Lawyer seeks Kwame Kilpatrick’s deposition in Greene suit

Lawyers for the family of slain stripper Tamara Greene asked a federal judge today for a court order to conduct a videotaped deposition of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in a lawsuit resulting from her death.

Birmingham lawyer Normal Yatooma said Kilpatrick’s lawyer, James Thomas, initially objected to the July 8 deposition request because Kilpatrick, who is serving a 1½ to 5 year prison sentence for probation violation at a prison in Manistee, wouldn’t be allowed to wear a suit.

When prison officials said they would arrange for Kilpatrick, Yatooma said Thomas still objected and later said he wouldn’t be available on July 8. Yatooma said he’s facing a July 30 deadline to gather evidence in his case.

Greene’s family is suing Kilpatrick and the city of Detroit on grounds that it derailed an investigation into her death, preventing them from filing a lawsuit against her killers. Greene, said to have danced at a long-rumored but never proven party at the mayoral Manoogian Mansion, was killed in a drive-by shooting in April 2003.

Thomas couldn’t be reached for comment.

http://www.freep.com/article/20100629/NEWS01/100629055/1001/news