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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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McCrory Lawyer Wants Witness Fee

As you may recall, Christa Hazel demanded a witness fee and mileage when she was subpoenaed by attorney Arthur B. Macomber to testify in the contempt of court case filed against Macomber's client, Bill McCrory (as a side show in the long-running Jim Brannon lawsuit against Mike Kennedy). Judge Charles Hosack dismissed those charges. Now, Macomber has sent a letter to Christa asking that she return the witness fee because she didn't have to testify or drive to the courthouse. And Christa, through attorney husband, Joel Hazel, is telling Macomber to pound sand. Responds Joel Hazel to Macomber: "It is certainly not my wife's fault that you mistook a 4 p.m. status conference for a trial (Never in my 16-year law practice has a court set a trial at 4 p.m.)" Joel goes on to say his wife endorsed the witness fee check and turned it over to Mike Kennedy's defense fund. So she doesn't have the $21.46 to turn over to Macomber. "As such," writes Joel, "the $21.46 will not be returned." I'll have links to letters in a few moments.

Question: Should Christa return the witness fee?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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