Snapshot: Norman Yatooma

Norman Yatooma, a Bloomfield Hills resident and an attorney practicing in Birmingham, was 20-years-old when his father was murdered while interrupting a carjacking. The tragedy not only devastated the Yatooma family emotionally, but financially, as well.

“We were forced to live off of loans and take part-time jobs to make ends meet,” he said.

Through the Yatooma Foundation for Kids, founded on Father’s Day in 2003, the family has been able to bring hope and assistance to other families left in similar circumstances.

The foundation provides children who have suddenly lost one or both parents with counseling, tutors, mentors and assistance in finding employment for surviving parents.

“We provide anything from helping them buy backpacks for school to taking them to the Super Bowl,” Yatooma said.

The Indiana University School of Law graduate has longed to be an attorney since he could utter the word. Through Norman Yatooma & Associates, a full-service law firm, Yatooma is able to help others who have experienced a similar loss. Most notably, Yatooma is representing the son of exotic dancer Tamara Greene, who allegedly was killed after performing at a rumored, but as yet unproven, wild party at the Manoogian Mansion, Detroit’s mayoral residence.

“We both lost our parents to gunshot violence and both of our parents’ murders remain unsolved crimes,” Yatooma said. “The only difference between me and him is that the mayor of the city wasn’t seeking to obstruct the investigation of my father’s death.”

Yatooma’s hope is to prove a cover-up of the Greene murder and obstruction of the investigation by city officials. The job, he says, is significantly under way. With signed affidavits from city officials stating that files went missing, witnesses were intimidated and police officers felt their jobs and safety were threatened, Yatooma said he wants to provide the vindication that his family was never afforded.

Through his work and his family’s foundation, Yatooma has been able to pull something positive out of the tragic murder of his own father.

“It’s a great silver lining for us,” he said.

http://www.oaklandpaper.com/Articles-c-2009-11-27-71671.113117_Norman_Yatooma.html#print