Attorney Is Shot as TV Cameras Roll

Gerald Curry, the probate attorney who was shot outside the LA courthouse, is actually in stable condition right now. Thank god.

MSNBC has the video here.

This is scary stuff. Probate law is supposed to be 'safe', at least in comparison with being a criminal prosecutor.

This was apparently a contentious affair...the attorney was supposed to appear at a hearing in order to get authorization to be paid for his services from the fund. His client (the trustee) had been threatened with death by this man as far back as august. The facts are somewhat sketchy, but from what I can tell, the trust was apparently set up in his name from an accident settlement. For some reason, he needed money from the fund for some medical bills, but for some reason wasn't getting it, which set him on his rampage.

Maybe someone should have paid his medical bills, especially if they were for psych medications.

I have to applaud the Traffic Court Judge/off-duty police officer who tackled Strier (the shooter). This was professional work!

Catching the whole affair on video brings to mind some issues about the journalists though. Its a little disturbing that they would simply stand by and roll tape as the incident happened.

However, since we don't have 'good samaritan' laws that create a duty on citizens (even journalists) to intervene, they can't be criticized for not doing anything. It would have been dangerous and stupid, probably. At least one of the cameramen was pointing out the gunman so that the judge could tackle him.

I suppose in some sense, capturing the act on videotape is about all the journalists can do. They couldn't stop the gunman because he had already shot the attorney before they turned their cameras on him. There was little they could have done without getting shot themselves (the gunman had another gun ready to go in his back pocket).

I'm just so very thankful that the judge was quick on his feet and had police training. Since this happened in front of the courthouse, Curry got immediate medical attention which probably saved his life.

But its a little scary that being an attorney is not such a 'safe' profession after all. I guess there's always the chance you end up with a psycho client or adverse party. Thank god I want to be a tax lawyer. I don't know of any tax lawyers getting shot by clients or adverse parties. And I don't want to know if there are.
ignorance is bliss.