Advice on how to research a court case

[PowThudBeer]

I just found out one of my friends from childhood has committed suicide. We lost touch soon after we were both involved in a high profile attempted manslaughter trial as teenagers in the '80's in a different state. He was the victim and I was an eye witness. He and his family moved soon after the case was over and we lost touch. I've recently learned he never got over this incident and finally took his own life and still talked about this incident. We were the same age so he was 45 when he died.

LONG story short, the accused was represented by a VERY large corporation and had some big time attorneys and he ended up being found not guilty. It was all over the newspapers about how someone could get away with this is all I really remember. I remember asking a ton of questions at the time as to how that could happen but my parents couldn't explain why except that the trial was an absolute disaster and the DA dropped the ball. I do know my testimony and those of a few others were eventually sealed and now I'm now motivated to find out what exactly happened. Both my parents are now passed so I've got to do some digging.

Hope this makes sense but I feel like I need to now understand what happened and how the prosecution lost this case. I owe it to him.

Thank you for any direction or help you can offer.

[Burnadell]

Some counties have websites that you can search for any lawsuits filed...but some do not. Either way, they usually do not have copies of the court filed documents, just the dates and summary of what was filed, dates filed and final disposition. What county and state, and I may can assist in determining if they have the appropriate website. Do you remember the corporation's name?

The term, "attempted manslaughter" is confusing because manslaughter means there was no premeditation or forethought.

[Gbird]

If the case is disposed of, you can file an open records request with the investigating agency and maybe pull the entire case file.

Might cost you a few dollars, but might answer your questions.


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[35remington]

PowThudBeer (great username, btw) I can do some searching in several subscription-based legal databases if you can pass along all the details you have.

The term, "attempted manslaughter" is confusing because manslaughter means there was no premeditation or forethought.

Attempted manslaughter is likely the result a plea deal in the defendant's jurisdiction, where attempted manslaughter has been created by statute. It does not exist at common law. Manslaughter is essentially just murder without the premeditation, so attempted manslaughter could be coming home to your wife in bed with another man and trying to kill him but not succeeding.

[PowThudBeer]

Thank you for the replies. 35remington and Burnadell, I'll be sending you PMs. I am probably wrong using "attempted manslaughter". The accused chased my friend around a neighborhood with a 357 firing over 20 rounds at him, a couple at near point blank. Fortunately, he was so drunk he couldn't hit his target(s) but did come within inches.

[DFWPI]

It's going to depend on what State and possibly, the county. I'm working with an attorney on an appellate case, murder, and it's only five-years old. It's taken over a month to get the records, as they were in storage.

You said something about it being sealed. If he had money and his attorneys were smart, they may have had the case expunged, which means all records should have been destroyed and there is no records that will be found.

Good luck on the search and sorry to hear about your friend.


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[PowThudBeer]

I just looked on www.cocourts.com, which I believe is the commercial court case site. From what I've read the only way to search is with the defendant's name, which I don't have, unfortunately.

[PowThudBeer]

It's going to depend on what State and possibly, the county. I'm working with an attorney on an appellate case, murder, and it's only five-years old. It's taken over a month to get the records, as they were in storage.

You said something about it being sealed. If he had money and his attorneys were smart, they may have had the case expunged, which means all records should have been destroyed and there is no records that will be found.

Good luck on the search and sorry to hear about your friend.


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Crud! With the backing he had I bet they did.

[UltraMax]

I would start at the agency of lowest jurisdiction and research it from there. They should have a records division.

Your name should be attached to the case as well as your friends. Problem is that juvenile names are protected and it would be very hard to get that case IMO, even if you are the witness.

It's worth a shot tho. I would want to know.

[CrookedArrow]

Have you attempted an "Open Records Request"? I am not saying it will work but it's worth a try and cheaper then other methods. Best of luck

[coy-ote]

start with the police dept or agency that handled the report if it wasn't expunged you can get some info from there under open records act and go from there,

[PowThudBeer]

Good advice guys. I bought a subscription to a newspaper archive site but it only includes one of the smaller newspapers that might have covered the case and I can't find anything there. I did call in a favor with a friend who is an ex-FBI Agent who is now a private investigator and he's going to see what he can find but wasn't too optimistic. Next step will be to find someone local who will go to the court house and start digging in the archives.

I'll also contact the responding PD and ask about an open records request.