Attorney George N. Seide, of Adelman & Seide, LLP, was recently appointed to represent Pamelyn Ferdin, a well known animal rights activist and child star, who was the original voice of Lucy Van Pelt in three “Charlie Brown” television specials.

Ms. Ferdin was peacefully protesting in Los Angeles on June 14, 2008, handing out fliers opposing primate research at UCLA, which contained the residence addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of four researchers, which she downloaded from a web site: uclaprimatefreedom.org. That act was the basis for her being tried and convicted of Contempt of Court.

The Regents of the University of California secured a Preliminary Injunction on May 14, 2008, against UCLA Primate Freedom; Animal Liberation Brigade; Animal Liberation Front; Linda Faith Greene; Hilary Roney;, Kevin Olliff; Ramin Saber; Tim Rusmisel and Does 1-100. It prohibited the named individuals and organizations from a variety of actions including “Placing or maintaining upon any website or otherwise disseminating any private or personal information, including home addresses, home phone numbers, mobile phone numbers, email addresses or vehicle license plate numbers, regarding any individual known or believed to be an employee or student of the Regents who conducts, supports, or oversees animal research, or a family or household member who resides with such employee or student.”  Even though the names are similar, uclaprimatefreedom.org was not a named party in the injunction.

Ms. Ferdin was charged with one count Contempt of Court (violation of a Court Order) by the Regents, through their retained lawyers from the mega law firm of Irell and Manella. She was convicted of that one count of Contempt on November 6, 2008, of acting in concert with parties named in the injunction, with inferred knowledge of the terms of the injunction, which had never been served on Ferdin, and she potentially faced, among up to 120 hours of court ordered community service and up to a $1,000 fine, up to five days incarceration.

Neither Judge Terry B. Friedman, who arraigned Ms. Ferdin, nor Judge John L. Segal apprised Ms. Ferdin of her rights under the U.S. Constitution, stated George Seide, Esq., Ms. Ferdin’s court appointed counsel.

Attorney George N. Seide is a certified family law specialist (CFLS), certified by the California Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization, and has significant experience in the prosecution and defense of Contempt of Court. He has been appointed by several Los Angeles Superior Court Judges as “alternate defense counsel”, when a party cannot afford private counsel and is not eligible for representation by the Public Defender.

Mr. Seide was appointed to represent Ferdin, when her right to counsel, protected by the 6th Amendment, was brought to the Court’s attention. Mr. Seide first represented Ferdin at the hearing on the date set for her sentencing and for argument on the Motion to Vacate her Contempt Conviction and was successful in arguing that Ferdin was not advised of her right to have counsel present at every proceeding and that counsel could be appointed for her.

Mr. Seide also argued that Ferdin was not advised that she had the 5th Amendment Right against self-incrimination. She did not have to file any responsive pleadings, nor take the stand and testify, and she did both. In this instance the Court made the correct judgment, recognized its serious errors and vacated the guilty verdict. The Court did not rule on Mr. Seide’s oral motion to dismiss the charges based on a ‘double jeopardy’ argument, but set the matter for a hearing for a written double jeopardy motion and for a new trial.

Even more mistakes were made. The Trial was returned to the Judge who issued the Injunction, who is precluded from hearing the Contempt, so it will have to be reassigned. The Motion for Dismissal was calendared for hearing on the same date as the second Contempt Trial. That means the parties must prepare for Trial, subpoena witness, etc. and on the day set for Trial the contempt charge against Ms. Ferdin may be dismissed. That’s a lot of wasted attorney fees! The Motion should be heard first and if denied then a Trial date should be set.

Mr. Seide was confident the Motion would be granted, but even if it is not, now that Ferdin has knowledgeable counsel, there are too many obstacles for the Regents to overcome in their case and Ms. Ferdin will be acquitted.

Mr. Seide is appalled that the Regents are going to retry Ms. Ferdin, considering the amount of money the Regents spent prosecuting the first Trial. Certainly, now that Ms. Ferdin has counsel, the Regents will incur even greater attorney costs than they did from the first trial.

It has been reported that Irell and Manella had attorney fees and costs between $20,000 -$30,000 through the first Trial.

The Regents have shown potential protestors the lengths they will go to enforce their unction. Mr. Seide is appalled that the Regents are going to waste that significant sum of money, or more, for a second Trial in these difficult economical times, when that money could be used for grants or financial aid. UCLA is a public university, not private, and the money they are going to waste on a second Contempt Trial comes out of the pockets of the taxpayers.

Adelman & Seide, LLP is a full service family law firm representing clients in the Family Courts, Juvenile Court and Child Support Court. Mr. Seide  has  a  sub-speciality representing  same  sex  partners,  whether in  Registered  Domestic  Partnerships or  in  Same  Sex  Marriages.