Before the verdict was announced on Foxnews, they were saying that her stock went up 20%. I wonder who was making the money and who was foolish to pay that much more, Hmmm?

Finalday

Habaq Mot / Aspazomai Thanatos / Capere Obitus... /Keith Green\ (1953-1983)

This is a major victory for the ppl of the US, kinda, maybe, sort of, yeah. It's a good thing, now all you other celebrity embezeler will know to stop, you know who you are.

I had a super Ego, but it was pestering me so I killed it.

<Enters from stage left. Sets down soap box. Steps up>

Well. I guess it makes for a good example of justice working in the right direction but we have much bigger fish to fry. Anybody remember Enron? Do we all realize that the biggest fish in that cesspool is still free of any indictment? Ken Lay, the guy who was in charge of the whole thing before and after Skilling is still at large and without indictment. Where is the justic in that? The Imclone scandal hit AFTER Enron, and Martha Stewart, a person who basically took advantage of a privileged arrangement illegally kept herself from losing too much money by dumping her stock before the rest of the public had a chance to get the news and make trades.

Ken Lay arranged to bilk his company of hundreds of millions of dollars, bankrupted his employees' pension and retirement accounts, and still lives the life of Riley free and without public taint or scorn. Where is the justice in that?

<Steps down. Picks up soap box. exeunt stage right >

But, Martha just sold extra stock she had, not the stock of her own company. Most of the enron people are being punished and Lay will get his, even if its in civil court.

Finalday

Habaq Mot / Aspazomai Thanatos / Capere Obitus... /Keith Green\ (1953-1983)

Exactly my point. That's all that Martha did.

If Ebbers is suitable for criminal prosecution for what he did at Worldcom, it seems to me that Lay is equally culpable. Don't be sure about Lay. He has very powerful friends. One happens to live in the White House, you know.

Edited by - Indy11 on 3/5/2004 5:53:28 PM

Well, she's guilty. I have to admit, I'm abit supprised.

Life: No one gets out alive.

Would she have been convicted if Lord Chief Justice Indy had been there? or might she have gone dahn for longer?

Depends on what thejudge told the jury to consider. One of the jurors who agreed to be interviewed afterward (the twit) said that his view of the case was influenced by the fact that all these celebrities kept showing up in the court audience in show of support for Martha. He felt that he needed to strike a blow for the common man.

While I understand his emotional reaction, I think he should have kept his fat mouth shut because, basically, he as much as admitted that it wasn't the facts that persuaded him to vote guilty, it was that he didn't like the fact that Martha was a celebrity. Bias anyone?

Anyway, I think it is true that she lied in a foolish attempt to keep herself from coming under investigation. Pretty stupid move. So I think I'd have found her guilty if that is what the instructions from the judge required.

As it stands, the Securities and Exchange Commission still has its suit against her open and pending. This is a civil law suit for civil damages and penalies. This is the case that says that she acted on insider information and dumped her stock.

So her plight is far from over.

Oh yeah. And her attornies are appealing the criminal conviction.

so is she in pokey yet or what? can she wear all that designer stuff in jail?

and if her firm goes under, will all the gear and stuff be sold off cheap, maybe in the first week of this April?

Edited by - Tawakalna on 3/6/2004 2:57:33 PM

As for punishment. If they put her in prison, the company will suffer, including all those that it employes. She could be fined and work a lot of comunity service. Stations have already dropped her show, which is punishing the other stock holders unfairly. *picks up soap box, exit's stage left*....

Finalday

Hinneh / I / Bo / Mahar... /Keith Green\ (1953-1983)

An update on martha

Finalday

Hinneh / I / Bo / Mahar... /Keith Green\ (1953-1983)

Hmmm. Don't know if Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia will have gone afloat belly up as early as April but I'll watch for it and let you know.

I don't think (not sure) that she is doing any jail time as someone in her situation ordinarily is released on her own recognizance pending sentencing. She has not been sentenced yet. She ought not do time. I don't see how her actions warrant jail time but a hefty fine and community service, like Fd said, seems more appropriate.

I think the appeal will be interesting. 1) She likely will have new attorneys who will argue that she was poorly represented at trial. 2) Jury bias may be argued too. As well as other technical errors, if any, on the judge's denial of her motions to have the entire case against her dismissed.

Edited by - Indy11 on 3/8/2004 6:05:49 AM

I didn't care about this case too much at first, but I started caring more because I wanted to see at least one celebrity get sent to prison. It's nice to know that at least one person can't beat the justice system with their wallet. Maybe I'm just still bitter because OJ got off.

Let's get those missiles ready to destroy the universe!!

Martha Its a shame that people make bad choices with stock. The company, Omnimedia, still has a good product. Nothing has changed. The figurehead has trouble, not the structure. Money makers can turn it around if they wanted to and probaly will down the road.

Finalday

Hinneh / I / Bo / Mahar... /Keith Green\ (1953-1983)

Edited by - Finalday on 3/8/2004 7:42:30 PM