DeFilippo files claims against Stanislaus County and others for false murder and accessory to murder charges

MODESTO, Calif., Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Georgia DeFilippo and her daughter, Christina DeFilippo, will file claims against Stanislaus County, the City of Modesto, the City of Turlock, and others responsible for malicious prosecution, defamation, violations of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false arrest, false imprisonment, violations of their 1^st, 4^th, 9^th, and 14^th amendment rights and violations of California Civil Code §52.1 associated with the false murder and accessory to murder charges filed against them.  

On August 15, 2015, Georgia DeFilippo, age 64, the wife of prominent Stanislaus County criminal defense attorney Frank Carson, and Christina DeFilippo, age 36, Georgia's daughter and Carson's stepdaughter, were arrested for the murder of Korey Kaufmann.  The Defendants, all members of law enforcement in Stanislaus County, conspired together to prosecute Frank Carson and his family solely based on their own disdain for Mr. Carson's successes against them.  

The 18-month preliminary hearing which began on October 13, 2015, became the longest preliminary hearing in Stanislaus County history. This hearing finally concluded when on April 10, 2017, Judge Barbara Zuniga found that there was no evidence presented that either Georgia or Christina obstructed justice or were accessories to any crime.  Judge Barbara Zuniga also ruled that Defendant and Stanislaus County Deputy District Attorney, Marlisa Ferreira, had abandoned her case for murder against Georgia DeFilippo.  In short, they were innocent of any criminal behavior.

"In addition to the lack of evidence against the DeFilippos, there were lies and misrepresentations in search warrants that violated the privacy and Fourth Amendment rights of Georgia and Christina.   There is also evidence that at least one judge told Defendants that the warrants lacked probable cause.  The DeFilippos are informed and believe that the same warrant, despite Defendant Ferreira's knowledge that it lacked probable cause, was used to secure their arrest," said Gary Gwilliam, Esq. of Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso Cavalli & Brewer, who represent the Plaintiffs.

Georgia DeFilippo has an extraordinary amount of economic damages including $390,000 in bail, approximately $500,000.00 in attorneys' fees, $87,732.56 in court costs, lost income, and severe emotional distress including being housed in a maximum-security facility for 50 days.  Christina DeFilippo had just graduated with a Masters in Fine Arts and intended to pursue a career as an artist and teacher.  However, due to the press surrounding her arrest it is unlikely she will ever be hired to teach.  Both women have become overwhelmed with depression and anxiety surrounding Defendants' witch-hunt against them and the continued efforts to violate their privacy by continuing to seek search warrants for their phones and computers.  They live in fear of Defendants' use of power to try to deprive them of their lives and liberty. 

"Stanislaus County DA's Office, publicly defamed our clients and maliciously abused their position to try to create false testimony against Georgia DeFilippo's husband, well known Criminal Defense attorney, Frank Carson," said Randall Strauss, Esq. of Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso Cavalli & Brewer.   

Contact:
J. Gary Gwilliam ([email protected]) and Randall E. Strauss ([email protected])
Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso, Cavalli & Brewer (510) 832-5411

SOURCE The Law Firm of Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso, Cavalli & Brewer