Obviously, a black man in a low wage job, the sole support for his family, would also get this deal.
A financial manager for wealthy clients will not face charges for a hit-and-run because it could jeopardise his job, it has been revealed.
Martin Joel Erzinger, 52, was set to face felony charges for running over a doctor who he hit from behind in his 2010 Mercedes Benz, and then speeding off.
But now he will simply face two misdemeanour traffic charges from the July 3 incident in Eagle, Colorado.
His victim, Dr Steven Milo, 34, is meanwhile facing ‘a lifetime of pain’ from his injuries.
But prosecutors claim the decision is theirs to make.
‘Felony convictions have some pretty serious job implications for someone in Mr. Erzinger’s profession, and that entered into it,’ he said.
Ha, Ha. Good one Unc Dave==you got me. All set to blow my top. But in THIS case, I’d do the same thing:
“‘Justice in this case includes restitution and the ability to pay it,’ said District Attorney Mark Hurlbert.
The felon gets to keep his job in order that his victim will get restitution for his real injuries. I have no doubt the victim is totally fine with this.
Good result. Its only “sad” that all victims of crime cannot be made whole.
It’s the “Golden Rule” – those with the GOLD, MAKE THE RULES !!!
While the story purports to a claim that the Banker might have gotten off due to “special circumstances”, we have nothing in the article (such as a data set of all other cases similar to this one and the outcome of them) to see whether this case is significantly different. Unless we have evidence to such claim, no dice.
The source story is from the Daily Mail. So, you can be sure there are some facts missing. But, if this is reported accurately, Then fine. The banker has offered restitution though the doctor wanted prosecution not money. Okay. The doctor has sustained spinal injuries that may make it impossible for him to do his job or support his family. The banker will have to pay those expenses and some amount for the pain and suffering, too. Oh, by the way, the doctor lives in New York so it’s gonna cost a lot to pay those expenses. Oh, and he’s a liver transplant surgeon. Those wages will add up to a lot every year. But, I think the best bet is for the doctor to take up a private lawsuit, get everything the man owns and a lein on future earnings. He left the doctor lying in the street and drove until he could call for help. Help from Mercedes for the damage to his car!!! Oh, and can someone start a recall campaign on the DA in Denver?
I bet being run over has some pretty serious implications for a doctor’s career too.
Fucking asshole needs jail time!
# 1 – “The felon gets to keep his job – I have no doubt the victim is totally fine with this.”
Point of order: He is not a felon. He is a banker. If he’d gone to trial and convicted, THEN he would be a felon.
Also reread the story. The victim is NOT fine with it.
“Obviously, a black man in a low wage job, the sole support for his family, would also get this deal.”
Or a New Black Panther.
The rich have always been coddled by our justice system. What’s impressive about this is that they’re not even bothering to pretend any more.
I guess the rich must really think they have this country by the balls to be able to flaunt (not flout) such behavior.
Well, I apologize–read too fast. I agree that if the victim was NOT ok with non-prosecution, then “normal protocol” should have been followed. Seems to me if the Banker had no medical knowledge and he had no cell phone on him (doubtful?) and he drove off and found a phone and made the call asap then hit and run charge would not apply.
Facts and resource allocation can be niggling things. I would guess the Banker was the friend of a friend in high places==a worse explanation than the idiot explanation given.
Just add this case to the list of Big Government letting the citizenry down.
Does remind me though that money does talk while BS walks: richo’s being able to “buy” a substitute if called up in the draft for the Civil War. Free market? Heh, heh.
Well, I was ready to predict an angry mob complete with torches and pitchforks, but then I read #1’s comments.
Restitution to the victim, when possible is a far, far better approach to justice than jail time for the perpetrator. Still, it wouldn’t hurt if the banker could spend, say, the next 104 weekends in the slammer while keeping the “day job”.
Of course there is nothing to stop Morgan Stanley from firing him anyway – except for the fact that ethics and morals have nothing to do with the hiring/firing standards at Morgan Stanley.
The issue of restitution should be independent of the decision to press criminal charges. Hit-and-run is a criminal charge. It is in the “people’s” interest to pursue a criminal case and get him off the road and in jail. Financial restitution is a civil matter.
I will BET,
there is a Maximum claim, for the VICTIM..
Nothing new here. In the US, you get the justice you can afford!
Uncle Dave, let me correct that for you:
“Obviously, a
blackman in a low wage job, the sole support for his family, would also get this deal.”It has everything to do with the fact that the guy is ridiculously rich and nothing to do with the fact that he’s white. In addition, it should be noted that Erzinger will face misdemeanor charges but not felony charges which means in theory he could still face jail time. Erzinger claimed he never knew he hit Milo.
#11–chuck==”The issue of restitution should be independent of the decision to press criminal charges.” /// Join the real world. Simple minded to want simple rules that are applied in a vacuum as to the consequences and ramifications. “Settlements” are almost always cheaper and superior to litigation. Settlement=you get something. Litigation=you can lose. That is true in criminal cases as well as civil.
Wise up.
#15 – I know how they are usually related. And, obviously, if you can get a criminal conviction against someone, it becomes far easier to make a civil claim.
In many instances the purpose of the criminal charges is to put pressure on to settle the civil claim.
Some other things to consider:
1. The driver probably had liability insurance, and other assets, so it’s not entirely clear that the victim will benefit more if the driver keeps working to pay a pain & suffering lawsuit.
2. Independent of whether he’s called a felon or not, he was driving recklessly (pending further investigation) and almost killed someone. That’s a prime example of what prisons are for, as opposed to how we currently use them.
It is the DA that needs to do some time. He won’t because DAs can do no wrong.
Hey at least we know who the state works for.
Now is the time to impeach and then ban for life some state employees from government employment.
Don’t do this, and you will be an enabler, friend.
guard the guards
PROSECUTE THE PROSECUTORS
or else you, citizen, are responsible for sitting in your own pile of s**t in Colorado.
#16–chuck==focus a bit–do you have it clearly in your mind the point you want to make? Initially you posted they “should not” be related and now you are admitting “how” they are usually related.
So, the reality is that criminal and civil liability is related. MY position is that said reality is in fact WORTHY of actual/express/formal consideration.
Is it your position that whatever reality you admit exists “should be” ignored–or not?
In essence: what is the higher value: restitution for the victim or punishment for the guilty??
Almost biblical?
#20 – focus? you’re asking me to focus? I’m supposed to be working right now and I’m listening to a pod-cast, downloading pr0n and posting this nonsense all at the same time.
Now that I think about, I should probably pull over.
chuck–hah, hah. Well done. A girlfriend of mine gets pissed when I hang up on her for talking on her cellphone to me while driving her car.
“Just thinking of you sweetie and the kiddies you are going to plow into.”
#20 said: “In essence: what is the higher value: restitution for the victim or punishment for the guilty??”
He is a billion dollar fund manager. He already has the ability to pay restitution to the victim and more than likely a lot of it. Not to mention what ever his auto policy is willing to pay. Dr. Milo can have both.
I would submit that Martin Erzinger is probably already in the process of hiding his money and his assets and that he is also working out a way to protect his future earnings. He is a billion dollar fund manager after all.
In the end, Martin Erzinger is going to get off relatively scott free and Dr. Milo is probably going to get boned again.
The DA involved, Mark Hurlbert, is from the Fifth Judical District in Colorado. He is not the DA in Denver.
DrPiker==can you edit your post to stop talking out of both sides of your mouth?
Which is better: agreed to restitution or litigation you can lose? “In this case” you are assuming a lot of what would be contested facts if it were to be litigated.
Hard to stay relevant/on point isn’t it???
Yea, verily.
I never thought I would say this but there is a place for a “hit man” in our society.Kill the banker!
People who are rich get away more in our over-litigious society. Still, this guy should have been prosecuted within an inch of his life by all available evidence. This is a sign of the times created by Shrub-ite neocons where the $ is all-mighty and if you don’t have some, you’re not worth anything.
Someone was defending the Chicago School of Economics recently on this forum. Fool. They are a tool of the rich that have ruined each and every economy they have touted “free market” trickle down to. This guy got rich doing the same thing and now has the money to flout any laws. So, yes, we do have neocons to blame for this in a very real sense.
The prosecutor gave the victim and his lawyer less than one day to respond. This is also the same guy who was the prosecutor for the Kobe Bryant rape case.
However, if the cyclist was caught with two joints in his pocket he’d be put away.
And what has this “A financial manager for wealthy clients” learned?
It’s great to be living in a banana republic where money buys “justice” and plenty of “get out of jail” cards.
“A financial manager for wealthy clients” hit a doctor (a person who saves lives) from behind … then speeding off,… hum? Sounds like a classic hit and run!
Make you wonder who these “wealthy clients” are; maybe the prosecutors are one of these “wealthy clients”?