KILPATRICKS FACE QUESTIONING IN STRIPPER SUIT: Judge rules wife, father of ex-mayor can be deposed in lawsuit over erotic dancer’s death
Detroit — The wife and father of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick can be questioned under oath in a lawsuit brought by the family of a slain stripper, a judge ruled Tuesday.
But a former assistant attorney general who now lives in Arizona cannot be deposed, Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald E. Rosen ruled.
Rosen made his rulings after asking the media to leave his courtroom and hearing arguments from lawyers behind closed doors.
Exotic dancer Tamara “Strawberry” Greene, who was linked to a rumored stripper party at the mayor’s Manoogian Mansion in the fall of 2002, was shot to death in Detroit on April 30, 2003. Her family is suing the former mayor and top city and police officials, alleging they obstructed the investigation of Greene’s still unsolved murder.
An element of the party rumor, repeated in court filings, is that Carlita Kilpatrick assaulted Greene at the party.
The defendants deny the allegations.
Depositions of the Kilpatrick family members, like that of the former mayor, have not been scheduled.
Yatooma said on March 11 that Brooke Jordan, who lives in Arizona, is believed to have important information about Attorney General Mike Cox’s investigation of the rumored Manoogian party.
Cox, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, investigated the party in 2003 and declared it an “urban legend.” He did not investigate Greene’s killing and is not a defendant.
Brittany Schultz, an attorney for Jordan, made arguments at the closed hearing. Frank Monticello, an attorney for Cox, also was present. Rosen gave no reason for quashing the subpoena.
In closing Tuesday’s hearing and requiring that documents be initially filed under seal, Rosen cited “the very real concern the court has of this case spiraling out of control to adversely impact the ongoing homicide investigation.” He said he also is concerned about impinging on privacy rights of people who are not parties to the case.
