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# Market crash trial headed to L.A
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/market-crash-trial-headed-to-l-a/
- Published: 2007-01-20T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T23:52:35.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: Crime, Downtown, #archive-import

*A change of venue for Market crash trial*

SM COURTHOUSE A compact courtroom schedule here has forced the supervising judge to move the Farmers’ Market civil cases to downtown Los Angeles for trial.

Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Linda Lefkowitz made the decision last week after speaking with Judge Valerie Baker about the possible length of the trial, which involves more than 40 plaintiffs in 34 cases related to the events of July 16, 2003, when an elderly driver plowed through an open-air market on Arizona Avenue, killing 10 people and injuring more than 60 others.

The cases will now be handled by Judge William A. MacLaughlin, Dept. 89 of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse.

“The time estimate for trial was 42 days, at least, and that becomes very problematic for a court that is carrying anywhere from 350 to 400 cases,” Lefkowitz said. “To be honest, there are other trials that would be disrupted and Judge Baker’s trial schedule would make it virtually impossible to give fair time to other motions before her.”

Further complicating matters, Baker has been nominated by President Bush to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Her confirmation by the U.S. Senate is expected sometime this year, calling into question her ability to oversee the market cases.

The trial is scheduled to begin March 20, however, it could be delayed further because of the inability to interview driver George Russell Weller, who is appealing a criminal conviction for his role in the deadly car crash more than three years ago. Weller was convicted of 10 counts of vehicular manslaughter in October of last year and received five years probation.

Weller has refused to speak with the victims’ attorneys about what happened that summer day in 2003 out of fear that statements made may be used against him during his appeal.

Victims are suing Weller and the Bayside District Corp., a public-private management company that oversees downtown Santa Monica. The group of plaintiffs originally sued Weller, Bayside, City Hall, mental health provider Step Up on Second and Southland Farmers’ Market Association, however, Southland, which promotes farmers’ markets, was subsequently excused from the case, as was City Hall.

Step Up settled the case against them for $5 million, with a judge currently trying to determine how that amount should be divided up amongst the plaintiffs, sources close to the settlement said.

Under an agreement between Bayside RELOCATION SEEMS REAL POPULAR The move to downtown was expected by everyone involved, given Baker’s nomination and the expected length of the trial.

“This is not a total surprise,” Wells said. “It’s happening maybe earlier than we figured, but because of its length, this case is suitable for (downtown). I’m kind of surprised that this didn’t happen sooner.”

Trials that are expected to last three weeks or more are often transferred to downtown because courtrooms there are set up to handle them better than those in Santa Monica and other areas, Lefkowitz said.

“It’s very routine,” Lefkowitz said. “These long-cause case courts are set up for precisely these cases. The judges carry no calendar, so cases can come in and get tried one at a time and there is no shoveling other work to the back of the desk.”

Wells doesn’t feel the move will create a hardship for his clients.

“This is great because we will have a judge who will be able to dedicate the right amount of time that is needed in this case... It’s better that we get it going now than waiting until Judge Baker is confirmed.” and City Hall, if the management company is found guilty, City Hall would be required to foot the bill. City Hall has an insurance policy valued at $20 million. Bayside’s insurance would cover an additional $2 million, according to Geoff Wells, an attorney representing several of the plaintiffs.

Attorneys are scheduled to meet with Judge MacLaughlin this Tuesday for a status conference. At that time, the trial date may be changed.

Dana Fox, an attorney for Bayside and City Hall, said he does not believe the move will affect his clients, even though there are some who think it helps the plaintiffs because a jury would most likely be comprised of people who do not live in Santa Monica, and therefore, would be less concerned about their tax dollars being spent on satisfying a financial penalty.

“I actually think that we are all fortunate,” Fox said. “We are going from one excellent judge to another.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 20, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/012007.pdf?ref=smdp.com)