- Posted September 19, 2014
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Judge rules grandfather not liable in slaying
PONTIAC (AP) - An Oakland County judge has ruled a Detroit-area woman is liable for financial damages in the 2012 shooting death of her teenage grandson, but her husband can't be sued.
The Detroit News reports the judge ruled Wednesday that 76-year-old Sandra Layne of West Bloomfield Township could be forced to pay because she was convicted last year of second-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Jonathan Hoffman. She is serving a 20-40 year prison sentence.
Layne's attorney says the Michigan Court of Appeals will hear her case next month. She claimed self-defense in the shooting.
Hoffman's estate filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking at least $1 million against Layne and her 88-year-old husband.
The judge says there is no evidence that the grandfather could have stopped the killing and he isn't responsible.
Published: Fri, Sep 19, 2014
headlines Oakland County
headlines National
- This Los Angeles lawyer found her calling as a death doula
- ACLU and BigLaw firm use ‘Orange is the New Black’ in hashtag effort to promote NY jail reform
- Artificial intelligence tools for brief writing and analysis are a small firm litigator’s new best friend
- Baker McKenzie partner drops suit seeking IRS documents on partnership scrutiny
- Family members sue networks after learning of loved ones’ deaths by seeing bodies on TV
- Ex-BigLaw attorney once ‘consumed with remorse’ over $10M client theft sentenced in new scheme