Cheney Mason

Thanks for pointing that out Julie. That was pretty cool of Dave to link to us.

Yeah, it was.

Casey's Newest Lawyer Brings New Dynamic To Defense

Posted: 5:53 pm EDT March 23,2010
Updated: 6:21 pm EDT March 23,2010

ORLANDO, Fla. -- WFTV took a harder look at the newest addition to Casey's defense team, Orlando lawyer J. Cheney Mason, who says he can get Casey off, despite the evidence against her.

VIDEO REPORT: New Lawyer Brings New Dynamic

Channel 9 broke the story last week that Mason was on board. He has nearly 40 years of experience as a criminal defense lawyer and has won 50 first-degree murder cases.

Mason brings a dynamic, not seen yet, to Casey's defense team. He bombastic inside and outside of court and he's already made claims he'll get a not guilty verdict in Casey's murder case, but he's got hundreds of pieces of forensic evidence and testimony from more than 100 witnesses to fight against.

Mason says he's already got forensics experts volunteering to help Casey for free.

Prosecutors have the best labs and experts in the country concluding the duct tape found over Caylee's face, and on the Anthonys' gas can, could have come from the same roll, concluding one of Caylee's hairs in her mother's trunk came from her dead body, and that there were vapors from human decomposition detected in that same trunk.But WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer says what Mason brings to the defense table is 40 years of experience cross-examining witnesses hostile to the defense.

“Either impeaching them or casting doubt on their credibility, so that he can argue to the jury, ‘You should discount their testimony based on what I brought out during cross examination, therefore there's reasonable doubt,’” Sheaffer explained.

Recently, more damning evidence has come to light coming directly from Casey in 50 letters she wrote to another inmate at the Orange County jail. Investigators haven't divulged what's in the letters. WFTV asked Mason about it last week and obviously hit a nerve.

“We're gonna take a look at it and see whether it's privileged and I’m not gonna answer any more questions about it. Don't waste your time Kathi, I'm not gonna answer any more questions about it,” Mason said.

The defense is considering asking the judge to seal Casey's letters. The judge has said he's not inclined to.

“All this evidence is like holes in the dam and, after a while, even Cheney Mason runs out of fingers,” Sheaffer said.

The defense still has several days to decide whether to ask the judge to seal the letters.

Casey isn't the first high-profile woman Mason has represented. He helped former astronaut Lisa Nowak get a plea deal that kept her out of jail and a felony conviction off her record. She was sentenced to one year of probation.

Nowak was accused of trying to kidnap a romantic rival after driving to Orlando from Texas.

http://www.wftv.com/news/22923518/detail.html

From the WFTV article above:

WFTV took a harder look at the newest addition to Casey's defense team, Orlando lawyer J. Cheney Mason, who says he can get Casey off, despite the evidence against her.

Seems that the only thing important to some criminal defense attorneys is proving just how good they are at keeping a murderer, against whom the authorities have much evidence, from having to pay for their crime.

Sad.

your right snaz... its sad.

it is all nothing more than a game to him.. he has made that perfectly clear.. it will be "fun"

Get a load of this!!!!! Mason is as big a joke as Baez is!! And BTW, in case you aren't aware, Nelson Serrano is on death row!

Man Wants Attorney to Cough Up the $1M

By JACQUELINE J. HOLNESS
July 2, 2010

ATLANTA (CN) - A lawyer who told NBC's "Dateline" he would pay $1 million to anyone who could make it from the Atlanta airport to a La Quinta Inn in 28 minutes - as his client was accused of doing in a capital murder case - refused to pay a man who took him up on it, the man claims in Federal Court. Dustin S. Kolodziej claims he accepted attorney James Cheney Mason's challenge, made his deadline, and now he wants the $1 million.

Mason appeared on "Dateline" to discuss his client Nelson Serrano's capital murder trial. Serrano, a wealthy businessman, was accused of killing his business partner George Gonsalves and three other people in 1997. Serrano claimed he was in Atlanta and the murders happened in Central Florida. Serrano was convicted in 2006 and is on Death Row, according to the complaint.

"Video cameras at the Atlanta La Quinta showed Serrano at the hotel a few hours after the murders. Serrano's defense was that it would have been impossible for him to have committed the murders in Florida and been at the Atlanta La Quinta by the time the video showed him there," the complaint states.

Mason repeated that defense on "Dateline" and challenged his viewers. The complaint cites an NBC transcript of the show: "'In less than half an hour, Serrano would have had to get off a wide body jet, exit Atlanta airport - one of the busiest in the world - and arrive back at his hotel 5 miles away. All in time to be photographed looking up at that surveillance camera.'

"Mason then issued the challenge at the center of this lawsuit. According to the Dateline transcript, Mason said: 'I challenge anybody to show me, I'll pay them a million dollars if they can do it.'"

The complaint continues: "The Dateline reporter questioned Mason to make sure he understood the terms of the challenge: 'If they can do it in the time allotted?' Mason clarified: '28 minutes. Can't happen. Didn't happen.'"

Mason claims the TV show edited his comments, according to the complaint. But Kolodziej cites Mason's version of his challenge: "According to Mason he said, 'And from there to be on the videotape in 28 minutes. Not possible. Not possible. I challenge anybody to show me, and guess what? Did they bring in any evidence to say that somebody made the route, did so? State's burden of proof. If they can do it, I'll challenge 'em. I'll pay them a million dollars if they can do it.'"

Kolodziej adds: "Even if Mason's version is his unedited statement, it contains in substance the same challenge as broadcast by Dateline."

Kolodziej, who was a law student in 1997, says he followed the case and accepted Mason's challenge in December 2007, just after the 10th anniversary of the murders.

"He retraced Serrano's alleged route, flying from Atlanta to Orlando, driving to the scene of the murders, then flying back to Atlanta. Kolodziej made the last leg of the journey - from the airplane to the La Quinta - within the required 28 minutes," according to the complaint.

Kolodziej sent a video of his trip along and a demand letter to Mason, who responded that his challenge was "just a joke and that '[c]ertainly neither you (reasonably) or anybody else could think that there was a clear intention to pay anybody a million dollars or any other amount.' Mason refused to pay Kolodziej the promised $1 million," according to the complaint. (Brackets and parentheses as in complaint.)
But Kolodziej demands $1 million and attorney's fees.

He is represented by Christopher Moorman of with Moorman Pieschel.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/07/01/28532.htm

Another interesting tidbit on Cheney Mason. Around the same time Andrea Lyon is making plans to leave KC's defense team (it's been said her leaving has been in the works for a month), Mason takes on another HIGH-PROFILE case...... how can he handle BOTH high-profile cases at the same time???? He must think he is superman!

Embattled Jim Greer assembles legal team

By Michelle Yoffee
June 09, 2010

OVIEDO-Former Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, Jim Greer, has hired a Central Florida "dream team" to help him through his legal woes. Greer served on the Oviedo City Council from 2004 to 2007.

In addition to the outspoken Damon Chase, Greer has retained Orlando lawyers J. Cheney Mason and Donald A. Lykkebak. They are all known for handling high-profile cases.

On Tuesday, Chase said that Greer agreed to hire Lykkebak and Mason because "Greer is in a fight with the people who literally run the state of Florida and who are clearly not afraid to abuse their power. He has to defend his life with everything he has at his disposal because the people controlling this prosecution have staked their entire careers on seeing him go to prison."

The Office of the Attorney General wouldn't discuss specifics of the case when contacted Tuesday, but Spokesperson, Sandy Copes, sent an e-mail to The Chronicle.

Read more:
http://www.seminolechronicle.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2010/06/09/4c0ff9373ffcf

Off topic--- but amusing. I never knew this about Cheney Mason!

From the Courthouse News Service July 01, 2010
Man Wants Attorney to Cough Up the $1M

By JACQUELINE J. HOLNESS

ATLANTA (CN) - A lawyer who told NBC's "Dateline" he would pay $1 million to anyone who could make it from the Atlanta airport to a La Quinta Inn in 28 minutes - as his client was accused of doing in a capital murder case - refused to pay a man who took him up on it, the man claims in Federal Court. Dustin S. Kolodziej claims he accepted attorney James Cheney Mason's challenge, made his deadline, and now he wants the $1 million........

more at link http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/07/01/28532.htm

Jim Greer's Attorney Wants Case Dismissed

Posted: 11:47 am EDT July 5, 2010
Updated: 12:48 pm EDT July 5, 2010

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- WFTV learned more about the case against former Florida Republican Party chairman, Jim Greer Monday morning. Jim Greer's high-profile attorney said he will try to get the case dismissed.

Greer is accused of funneling money from the Republican Party into his personal bank accounts.

Greer’s lawyer, J. Cheney Mason, held a news conference Monday. Mason wants the entire case dismissed, because he believes the indictment doesn't technically state a crime.

WFTV learned Greer's attorney also wants Bill McCollum off the case. McCullom prompted the investigation originally, but he is now running for governor and is right in the middle of Republican Party politics.

Mason is upset about how the case has been investigated and prosecuted so far. Among his biggest concerns is that he doesn't want the Greer case to turn into the "circus" that the case of his other client, Casey Anthony, has become.

Mason will file motions asking that the Greer case be dismissed, and that McCullom and the Office of the Attorney General be disqualified because he has a "severe conflicting interest."

Once an Oviedo city councilman, Greer was arrested on June 2 on charges that he funneled about $200,000 into a shell company that he owned, called Victory Strategies, while chair of the Republican Party.

The day Greer was arrested, his Oviedo mansion, which was home to many black-tie fundraisers, was raided. Mason also wants evidence suppressed because the search warrant was "legally defective."

He claims that party leaders knew of Victory Strategies, signed off on its payments, and said Delmar Johnson, executive director of the Florida Republican Party, is now a mouthpiece for the prosecution.

“We are not going to tolerate continuous misrepresentations that they did not know about Victory Strategies or that they did not sign a severance agreement with Mr. Greer,” Mason said.

The prosecution expects to depose many high-profile republicans before the August election, which includes McCollum, Charlie Crist and Winter Park representative Dean Cannon.

http://www.wftv.com/news/24145934/detail.html

Good luck Mr. Cheney...I think this will knock some fire out from under you...Sure sounds like it was misappropriation of funds to me..trying to line his pockets with party $$$ when he couldn't afford to finance his own business...I despise politics, but when a CRIME is involved I despise them and the politician even more...

Student sues for lawyer's promised prize

Published: July 12, 2010 at 2:31 PM

ATLANTA, July 12 (UPI) -- A Texas law student who took a defense lawyer's $1 million challenge from a "Dateline NBC" interview is suing for the money he claims he is owed.

Dustin Kolodziej of the San Antonio area said attorney James Mason offered in a "Dateline NBC" interview he would pay $1 million to anyone who could prove him wrong in claiming his client, Nelson Serrano, could have made it from Florida's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to the La Quinta Inn, a 3-mile distance, in under 28 minutes, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday.

"I challenge anybody to show me. I'll pay them a million dollars if they can do it," Mason told the interview.

Serrano was convicted of killing four people in Bartow, Fla., in 1997 and the prosecution's case hinged on his ability to reach the inn in the time frame.

Kolodziej said he got off a plane at the airport, took his car from the parking garage and made it to the inn in just 19 minutes, capturing the whole experience on a camcorder. However, Mason refused to pay the $1 million reward, claiming the offer was a figure of speech.

Kolodziej's lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, alleges breach of contract, claiming Mason's statements on "Dateline" constituted a verbal contract.

"What this case boils down to is would a reasonable person believe that this is legitimate," said David George, a lawyer for Kolodziej. "Think about the context. He's on 'Dateline,' national TV, and his client is on death row. That is not a joking context."

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2010/07/12/Student-sues-for-lawyers-promised-prize/UPI-59501278959485/

I hope this guy wins his lawsuit... maybe Cheney Mason ought to learn to keep his big trap shut.

CM is sure a big talker..... the bolded comment reminds me of how he said he and KC would walk out of the courthouse arm in arm, her a free woman. I just don't honestly see how he can take on these two high profile cases at the same time, and do either one of them justice.... if you'll excuse the phrase....

Will Greer's lawyer be political party pooper?

Mike Thomas
12:13 a.m. EDT, July 8, 2010

Cheney Mason is the patron saint of hapless defendants who seemingly have no defense.

Given his history, it was no surprise this week when he took on the case of Jim Greer, the former chairman and chief scoundrel of the Republican Party of Florida, a man accused of stealing and laundering thousands of dollars from the party.

Greer is a perfect Mason client. He is high profile, widely reviled and judged guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by many before the trial even begins.

Mason's defensive strategy is to opt for a strong offense, all of which could make him a major wild card in the upcoming election.

He plans to put Florida Republican Party on trial, announcing this week that he basically will burn the party to the ground if that's what it takes save his client.

If Greer is a scoundrel, says Mason, then he was a scoundrel among scoundrels. He did nothing that party leaders didn't know was being done.

To prove it, he plans to drag them in for depositions. The list includes Attorney General Bill McCollum, future House Speaker Dean Cannon and party Chairman John Thrasher. Gov. Charlie Crist, who appointed Greer but has since abandoned the party, also may be called. All are running for offices.

Mason says the questioning begins in about two weeks. Their testimony could be released before the August primaries.

"Some inconvenient truths are likely to come out in depositions,'' Mason says. "I know any elected public official who throws rocks better make sure he is not living in the proverbial glass house.''

That could be a bluff. But his strategy reinforces the story line of Florida Democrats this campaign season. One-party rule has turned the Republicans into an arrogant, corrupt bunch. Greer was not some party outlier but was the epicenter of their polluted universe.

Greer ran the party. The party issued the company American Express cards. Several top elected officials and party staffers spent lavishly on trips, meals and perhaps personal expenses.

Federal investigators are doing an investigation into this, according to the St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald. That includes the IRS, which reportedly is looking into whether former House Speaker Marco Rubio used his Amex for personal expenses, making it unreported income.

If Rubio is charged, that would end a fairy tale Senate campaign that has captured the imagination of conservatives nationwide. It also would end any hope the Republicans have of winning Florida's U.S. Senate seat.

The last thing Republicans need is Cheney Mason, unless you are Rick Scott, who is challenging Bill McCollum in the gubernatorial primary. This is a grand opportunity to turn attention away from all the Medicare fraud that occurred at Columbia/HCA hospitals under Scott's watch.

And don't the Democrats just love a good "you're sleazier than I am'' exchange between Republicans.

There also was a signed severance agreement between Greer and party leaders that stated all expenses, including fundraising, incurred by Greer were "proper and authorized and otherwise ratified'' by the party.

Greer also claims Charlie Crist was aware of how money was spent, putting the governor on the hot seat. Crist's trademark vague answers serve him well with reporters; perhaps not so well with a seasoned defense attorney.

"We don't think there was a crime committed,'' says Cheney. "No public funds were taken. This is a private club. Historically, they do what they want to do. They pay what they want to pay. Where are the rules here?''

I don't know how strong the case is against Greer. McCollum doesn't seem worried.

But regardless of Greer's guilt, Mason is a master of reasonable doubt.

And the more doubt he can cast on Greer's guilt, the more doubt he can cast on the Republican Party's credibility before a very crucial election.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/os-mike-thomas-column-cheney-mason-0720100707,0,4438003.column

I thought CM was retiring. He only took on KC's case for 'fun' before he retired. Is this going to be another 'fun' case for Mason?

Cheney Mason takes on yet ANOTHER case.

Bold is mine.

Pro driver arrested on new Ponzi scheme charges

July 23, 2010, 2:12PM ET

ORLANDO, Fla. - A former race car driver suspected of running a more than $5 million Ponzi scheme has been arrested on additional charges in central Florida.

A Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman says Henri Zogaib was at the Orange County Jail on Friday on 26 new charges of grand theft. His bond was set at $2.2 million.

Zogaib was a driver in NASCAR's Grand-Am series. Florida law enforcement agents say he encouraged more than a dozen associates to invest in iron ore, promising returns of 40 percent but instead bilking the profits.

Authorities believed there were more involved and had been encouraging other alleged victims to come forward.

Zogaib's Orlando attorney, Cheney Mason, didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9H4TMV80.htm

Or possibly Mason was his attorney previously instead.....

Pro Driver Arrested On New Ponzi Scheme Charges

POSTED: 4:31 pm EDT July 23, 2010

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A former race car driver suspected of running a more than $5 million Ponzi scheme has been arrested on additional charges in central Florida.

A Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman says Henri Zogaib was at the Orange County Jail on Friday on 26 new charges of grand theft. His bond was set at $2.2 million.

Zogaib was a driver in NASCAR's Grand-Am series. Florida law enforcement agents say he encouraged more than a dozen associates to invest in iron ore, promising returns of 40 percent but instead bilked the profits.

Authorities believed there were more involved and had been encouraging other alleged victims to come forward.

Attorney Cheney Mason had represented Zogaib in a previous case but did not know if Zogaib currently had a lawyer.

http://www.wesh.com/news/24372410/detail.html

Interesting comments about Mason:

Will Greer's lawyer be political party pooper?

Mike Thomas
12:13 a.m. EDT, July 8, 2010

Cheney Mason is the patron saint of hapless defendants who seemingly have no defense.

Given his history, it was no surprise this week when he took on the case of Jim Greer, the former chairman and chief scoundrel of the Republican Party of Florida, a man accused of stealing and laundering thousands of dollars from the party.

Greer is a perfect Mason client. He is high profile, widely reviled and judged guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by many before the trial even begins.

Mason's defensive strategy is to opt for a strong offense, all of which could make him a major wild card in the upcoming election.

Be the first to know. Click here to get breaking news alerts.

He plans to put Florida Republican Party on trial, announcing this week that he basically will burn the party to the ground if that's what it takes save his client.

If Greer is a scoundrel, says Mason, then he was a scoundrel among scoundrels. He did nothing that party leaders didn't know was being done.

To prove it, he plans to drag them in for depositions. The list includes Attorney General Bill McCollum, future House Speaker Dean Cannon and party Chairman John Thrasher. Gov. Charlie Crist, who appointed Greer but has since abandoned the party, also may be called. All are running for offices.

Mason says the questioning begins in about two weeks. Their testimony could be released before the August primaries.

"Some inconvenient truths are likely to come out in depositions,'' Mason says. "I know any elected public official who throws rocks better make sure he is not living in the proverbial glass house.''

That could be a bluff. But his strategy reinforces the story line of Florida Democrats this campaign season. One-party rule has turned the Republicans into an arrogant, corrupt bunch. Greer was not some party outlier but was the epicenter of their polluted universe.

Greer ran the party. The party issued the company American Express cards. Several top elected officials and party staffers spent lavishly on trips, meals and perhaps personal expenses.

Federal investigators are doing an investigation into this, according to the St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald. That includes the IRS, which reportedly is looking into whether former House Speaker Marco Rubio used his Amex for personal expenses, making it unreported income.

If Rubio is charged, that would end a fairy tale Senate campaign that has captured the imagination of conservatives nationwide. It also would end any hope the Republicans have of winning Florida's U.S. Senate seat.

The last thing Republicans need is Cheney Mason, unless you are Rick Scott, who is challenging Bill McCollum in the gubernatorial primary. This is a grand opportunity to turn attention away from all the Medicare fraud that occurred at Columbia/HCA hospitals under Scott's watch.

And don't the Democrats just love a good "you're sleazier than I am'' exchange between Republicans.

There also was a signed severance agreement between Greer and party leaders that stated all expenses, including fundraising, incurred by Greer were "proper and authorized and otherwise ratified'' by the party.

Greer also claims Charlie Crist was aware of how money was spent, putting the governor on the hot seat. Crist's trademark vague answers serve him well with reporters; perhaps not so well with a seasoned defense attorney.

"We don't think there was a crime committed,'' says Cheney. "No public funds were taken. This is a private club. Historically, they do what they want to do. They pay what they want to pay. Where are the rules here?''

I don't know how strong the case is against Greer. McCollum doesn't seem worried.

But regardless of Greer's guilt, Mason is a master of reasonable doubt.

And the more doubt he can cast on Greer's guilt, the more doubt he can cast on the Republican Party's credibility before a very crucial election.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/os-mike-thomas-column-cheney-mason-0720100707,0,4438003.column

As far as Im concerned, he hasnt done anything spectacular in the CMA case. Im unimpressed and plan on being that way for the whole trial.

I'm more unimpressed everytime I see him in action. His cross-examination of Deborah Polisano blew up in his face.

I agree, I haven't seen him do anything spectacular so far, and I don't expect him to do great things once the trial starts, Judge Perry will keep in under control.

Justice4all wrote:I'm more unimpressed everytime I see him in action. His cross-examination of Deborah Polisano blew up in his face.

EXACTLY J4a.. he broke the golden rule of defense attorney's... NEVER ask a qestion that you dont know for sure what the answer is going to be...

CM may have extravagant ways to make reasonable doubt in all courtrooms EXCEPT Judge Perry's.. i think he will no doubt shut down most if not all the BS for him and bozo. THANK THE LORD the defense was dumb enough to have Strickland step down!!!