BANKRUPTCY MAY VOID BAIL BONDS.Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer About 3,000 people out of custody on bail with bonds from two Calabasas companies could be issued arrest warrants arrest warrant (warrant of arrest) n. a judge's order to law enforcement officers to arrest and bring to jail a person charged with a crime. The warrant is issued upon a sworn declaration by the district attorney, a police officer or an alleged victim that the accused person committed a crime. (See: warrant of arrest) because of the bond companies' recent bankruptcy, court officials said Thursday. Judge Dan T. Oki, supervising judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court Criminal Division, said the court is preparing a list of cases in which bail bonds bail bond n. a bond provided by an insurance company through a bail bondsman acting as agent for the company, to secure the release from jail of an accused defendant pending trial. Usually there is a charge of 10 percent of the amount of the bond (e.g. $100 for a $1,000 bond) and often the defendant must put up some collateral like a second deed of trust or mortgage on one's house. were issued by Nebraska-based Far West Insurance and Amwest Insurance, both doing businesses locally. As of Sunday, bonds issued by these two companies may be insufficient to ensure the appearance of the defendants because the companies will become the subject of an order of liquidation and declaration of insolvency, court officials said. Oki said the defendants are subject to possible arrest warrants based solely on the liquidation of the two bail bond companies, and not as a result of any failure on their part to meet their responsibilities in the cases against them. Oki is directing trial courts to review the files of the affected cases to determine the need to issue an arrest warrant. Prosecutors and defense counsel have been asked to bring to the court's attention any cases involving unusual circumstances. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion