BRAZEN ATTACK AT VAN NUYS COURTHOUSE ATTORNEY, 53, LEFT WOUNDED BUT IN GOOD CONDITION.

Byline: Jason Kandel and Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writers

VAN NUYS - On a day when Van Nuys Courthouse was jammed with media for a hearing in actor Robert Blake's murder case, a man upset over handling of his probate case was caught on Court TV's camera shooting an attorney.

Cameraman David Diaz was standing outside the courthouse and captured the scene of the brazen shooting as attorney Gerald Curry, 53, of Simi Valley was ducking and diving around a tree and trying to deflect bullets with his briefcase. He was wounded but in good condition.

The suspect, William Strier, 60, of Sherman Oaks then was tackled by an off-duty sheriff's officer and others - all of it occurring as horrified witnesses watched and the TV camera rolled.

``You took my money, that's what you get!'' the gunman reportedly yelled at Curry, who is active in San Fernando Valley civic and community groups.

Curry remained standing for several seconds after the shooting, bleeding from the face before collapsing.

The suspect put his handgun in his jacket pocket and calmly walked away before being chased down and tackled by an off-duty sheriff's reserve officer and other witnesses to the shooting. Strier was being held in lieu of $500,000 bail on suspicion of attempted murder.

Diaz, the cameraman, helped tackle Strier.

``He looked at me and said, 'That's what he gets for taking my money,''' Diaz said.

Mark Laurent, a 29-year-old sound man for Court TV, described the scene as ``surreal and unbelievable.''

``The shooter calmly put the gun back into his pocket and walked away. It felt like I was on a movie or a TV set,'' Laurent said. ``It was unbelievable.''

Strier was armed with two revolvers, said Deputy Chief Ron Bergmann, who heads up the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Bureau.

Although the shooting took place in an outdoor walkway between the Municipal and Superior courthouses, spokesman Allan Parachini said court security remains a serious issue.

``This underscores the need for continued vigilance concerning courthouse security. We hope the victim fully recovers. Our heart goes out to the family,'' Parachini said.

Curry, whose law practice is based in Canoga Park, was listed in good condition at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, with gunshot wounds to the arms and neck.

City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo said he was shocked and outraged by the shooting.

``Our halls of justice have often served as a sanctuary to resolve our differences in a nonviolent and civil manner,'' Delgadillo said. ``The shooting underscores how real the threat of gun violence is in our society and how we must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to prevent it.''

According to court documents, Strier had made threats against Evelyn Murphy, who was a court-appointed trustee of the William Strier Special Needs Trust and was represented by Curry. A hearing was scheduled Friday on a request by Murphy to be removed as trustee because she had been threatened by Strier.

Curry's fees were being paid out of the trust, and Strier believed payments he needed for medical care were being held up, said LAPD Capt. John Miller.

``The suspect didn't think that was right, so he retaliated,'' Miller said.

Murphy, who manages a small apartment building in Woodland Hills, declined to talk about the case.

Details about the Strier trust were not available, but experts said a special needs trust is often established to provide for a beneficiary with physical or mental disability.

Strier lives in a condominium in Sherman Oaks, where neighbors knew little about him.

Curry was described as a quiet, even-tempered professional whose natural compassion and kindness made him the perfect attorney to handle probate and estate cases.

``You're dealing with people who have gone through loss or are planning for loss and he's just got this mild-mannered, sympathetic way while still offering good legal advice,'' said Gary Barr, an attorney with Alpert and Barr in Encino who often works with Curry.

``Every client I've ever gotten from him and every client I've ever referred to him have been abundantly happy with him.''

Curry has a wife, Rosemary, and twin pre-teen daughters, as well as a grown daughter who works in his office.

Curry is a member of the West Hills Hospital Board of Directors, a member of the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley and a past president of the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce and the United Chamber of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley.

He is also a volunteer in the San Fernando Valley Bar Association's Probate Section.

``We regret that the shooter chose to take matters into his own hands,'' said Robin Meadow, president of the Los Angeles Bar Association. ``We hope he makes a complete and swift recovery.''

Curry got his undergraduate degree from California State University, Northridge, and his law degree from the Whittier College of Law.

``Here's Gerry, I don't know if I've ever seen him when he's not thrilled to see you, to shake your hand and has a big smile on his face,'' said Gary Thomas, who worked with Curry on the United Chamber of Commerce.

Staff writer James Nash contributed to this story

Jason Kandel, [phone]

jason.kandel(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

5 photos, map

Photo:

(1 -- color) Attorney Gerald Curry hides behind a tree outside the Van Nuys Courthouse as a gunman comes after him while television cameras roll.

(2 -- color) Police have identified William Strier, left, as the suspect in Friday's Van Nuys shooting.

Court TV

(3 -- color) Curry asks for help after being shot outside Van Nuys Courthouse as his assailant walks away.

Doug Benc/Getty Images

(4 -- color) Shooting suspect William Strier is arrested.

(5) Shooting victim Gerald Curry is attended to outside Van Nuys Courthouse on Friday. The suspected assailant, William Strier, was arrested moments after the attack.

Steve Grayson/WireImage.com

Map:

LAWYER SHOT

Van Nuys courthouse