Antonovich Lawyer Requests New Trial Over Phone Call
A lawyer for Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich asked an appeals panel Wednesday to grant the supervisor a new trial in a case where a jury found he interfered with a business deal by making a phone call for two campaign contributors.
Attorneys for Antonovich and Western Jewelry Mart argued that the phone call Antonovich made to Superior Judge Eric Younger seven years ago was simply “one of reference” and was not meant to influence the judge.
Antonovich called Younger on behalf of Western Jewelry Mart owners Kirkor Suri and Jan Sukyas, who had loaned and contributed thousands of dollars to the supervisor’s reelection campaign.
They were embroiled in a lawsuit at the time with their business partner, Avedis Kasparian, over the sale of the business. Younger disqualified himself from the lawsuit after the supervisor’s call.
“The central issue here is one of economics,” Antonovich attorney Kenneth Kline told the three Court of Appeal justices.
Under a pretrial agreement, county taxpayers would have to pay the $1.2-million verdict rendered against Antonovich.
The appeals court, which took the matter under submission, is expected to make a decision on the retrial motion in a few weeks.
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