Personal Injury Law

Judge Orders Family of Slain Farmer to Repay Assets

By Greg Owen

In 2003, 48-year-old Rodney Heemstra was convicted of murdering his neighbor, Tom Lyon. That verdict was then overturned, and the money that was initally awarded must be returned.

At the time of the conviction the family of the decedent were awarded $11.5 million, an award based on the murder conviction. However, subsequent to the 2003 trial, a new trial was granted and in 2006 the original conviction was overturned. The second conviction is now under appeal. In the new trial Heemstra was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. He claims he was merely defending himself at the time of the incident.

Now the decedent's family must return deeds to property worth millions - deeds they acquired as a result of the initial verdict. Additionally, the estate must pay back more than $929,000. Punative damages will be pursued by the family of the decedent during the upcoming second civil trail.

Get Informaton Pertaining to Wrongful Death.

Full post as published by Glendale Personal Injury Lawyer on May 02, 2008 (boomark / email).