Charlie Langton: Kwame And Tamara Greene = The Calm Before The Storm

There were two events that happened yesterday in the lawsuit involving Tamara Greene against the City of Detroit and Kwame Kilpatrick. One good...one bad (depending on who you represent).

First, the judge ruled that the City of Detroit intentionally destroyed emails. The judge was mad! And because of that, the judge awarded Norman Yatooma, the attorney for the Greene family, attorney fees. I asked Yatooma how much that will amount to and the only answer he gave was "a bunch". I think it'll be a six-figure bunch. The judge made the right decision. That's the calm.

Then, for the next two-and-a-half hours, the judge heard oral arguments about whether the entire case should be thrown out of court. And for the first time in the six-year history of this case, we discovered what the issue really is: whether or not Kwame Kilpatrick and/or company obstructed the homicide investigation into Tamara Greene's death and, if yes, was it with the intentional and reckless disregard of the rights of the Greene family to have access to the courts to bring a wrongful death case.

Now for the storm.

There is no doubt that Kwame obstructed the homicide investigation. There are oodles of evidence that show computers and emails relating to the investigation being destroyed; cellphone and handwritten notes vanished; officers investigating the famous Manoogian Mansion party demoted; and the chief of the investigation, Gary Brown, fired.

Kwame didn't want anybody investigating anything that had to do with him, especially if it related to Tamara Greene and the famous party. However, that only gets the Greene family through step 1. Step 2 is far more difficult.

Where is the connection between the botched homicide investigation and the intent to deny Tamara Greene's family the right to sue? There just isn't any. Kwame was never thinking about the Greene family's right to sue...ever! And unfortunately, depending on who you represent, the case will be thrown out. 

Yatooma did a great job of uncovering the most salacious, sexy, mind-blowing, dirt, which would make for a fantastic movie someday. He even hinted that there may be a personal relationship between Kwame and Tamara. Stay tuned. However, in a court of law, which is often boring and not so sex-crazed, the elements of the case were not proven.

Selfishly, as a member of the media, I would love to have a front-row seat at this trial. But I don't believe I'll get my wish. The judge will have a tough decision and I'm certain the judge is concerned with public opinion if he throws this case out.

However, the law is the law. And if there's no evidence on every element, the case is over. The weather can never be predictable and it can change any minute. And although it won't be a sunny day in Detroit, we can only hope there will be a rainbow after the storm.