Lawsuit by the kids of dancer to stay sealed

A federal judge said Wednesday that he doesn’t plan to, at this point, unseal any portions in the lawsuit filed by the children of slain exotic dancer Tamara Greene that could compromise the homicide investigation or adversely impact the privacy of people who aren’t part of the case.

Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen said after a two-hour hearing that he’d issue a written ruling later, but he sent his decision to Free Press attorney Herschel Fink after a spirited exchange. Fink and other news media outlets previously had asked that the judge unseal various depositions in the lawsuit, including that of state Attorney General Mike Cox.

“Mr. Fink is a friend who I respect and admire, he’s just wrong here,” Rosen said.

The lawsuit by Greene’s children charges that Detroit police intentionally stymied the investigation into Greene’s drive-by killing on April 30, 2003.

According to a never-proven rumor — investigated by Detroit police and Michigan State Police — Greene, who went by the stage name Strawberry, danced at the mayoral Manoogian Mansion for former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and others in fall 2002 and supposedly was assaulted by the mayor’s wife who walked in on the party.

Cox, who investigated the party during a probe into allegations of misconduct by Kilpatrick and his inner circle, once deemed rumors of the party as “urban legend.”

Fink said there are many documents that have nothing to do with the murder investigation, including Cox’s deposition. Fink pointed out that Cox publicly said he planned to request his deposition be unsealed before giving it, but never followed through.

Cox said in a statement Wednesday, “Despite that fact, last November, I volunteered to be deposed in an open courtroom before a judge, the press and the public. The judge knows my position has never changed, but this is his courtroom and he is in charge.”

Rosen said that the deposition would be harmful to other people, and their privacy rights should be preserved.

Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Moran also spoke at the hearing, telling Rosen that the investigation into Greene’s death is still active by his office and a multi-jurisdictional task force that includes the FBI, Detroit Police, State Police and others.

http://www.freep.com/article/20100513/NEWS01/5130405/Lawsuit-by-the-kids-of-dancer-to-stay-sealed