We have two different criminal justice systems here in the US, especially in communities of, by and for the very rich, because they are usually Republican and therefore believe that the very rich have entitlements the rest of us lack.
A Morgan Stanley wealth manager will not face felony charges for a hit-and-run because Colorado prosecutors don’t want him to lose his job.
Martin Joel Erzinger, who manages more than $1 billion in assets for Morgan Stanley in Denver, is being accused only of a misdemeanor for allegedly driving his Mercedes into a cyclist and then fleeing the scene, Colorado’s Vail Daily reports. The victim, Dr. Steven Milo, whom Erzinger allegedly hit in July, suffered spinal cord injuries, bleeding from his brain and, according to his lawyer Harold Haddon, "lifetime pain."
But District Attorney Mark Hurlbert says it wouldn’t be wise to prosecute Erzinger — doing so might hurt his source of income. Here’s Vail Daily:
"Felony convictions have some pretty serious job implications for someone in Mr. Erzinger’s profession, and that entered into it," Hurlbert said. "When you’re talking about restitution, you don’t want to take away his ability to pay."
"We have talked with Mr. Haddon and we had their objections, but ultimately it’s our call," Hurlbert said.
Milo, who lives in New York City with his wife and kids, is furious about the dropped charges, Vail Daily says. The doctor’s line of work, like Erzinger’s, has been threatened by the incident. "His ability to deal with the physical challenges of his profession — liver transplant surgery — has been seriously jeopardized," Haddon, Milo’s lawyer, said. Here’s Milo, from the Vail Daily:
"Mr. Erzinger struck me, fled and left me for dead on the highway," Milo wrote. "Neither his financial prominence nor my financial situation should be factors in your prosecution of this case."
… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Huffington Post>
And a big hat tip to Lisa G, our resident 
, for sending me this.
One might argue that both are rich, but Erzinger is both local rich and much richer than Milo, so his money tips the Republican scales of justice.
10 Responses to “Republican Bankster Escapes Justice”
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One is a doctor and the other a fund manager? I don’t think I would want a doctor working on me who has been through serious head trauma. if there will be no legal justice then there should be civil justice which would include lifetime payments to the now defunct doc. But then the money guy could just step out of the country and do his work from somewhere easy with no agreements with the US. Hell then he wouldn’t have to pay anything including taxes.
He wouldn’t have to pay much from a cell eithrer, as ling as the victim had his resourses.
I’m afraid this is ONLY the beginning of the abuses by the $$$$$ people. The Repubs have opened the flood gates. But they seem to have forgotten that EVERYTHING can be seen, heard, and read faster, and more completely these days. It’s getting harder and harder to hide the fact that the “wealthy play by different rules than you and me.” Hopefully the “average American” will outgrow his “stupid” stage…………….
They didn’t want him to lose HIS JOB? What about the liver surgeon who will never work again? I hope he takes him to civil court and to the the cleaners and he and his firm never work again. Kiss your yatch, house and beach house in the Hamptons, buh, bye. WTF? 😡 😡 😡 😡 and super 😡
More like the toddler stage.
It is indeed an outrage!
As my mother likes to say, “This would gag a maggot.”
Escaping conviction of a felony because he’s rich and manages the money of the even richer. Gag. a. maggot.
Amen to that, Marva.
Some would say that there are three criminal justice systems in the US, one for the rich, one for most of us, and one for the minorities.
Good point Jerry.