How much did the trial cost JJ and his family?

[RobGriz]

If it was such a slam dunk case, Johnson should have saved all the money and gotten a public defender for free.

Is that what you would do if your life hang in the balance?

Somehow, after an extremely enjoyable undergraduate life, and hell a good and pleasurable life well into my thirties .... that situation hasn't come up.

But seriously, yes. There is no way I would put my parents out for that kind of scratch, even if they could afford it. But in my younger years, it really wasn't any kind of option for me.

I hear you. Now at this stage of my life I wouldn't put my parents through it, mainly because they're dead, but I would probably mortgage the shit out of my life and I would do it for my kids. When I was younger, I am positive my parents would have given everything they own.

 

[astutegriz]

There is no way I would put my parents out for that kind of scratch, even if they could afford it.

Doug, assuming you have kids, would you put up that kind of scratch for one of them if they were ever falsely accused of something serious? You seem to post to inflame, so I'm not sure if you are serious here.

But I am curious on hearing your honest answer to this and the following questions. If so, how would you feel after everything was said and done, and a not guilty verdict came in. Good at first, but then what? Any animosity towards the prosecution if the case wasn't solid and should never have been brought to trial? Or if the case wasn't solid, would you just say get free representation?

 

[cclarkblues]

I think cases like this are exactly why Prepaid Legal plans are beneficial. I know it would have still cost a lot of money. I do know some legal plans do have criminal defense included with so many hours. The law firms are also A rated. I am sure there is someone on EGRIZ with more insight on Prepaid Legal that can give us an idea if it would have helped or not.

I would not wish any parent(s) go through what JJ's family just went through.

So, out of all the students at UM, how many of them have Prepaid Legal plans? I'd guess less than 10.

 

[RobGriz]

I think cases like this are exactly why Prepaid Legal plans are beneficial. I know it would have still cost a lot of money. I do know some legal plans do have criminal defense included with so many hours. The law firms are also A rated. I am sure there is someone on EGRIZ with more insight on Prepaid Legal that can give us an idea if it would have helped or not.

I would not wish any parent(s) go through what JJ's family just went through.

So, out of all the students at UM, how many of them have Prepaid Legal plans? I'd guess less than 10.

I would guess that 10 is way, WAY to high a number LOL

 

[WyomingGrizFan]

I think cases like this are exactly why Prepaid Legal plans are beneficial.

Never heard of Prepaid Legal Plans before. Ever.

 

[cody45051]

Found this on google:

A former KBR employee who unsuccessfully sued the company in connection with a rape she alleged took place in her barracks room shortly after arriving in Baghdad in 2005, lost again when a Houston federal judge awarded KBR's lawyers $145,000 in court costs for the trial that ended in July.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...lawyers-court-costs-in-rape-trial-2191911.php

I wouldn't be surprised if this would be close to the same numbers for JJ and his family considering the experts they had to bring in for testimony. That's where a lot of expenses go for criminal defense in high profile cases. Paoli didn't have to present too strong a case after destroying the prosecution's case but the experts he did bring in were very expensive.

 

[Gametime]

I heard from a semi-reliable source, is was just south of $500k. A year of legal resources will cost you an arm and a leg.

If JJ's legal fees are anywhere close to $500,000, I can now count 3 ways he got "screwed".

1) His 45 second joy ride;
2) The BS charge
3) His excessive legal fees for a pretty cut and dry case. $100,000 to $150,000 would be closer to a reasonable fee, $250,000 on the high side with expert fees. I would hope Paoli and Pabst will adjust their fees down. That is one way to help this family and not violate any NCAA rules.

It is really sad what has happened to a good kid and his family, all because of one night of sex. Makes me sick to my stomach.

 

[grizare#1]

Not just money but you will never convince me that it did not also cost two guys their jobs, and wrongly so.
Not blaming JJ

 

[Zootown Rox]

I think cases like this are exactly why Prepaid Legal plans are beneficial. I know it would have still cost a lot of money. I do know some legal plans do have criminal defense included with so many hours. The law firms are also A rated. I am sure there is someone on EGRIZ with more insight on Prepaid Legal that can give us an idea if it would have helped or not.

I would not wish any parent(s) go through what JJ's family just went through.

Pre paid plans are a great idea - for example where I work if a customer comes in through Pre-paid Legal for example we are obligated to give the first consultation free, and charge only 75% of our regular rate. In a case like this that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars that translates to tens of thousand, or if the poster is right about the 500 thousand dollars, 125 thousand dollar savings.

So yea, a pretty good deal.

 

[mtgrizrule]

I think cases like this are exactly why Prepaid Legal plans are beneficial. I know it would have still cost a lot of money. I do know some legal plans do have criminal defense included with so many hours. The law firms are also A rated. I am sure there is someone on EGRIZ with more insight on Prepaid Legal that can give us an idea if it would have helped or not.

I would not wish any parent(s) go through what JJ's family just went through.

Pre paid plans are a great idea - for example where I work if a customer comes in through Pre-paid Legal for example we are obligated to give the first consultation free, and charge only 75% of our regular rate. In a case like this that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars that translates to tens of thousand, or if the poster is right about the 500 thousand dollars, 125 thousand dollar savings.

So yea, a pretty good deal.

Very good idea to have legal insurance. The prolebm is people always think they never need it. They do not have legal issues and never will. Always nice to have though. JJ would have been covered under a plan too. I believe most family plans cover until kids turn 22 or as long as they are going to school. For less than $40.00 per month to potentially save 25% off whatever costs they ran up. Not a bad deal if you ask me.

Hell, I have used my plan to get me out of traffic tickets, collections, bad contractor work,service plan rip offs, and bad products. Even helped my sister get the guy my sister was sharing a house with permanently kicked out of their residence when he threatened her and her kids. I got the legal advise, they told my sister what to do. She had the locks changed on the doors in less than 2 hours, and their landlord was legally advised not to let him back on premises, even though his name was on the lease too. He threatened with legal action. We gave him the phone numbers for him to talk the lawyers if needed. Needless to say, everything went smooth from there. Her family was safe. Without that legal protection she would have spent a lot of money she did not have, and God knows what more could have happened.

I would recommend Prepaid Legal to anyone. It pays for itself.

 

[bigskylaw]

I seriously doubt Dave Paoli is a Prepaid plan attorney. Maybe it's changed, but whenever they have contacted me about signing up, it's because they want me to be a panel attorney they can refer clients to at a reduced rate. Knowing what I know, I wouldn't pay for the plans I have seen.

 

[Sportin' Life]

astute.. do I know you? Sorry if I forgot your name.

However. The point is that I am not buying that Johnson is a victim for having to pay for legal fees. I have no doubt that it is exorbitant, but it was entirely of his own volition. He chose to get a lawyer (and even hire a private investigator) before he was even charged with a crime. Of course that is going to cost a lot of money. I understand that he was fighting for his life, and he has every right to do so. But he also has a right to low cost or free representation if that is what he was to choose.

If it were one of my daughters (what the hell have they done now?) and I thought they were innocent yes I would do what I could for them. But I would also understand that is my choice, and by making that choice anything I pay is money that I specifically chose to pay. So I would not be a victim in any way.

And yes, I am being a gadfly about this and other issues. I guess I am too much of a contrarian to be a proper sports fan. I love watching football and the Griz, but I hate yelling cheers in unison, and toeing the party line.

 

[GrizPony]

I seriously doubt Dave Paoli is a Prepaid plan attorney. Maybe it's changed, but whenever they have contacted me about signing up, it's because they want me to be a panel attorney they can refer clients to at a reduced rate. Knowing what I know, I wouldn't pay for the plans I have seen.

This!

 

[AllWeatherFan]

Pre-Paid Legal is the legal equivalent of Amway.

 

[TxGriz]

Anyone think JJ is capable of a career in the CFL on par with Dave Dickensen? Or Any kind of long term career in the CFL? Might have a chance to earn his way out of the obligations for legal fees.

 

[GrizPony]

Perhaps, but I think he has a better shot at having his cerebrum pay off in the long run.