Battered Beverly Hills Socialite Files Appeal and Demands New Trial Against American Airlines; Charges Judge Robert Altman With Judicial Misconduct.Metro Editors & Legal Writers LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 24, 2000 Marcelle Becker, well-known Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. socialite, has filed a long-awaited appeal from a jury verdict rendered on March 10, 1999, in Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. Superior Court against her in favor of American Airlines American Airlines Major U.S. airline. American was created through a merger of several smaller U.S. airlines and incorporated in 1934. It continued to buy the routes of other airlines, becoming an international carrier in the 1970s; its routes include South America, the whom she sued on April 3, 1996, for physical assault, battery, false imprisonment false imprisonment, complete restraint upon a person's liberty of movement without legal justification. Actual physical contact is not necessary; a show of authority or a threat of force is sufficient. The person falsely imprisoned may sue the offender for damages. , negligent training & supervision, cruelty to animals cruelty to animals n. the crime of inflicting physical pain, suffering or death on an animal, usually a tame one, beyond necessity for normal discipline. It can include neglect that is so monstrous (withholding food and water) that the animal has suffered, died or , and other charges. The case made international headlines because of her social and political position and because the captain of the AA aircraft allegedly beat and tied up Becker on July 6, 1995, with her own dog leash, causing serious injuries to her and her dog, a Maltese named Dom Perignon, who eventually died of its injuries. Becker contends that the lost verdict was a result of the trial court's abuse of discretion and judicial misconduct, demanding a reversal. Becker contends that Judge Robert Altman improperly bifurcated bi·fur·cate v. bi·fur·cat·ed, bi·fur·cat·ing, bi·fur·cates v.tr. To divide into two parts or branches. v.intr. To separate into two parts or branches; fork. adj. her trial into two separate phases -- liability and damages -- making it impossible for her to prove physical injuries and medical evidence. Altman is also accused by Becker of making superfluous remarks and barrages of comments, and instructing the jury improperly. Becker is represented in the Court of Appeals by Richard A. Lowe and John K. Pierson. Lowe stated: "Judge Altman made it impossible for a jury to determine liability. Without medical testimony on the severity of Mrs. Becker's injuries a proper determination as to Captain Frost's use of excessive force in restraining her, and his liability for her injuries could not have been judged in an assault and battery case." Last year, Becker had criminal charges against her dismissed in a Federal Court Action after her lawyers, famed Washington, D.C., lawyer Mark Lane and Los Angeles-based Pierson, revealed that a clandestine and improper American Airlines-sponsored indictment was served on her, 33 months after she had filed her civil suit against American Airlines and approximately 42 months after the incident on July 6, 1995. The indictment threatened her with up to 20 years' imprisonment Imprisonment See also Isolation. Alcatraz Island former federal maximum security penitentiary, near San Francisco; “escapeproof.” [Am. Hist.: Flexner, 218] Altmark, the German prison ship in World War II. [Br. Hist. . In the Court of Appeals Second Appellate District Division P Marcelle Becker v. American Airlines Appeal from Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Altman Case No. PC016453 |
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