A Los Angeles Superior Court jury awarded $2.5 million Wednesday to a widow who alleged her mentally impaired spouse was removed from her care based on lies motivated by greed.
Jurors deliberated nine days before finding in favor of Robin Rodriguez, who maintained that Robert Acciani, a former deputy city attorney in Torrance, used his influence with law enforcement to build a false case of financial and elder abuse against her.
The jury found a conspiracy existed to inflict emotional distress upon Robin Rodriguez and to commit trespass.
Robin Rodriguez wept as the verdict was announced in her favor. She later joined her attorneys to thank jurors in the hallway.
Her suit alleged that Acciani and his wife helped remove Rami Rodriguez from his Rolling Hills Estates home after he developed dementia, prompting Robin Rodriguez to wage a lengthy court battle to get him back, which she did some 15 months later in January 2005.
Rami Rodriguez was a millionaire real estate investor and nightclub owner. His widow filed her suit in June 2008 in Los Angeles Superior Court against the Accianis, the county and four members of the Sheriff's Department: Detectives Curtis Henderson and Christina Moreno-Anderson, Sgt. Barbara White and Deputy Kwan Chow. All denied any wrongdoing and also said Robert Acciani did not influence any aspect of their work in the Rodriguez case.
Chow was exonerated of all allegations against him.
"We all were just trying to do our jobs," Chow said outside the courtroom.
Henderson testified he did not believe Rami Rodriguez's removal from his home was motivated by greed and that he would have taken action against the Accianis if he thought they did anything illegal.
Henderson and White are now retired.
Rodriguez maintained the members of the Sheriff's Department pursued a meritless criminal investigation against her after she won her husband's return. He died in August 2006 at age 66.
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Jury Awards $2.5M to Widow in False Elder Abuse Case
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ReplyDeleteGood one Anonymous and I totally agree!
ReplyDeleteThis is a VICTORY for all persons wrongfully accused of abuse!
ReplyDeleteGood for Robin Rodriguez to stand firm on her convictions and still be able to survive long enough to take this to court. Most people in Ms Rodriguez's position are elderly, frail, battling illness unable to go through long ordeal of litigation and that is what they wrongdoers depend on including the passing of the complainant - sounds cruel but this is the truth.
ReplyDeleteI know of several cases where the same situation happened, with no recourse in addition those who were wronged with false allegations cannot get the reports against them without hiring a lawyer talk about the thick brick wall to get to the truth of the matter.
Truth prevails congratulations to all who supported Ms Rodriguez job well done.
I'm not kidding a bit, this story made my day!
ReplyDeleteTHis story made my day too. I hope this precedent leads to other similar decisions
ReplyDeletethey say the unusual is news and this is very unusual and i love it when the good guy wins over the bad guy but look what it took to get to the bottom of this thankfully sweet justice for the plaintiff i wish her well now that this horror is over
ReplyDeleteFrom Rudy: This one important inspirational story. The key is JURY! J U R Y !!! Do NOT let anybody talk you out of it, especially not your lawyer. Don't let anybody tell you "juries are too expensive," or, "Judges know best." Don't let anybody tell you judges care about you and will do you and your loved ones no harm. Don't let anybody tell you they know more about you and your loved ones than you. Get a JURY!
ReplyDeleteWatch what happens next... An appeal will be filed and the players will use everything in their power to overturn the verdict on appeal and drag his widow thru the muck and costs of attorneys as they go. Glad for the victory, but I expect it will be short lived until and unless the probate court system is changed across our land.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great precedent. I didn't think it was possible to win this type of case.
ReplyDeleteI have personal knowledge of this case. Robin Rodriguez is a gold digger and should be in jail. The Jurors were fooled by her lies.
ReplyDeleteHere is some info on the case. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1406106/posts
ReplyDeleteAs someone who knows the facts of this case this is a disgrace to the victim and his family. Robin is greedy and conniving. I can't believe the jury bought her sob story.
ReplyDelete