TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
Man Tossed From Wheelchair Has New Attorney
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: March 7, 2008
Related Links
Brian Sterner, the paralyzed man who was dumped out of a wheelchair by a Hillsborough County jail deputy, has retained a new attorney to represent him, according to the sheriff's office.
Tampa lawyer Michael Maddux phoned an attorney for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office today to notify the agency that he would be replacing Largo lawyer John Trevena as the former inmate's attorney, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.
When contacted by The Tampa Tribune, Trevena said he remains Sterner's attorney of record and declined further comment.
Maddux said he was hired by Sterner on Thursday.
"The conditions of me getting hired I'm not getting into," he said. "That's between Brian and I."
Sterner, 32, is paralyzed from the chest down. On Jan. 29, he was arrested on a traffic-related warrant and brought to Orient Road Jail. He was searched by former Detention Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones. A surveillance camera recorded her grabbing the back of the wheelchair and dumping Sterner to the floor before he was searched.
The video spread across the Internet, prompting an outcry from the public and the formation of an independent jail review board. Marshall-Jones was charged with felony adult abuse and resigned.
Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)
* Keep it clean
* Respect others
* Don't hate
* Don't use language you wouldn't use with your mom
* Use "Report Inappropriate Comments" link when necessary
* See Member Agreement for details
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
Reader Comments
Posted by ( nprvoice ) on March 7, 2008 at 5:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
ha ha ha
all that work the first attorney did...now let the sharks attack each other over this cash cow account
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( Camm ) on March 7, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Do I detect trouble in paradise? Are things not going as "planned"?
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( DarthManhandle ) on March 7, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
i wonder how many ambulances he had to chase to land Sterner.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( cyberpimp11 ) on March 7, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
So this might mean he might not win. thus the tax payer may not have to foot this bill. Oh, yes most people don't realize when people sue the government and win, that we the tax are the ones paying out the winnings. Soak that in people...
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( Steve ) on March 7, 2008 at 6:19 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
weasels fighting over garbage; I love it
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( Moe_Dance ) on March 7, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
It still bothers me to see a person called "paralized from the neck down" driving.. Not to defend the deputy that dumped him out of his chair but, If this man had not BROKE the law he would not have been in jail thus he would not have been dumped out of his chair.. How many times did Sterner break the law to be able to sue or settle over it??? NOT TO PARALIZED IF YOUR DRIVING!!!
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( DMBFAN68 ) on March 7, 2008 at 6:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Interesting.....may not be a clear cut case after all huh?
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( cadillacman ) on March 7, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
HOW IS THIS NEWS???????
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( unregistered ) on March 7, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
There is no such thing as a clear cut case.
This one is a matter of how much of a cut the attorney wants and how much he is or is NOT going to get.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( OBD ) on March 7, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Easy Camm I think the dollar Jack pot has just risen...OBD
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( DennyPCrane ) on March 7, 2008 at 6:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Could it be that his first attorney had ethics and did not want to continue as his attorney? Sounds to me more like an attorney firing the client. And now the worms come out of the wormholes. Money, money, money, that is all this is about. Nothing more, nothing less.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( jeda ) on March 7, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
in this new communist country is so hard to find justice.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( Camm ) on March 7, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
In this "new communist country" you should always pay for a reputable attorney who will show the public the ENTIRE video, uncut and unspliced, so you don't end up looking like a sham. Too bad now the "story" is starting to crumble and you had to hire a new attorney. Then the ambulance chaser starting taking on even more shady looking cases, making yours look unimportant and disreputable.
Hope the new attorney can make your case for you, Mr. Sterner. It would probably be best to start with the whole truth this time from the beginning...it might work out better for you.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( QuadDude ) on March 7, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Sounds like Sterner is insane! Trevena is the best lawyer in Tampa Bay. What a moron. He must have done something to provoke the deputy!!!
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( joeyg ) on March 7, 2008 at 7:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
YOu ignorant cop haters make me laugh. In more than 99% of cases, they attack only when provoked or when their life is threatened. Everybody wants to overexaggerate a few isolated instances on cops and act like there is some big problem or conspiracy within law enforcement. It's so ridiculous. Name one other type of job or industry where 1 mistake out of every 500 to 1000 cases is considered excessive or not acceptable?
These LEO's handle thousands upon thousands of loser criminals and only a few isolated problems. You only WISH you were that good at your job.
Keep up the good work Coppers.
You civil rights extremists, criminals, and attorneys need to find some other hobby and let law enforcement do their job.
The only problem today with law enforcement officers is that there are not enough of them.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( RollerManTosser ) on March 7, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Looks like wheelchair guy deserved to get tossed afterall! He has proved now he is nothing about reform and all about greed. Marhsall-Jones will go free and wheelchair guy will get what he deserves -- nothing! His old lawyer must be relieved to be rid of such a scum.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( Camm ) on March 7, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hey Joeyg....back it down dude. I, for once, don't see a single "cop hater" on the message board today. WHO are you referring to? You had too much caffeine at the end of your shift today :)
If you re-read the posts, my fellow brethren, I do believe the tide has turned.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( cuca ) on March 7, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I hope Sterner gets nothing!
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( aneye4beauty ) on March 7, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
seems the truth is going to prevail.....how invigorating
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( intervolve ) on March 7, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Release the Lions
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( kmspots ) on March 7, 2008 at 9:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Sounds like Camm has some inside information....would you care to elaborate on that?
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( sweede ) on March 7, 2008 at 9:40 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
The tide has turned allright,but it wasn't long ago that all Cops/Deputies were being slammed on this board. 75.000 of the Counties finest were booked into the County Jail last year and only a few incidents. How come the media doesn't do a study on how many Inmate lives Deputies have saved,or how many have been hurt or had to retire do to injuries from being attacked? Wonder why Trevena took a X-8? maybe he got the whole story and saw his client for what he really is. Stay Safe
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( joeyg ) on March 7, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
No problem Camm. Anytime there is a story like this, I usually see nothing but slams on law enforcement. My bad, but I did address my post specifically to cop haters. You are right though.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( goodtimejim ) on March 7, 2008 at 9:50 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( kmspots ) on March 7, 2008 at 9:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This guy has supposedly said he will take $100,000 and be done with it. No court. That's probably because he doesn't want all kinds of crap brought out on him.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( JESSERONDA ) on March 7, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This guy has very good use of his upper body but made no attempt to stop his so called dummping. Why might that be? Could it be he saw an opportunity to maybe make some money leaned forward changed the ballance of the chair,,Humm just a thought.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( kmspots ) on March 7, 2008 at 10:18 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( GF ) on March 8, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wow, the TBO tide sure has turned on this guy. A couple of weeks ago, the majority of posters were ready to write him a blank check. What happened, was the rest of the video released and I missed it? Trevena best lawyer in Tampa? HAHA, if you are a scumbag and can't afford one maybe.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( RollerManTosser ) on March 8, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
GF -- you obvioulsy know nothing about the legal community. Google Trevena and see how many people from all walks of life he has represented -- rich and poor -- successfully! He has gotten more criminal cases dropped or reduced than any lawyer in town. You must be one of those scumbags who couldn't afford him.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( ozzythewarrior ) on March 8, 2008 at 5:34 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Am I reading this right? The story says Sterner got a new lawyer and he would be replacing Largo lawyer John Trevena.And Trevena said he remains Sterner's attorney of record. So who dump who?
Report Inappropriate Comments