Judge Awards Huge $5.5 Million Verdict in Ira Tobolowsky Defamation Suit
On Monday morning, when visiting Judge Don Cosby called to order his courtroom in downtown Dallas, he quickly noted the absence of the co-defendants in the case he was about to hear. Steve Aubrey and and his partner Brian Vodicka had moved to Florida. The original plaintiff in the case, Ira Tobolowsky, wasn’t there either. He’d been murdered in his North Dallas garage on May 13, 2016.
This defamation suit was anything but usual. Ira’s widow, Debbie, and their three sons were all in the courtroom. The sons had continued to pursue the case after their father’s death. And they all believe that Aubrey killed Ira. Aubrey’s unorthodox defense in the defamation case — some done pro se, some done by Vodicka, a lawyer — had consisted of numerous lengthy and venomous motions. But after the couple’s move to Florida, they quit showing up at hearings. Two judges had voluntarily recused themselves from the case after Ira’s death, and the Supreme Court of Texas had to appoint Cosby, a Fort Worth judge, to hear the case.
A key reason the family and police suspect Aubrey in the murder is the personal animosity he showed against Tobolowsky, who had represented Aubrey’s estranged mother in a contested estate case. Aubrey strongly denies that he had anything to do with Ira’s death. Aubrey and Vodicka have said in court filings that they are indigent and could not afford to travel to Texas for the trial. They asked Judge Cosby if the court would pay for travel and lodging. They also asked to appear by telephone. Cosby denied that request.
The bailiff yesterday called out into an empty court corridor: “Mr. Aubrey? Mr. Vodicka?” He walked back into the courtroom and shook his head. The judge nodded. Time to begin.
Read more: https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2017/05/judge-awards-huge-5-5-million-verdict-in-ira-tobolowsky-defamation-suit/
