testified Thursday and Friday. However, U. S. District Judge Earl B. Gilliam said the lawyers were on "very fertile ground" and may raise the issue again next week when the trial resumes. Hunter is charged with 234 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, fraud by a commodity pool operator, making false statements to a federal agency, income-tax evasion, and aiding and assisting in the false preparation and filing of income-tax returns.

U.S. District Judge Earl B. Gilliam on Thursday denied a motion to dismiss the indictment against Nancy Hoover Hunter, the former mayor of Del Mar who is on trial for charges stemming from the collapse of the J. David & Co. investment firm. Gilliam turned down the motion after listening to arguments by one of Hunter's lawyers, who accused prosecutors of "rampant, persistent misconduct" related to their failure to turn over documents to the defense until after the trial began last April 18. "I think the U.S. attorney's office is out of control and I think it's your responsibility to do something about it," Richard Marmaro, who represents Hunter, told Gilliam.

The fraud and tax-evasion trial of Nancy Hoover Hunter resumed Wednesday amid acrimonious exchanges between one of Hunter's lawyers and a prosecution witness. Testimony continued in the trial after a 3 1/2-week vacation. Hunter faces 234 counts related to the J. David & Co. swindle, which defrauded about 1,200 people of nearly $90 million. Prosecutors maintain that Hunter had intimate knowledge of the company's Ponzi scheme, but her attorneys say she was blinded by love for J.

U.S. District Judge Earl B. Gilliam on Thursday denied a motion to dismiss the indictment against Nancy Hoover Hunter, the former mayor of Del Mar who is on trial for charges stemming from the collapse of the J. David & Co. investment firm. Gilliam turned down the motion after listening to arguments by one of Hunter's lawyers, who accused prosecutors of "rampant, persistent misconduct" related to their failure to turn over documents to the defense until after the trial began last April 18. "I think the U.S. attorney's office is out of control and I think it's your responsibility to do something about it," Richard Marmaro, who represents Hunter, told Gilliam.

A secretary testified Thursday that Nancy Hoover Hunter paid her $400 to retype financial statements for J. David (Jerry) Dominelli to include altered figures about Dominelli's track record as an investor. Christine Nespor said she did the work for Hunter in 1980 while she and Hunter were working at the La Jolla office of Bache, Halsey, Stuart, Shields, an investment brokerage. At the time, Dominelli was starting up his J. David & Co. investment firm in La Jolla. Prosecutors have charged that Hunter helped Dominelli lure investors to his new firm by preparing falsified financial statements that indicated he was a highly successful broker, when in fact he had a dismal investment record.

U. S. District Judge Earl B. Gilliam on Wednesday denied another motion for a mistrial made by Nancy Hoover Hunter's lawyers, who complained that they had just received 197 pages of documents that prosecutors should have turned over to them by last March 15. Gilliam resumed Hunter's fraud trial Wednesday after recessing it for a day Tuesday to deal with a continuing dispute between the prosecution and defense over the document issue. Prosecutors said they have now given Hunter's lawyers all notes and memoranda regarding investigators' interviews with both scheduled and potential witnesses at the trial.

The judge in Nancy Hoover Hunter's fraud trial said Tuesday that prosecutors were in contempt of court for failing to turn over documents to the defense, but he later softened his language and ruled that they had only violated a court order. U. S. District Judge Earl B. Gilliam turned down a defense motion for a mistrial and refused to dismiss the indictment against Hunter, but he warned the prosecutors that "continued government misconduct" could prompt him to reevaluate his decision.

A secretary testified Thursday that Nancy Hoover Hunter paid her $400 to retype financial statements for J. David (Jerry) Dominelli to include altered figures about Dominelli's track record as an investor. Christine Nespor said she did the work for Hunter in 1980 while she and Hunter were working at the La Jolla office of Bache, Halsey, Stuart, Shields, an investment brokerage. At the time, Dominelli was starting up his J. David & Co. investment firm in La Jolla. Prosecutors have charged that Hunter helped Dominelli lure investors to his new firm by preparing falsified financial statements that indicated he was a highly successful broker, when in fact he had a dismal investment record.

Officials of the U. S. attorney's office Wednesday accused Nancy Hoover Hunter's lawyers of "egregious misconduct," escalating an unusually acrimonious dispute over documents in Hunter's fraud trial. In a written response to defense allegations of misconduct, prosecutors asserted that Hunter's lawyers are conducting a personal vendetta against Assistant U. S. Atty. S. Gay Hugo, designed to "rattle" her so she will commit an error that could be grounds for a mistrial or a successful appeal.

U. S. District Judge Earl B. Gilliam on Wednesday denied another motion for a mistrial made by Nancy Hoover Hunter's lawyers, who complained that they had just received 197 pages of documents that prosecutors should have turned over to them by last March 15. Gilliam resumed Hunter's fraud trial Wednesday after recessing it for a day Tuesday to deal with a continuing dispute between the prosecution and defense over the document issue. Prosecutors said they have now given Hunter's lawyers all notes and memoranda regarding investigators' interviews with both scheduled and potential witnesses at the trial.

The judge in Nancy Hoover Hunter's fraud trial said Tuesday that prosecutors were in contempt of court for failing to turn over documents to the defense, but he later softened his language and ruled that they had only violated a court order. U. S. District Judge Earl B. Gilliam turned down a defense motion for a mistrial and refused to dismiss the indictment against Hunter, but he warned the prosecutors that "continued government misconduct" could prompt him to reevaluate his decision.

The judge in the Nancy Hoover Hunter fraud trial on Friday turned down a request by her lawyers that a mistrial be declared because prosecutors had failed to turn over documents related to a witness who testified Thursday and Friday. However, U. S. District Judge Earl B. Gilliam said the lawyers were on "very fertile ground" and may raise the issue again next week when the trial resumes. Hunter is charged with 234 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, fraud by a commodity pool operator, making false statements to a federal agency, income-tax evasion, and aiding and assisting in the false preparation and filing of income-tax returns.