Morgan Stanley Broker not charged with felony hit and run because it might jeapordize his JOB???

[XOKCowboy]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1327323/Morgan-Stanley-financial-adviser-escapes-felony-charges-hit-run-jeopardise-job.html

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.

snip

'Justice in this case includes restitution and the ability to pay it,' said District Attorney Mark Hurlbert.

snip

'Felony convictions have some pretty serious job implications for someone in Mr. Erzinger's profession, and that entered into it,' he said.

This happened in Vail and I can't find anything in the local papers about it. This is truly sick. This guy hits another guy on a bicycle, leaves the guy to die on the side of the road, drove to a Pizza Hut parking lot then called Mercedes Benz Roadside Service to report damage to his CAR!! He also claimed that speep apnea was the cause of the wreck. That's taking responsibility for his actions??

Meanwhile his victim suffered spinal cord injuries, bleeding from his brain, a herniated disc and will live with a lifetime of pain. Still the victim isn't too happy with the prosecutors actions.

'Mr Erzinger struck me, fled and left me for dead on the highway,' he wrote. 'Neither his financial prominence nor my financial situation should be factors in your prosecution of this case.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1327323/Morgan-Stanley-financial-adviser-escapes-felony-charges-hit-run-jeopardise-job.html#ixzz14iMvONm5

One set of laws for us, a completely different set of laws for the rich. As a friend said to me "It must be cool to be a rich, white guy".

[Mass]

1. Is there another source? Some of these British tabloids are sometimes not very reliable.

[Zephie]

5. Its on LBN right now from an American source

The article has been circulating since the 4th.

On a side note, I've always found British news to be more legitimate than American news, but that's just my opinion.

[XOKCowboy]

17. I feel the same about The Guardian....

Sometimes the Daily Mail can be a little over the top.

[Zephie]

19. My British friends actually call it the Daily Fail

and accuse it of being a rag... Before telling me that it's STILL more legitimate than American reporting. =( America needs to get on the ball with its media.

[highplainsdem]

6. HuffPo, where it's now the top story, linking to Vail Daily:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/08/martin-erzinger-morgan-stanley-hit-and-run-_n_780294.html

[malaise]

18. This is disgraceful

Law and order are dead.

[XOKCowboy]

9. Here are a couple....

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20101104/NEWS/101109939/1078&ParentProfile=1062

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/08/martin-erzinger-morgan-stanley-hit-and-run-_n_780294.html

Most seem to be ripping off the Vail Daily story. I'm surprised no Denver paper or station is running the story.

[Mass]

11. This was why I was asking. It seems to be big enough a story that some local papers would carry it.

I found a link on CNBC and some local Colorado CBS associates as well, so the story seems true.

[XOKCowboy]

26. I sent an email to 9News here in Denver...

Their news editor responded that they did report it last Saturday. I must have missed it somehow.

I also notice that the Denver Post now has a very brief report based on the Vail Daily article on their webpage.

[WinkyDink]

32. The UK Mail is NOT a tabloid.

[Confusious]

2. when it comes to color in this country

black and white only matter if you're poor.

If you're rich, the only color that matters is green.

[Angry Dragon]

7. I think if he would have been black or brown

he would be facing felony charges

[Confusious]

15. Not if, like this guy, he controlled 1 billion dollars

greed is more powerful then racism.

[XOKCowboy]

25. Consider also that Vail/Beaver Creek is where a lot of his clients.....

go to "recreate" and hang with people of their own kind. Very rich, insular society. I wonder how many of Erzlinger's billionaire clients made a call to the DA. Can't have the guy who keeps them rich going to jail. How inconvenient.

[rocktivity]

3. Should a fellow with Sleep apnea be running a major bank?

No wonder we had a crisis!!!

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Angry Dragon]

4. Sure are a lot of assholes in office!!

[HopeHoops]

8. The shrub's entire EIGHT FUCKING YEARS was a hit and run and HE hasn't been charged!

They have to look out for their own, you know.

[Swamp Rat]

10. Some humans are worth more than others.

Corporations are worth more than all humans.

[Karenina]

22. Liebling! Geht's Dir gut darauf?

Ich bin kürzlich zehn mal sechs geworden. :freak::party::freak:

[Swamp Rat]

24. NAAA DUUU!!! Schöne Liebling!!

Ja, geht's mir gut, mehr oder weniger. :hug:

[LiberalAndProud]

12. "serious job implications". Same would be true of a truck driver.

Felonies on your record can make it difficult to find (or keep) a job, regardless of who you service, with the possible exception of sex workers.

[Ilsa]

13. Huffington Post link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/08/martin-erzinger-morgan-stanley-hit-and-run-_n_780294.html

This is outrageous. Take his assets through a civil suit and through his criminal ass in jail!

[XOKCowboy]

38. That would only happen to you and I Ilsa

That's what makes this story so disgusting.

[Ilsa]

14. Buggy double post. Disregard.

[elehhhhna]

16. 'Justice in this case includes restitution and the ability to pay it,' said District Attorney Mark H

the money quote.

[Canuckistanian]

20. And his victim is a LIVER TRANSPLANT SURGEON

So, who's more valuable to society? A "wealth manager" or a doctor who saves lives?

Another example of fucked-up values.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

21. On the other hand,

because he still has his job, when the person he ran over with his car sues, there will be plenty of money to be awarded to the victim in a settlement.

Edited: which is what elehhhhna said in post #16.

[XOKCowboy]

23. Heaven forbid we take the guy's houses, cars, artwork and all of his assetts....

to pay restitution as would happen with say... YOU AND ME!

[Occam Bandage]

27. So the prosecutor believes the appropriate redress is an enormous thumping sum of money.

If I were hit by a car, I'd rather have the millions than watch the idiot get thrown in minimum-security for a few years.

[jpgray]

28. There should not be a rich-guy escape hatch from charges

Especially considering the prosecutor acted against the victim's wishes. In any event, is it likely the perp is by any means poor? Guy is a hedge fund manager--is his continued employment necessary to acquire your thumping sum?

[Occam Bandage]

29. I'm not convinced there's a "rich-guy escape hatch" here.

The prosecutor has the authority to determine what kind of redress the state will seek. He happened to think, in this case, that the appropriate form of redress is civil-court damages, and that felony charges would interfere with the victim's ability to win compensation.

I have no idea if the manager's continued employment is necessary. It could very well be that New York juries tend to demand more of those with high incomes than of those with low incomes, personal wealth being a constant.

Sure, the story looks bad; everyone's reasonably conditioned by now to think that Wall Street always gets away with murder. But I'm not convinced that the prosecutor isn't acting with justice in mind. He might not be, but I think there's an equally plausible, non-conspiratorial justification for this decision.

[jpgray]

31. There is no ethical obligation to charge him, in your opinion?

It is an interesting point of view you have. The punishment of a felony charge isn't negligible, and when the elements of the charge can be proved, most everyone would receive that punishment in addition to any civil judgment. With this prosecutor, that accompanying punishment can be avoided solely on the basis of wealth. A man with no money would be branded a charged felon in addition to being penniless, while this fellow receives no charge and at worst will be penniless.

Further, mightn't the lack of a charge and conviction impact the civil case? If I were advocating for the defense, I'd make sure it did.

[XOKCowboy]

37. The lawyer that the defendant hired is the same that defended Kobe Bryant

Not saying that he was right or wrong in that case but he and the DA have a history. In this case I think and hope that the defense will jump all over the double standard this DA seems to see no wrong in.

[WinkyDink]

33. "felony charges would interfere with the victim's ability to win compensation." ??? He said charges

would interfere with the VILLAIN's ability to maintain his wealthy job.

Funny; POOR people are jailed AND expected to make restitution.

[XOKCowboy]

35. Thank You! It's the double standard. If this guy was anything but a rich, white guy he'd be

selling everything he has to pay a mediocre lawyer and hoping to avoid being in jail for the next 30 years for 2 felonies.

This guy never even called the police! He called Mercedes Benz roadside assistance and never even mentioned notifying the police. They found him putting a broken side mirror and bumper in his trunk across town. If that doesn't qualify him for a scumbag I don't know what does.

This guy (and his billionaire friends who populate Vail) bought a special type of "justice". One that you or I could never afford. As you said though if we'd almost killed an innocent bicyclist we'd never have seen the light of day since the incident, would be looking at financial ruin and a long time in jail. For this guy to buy his way out of this is beyond egregious.

[Junkdrawer]

39. non-conspiratorial???? So the thought that he is getting special treatment is a "Conspiracy Theory"?

If you overuse the "Conspiracy Theory" dodge, it just MIGHT become meaningless.

Oh, wait. Too late.

[Odin2005]

30. Rule of Law is dead, time for REAL torches, pitchforks, and ropes.

These banksters will be singing a different tune when they are terrified for their lives.

[donco6]

34. Rex Lex

The king is once again law.

[ellisonz]

36. Michael Clayton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKVkHRGc-60&p=087FE9FFCA662BC2&playnext=1&index=8

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

40. Wow I wish I could find a clip with this full scene because it's pretty awesome.