DETROIT – A federal judge found that the city of Detroit may have knowingly destroyed evidence in the Tamara Greene case.
Greene was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2003. It was rumored that she danced at a never-proven party at the Detroit mayor's Manoogian Mansion that was thrown by then-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in 2002.
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Her family has filed a lawsuit against the city claiming Kilpatrick and other high-ranking city officials thwarted the investigation into her death.
The family's attorney, Norman Yatooma, said the city has repeatedly withheld records in the case and that evidence related to the case has been intentionally destroyed, specifically e-mails sent between officials on city-owned computers.
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View court filings:
Part 1: Court Filing Against The City Of Detroit 8/3/11Part 2: Court Filing Against The City Of Detroit 8/3/11
Now, the federal judge has said the jury should be told that the evidence may have helped the Greene family's case.
The judge also says that the city of Detroit should have to pay the legal bills for the family and Yatooma, who is also suing the city for $150 million.
According to the court filings, Judge Magistrate Steven Whalen said it would be "a gross understatement to say that the city acted in bad faith and was at fault in causing the destruction of evidence"
Whalen said Kwame Kilpatrick, Christine Beatty, Ruth Carter and Ella Bully-Cummings sent emails while in office that they did not delete. The court said the emails are not on the city's servers, where they should be.
Another federal judge will have to determine whether there is enough evidence to take the case to trial. However, according to legal experts, this ruling is a powerful indicator that not only will Greene's family get their day in court, but also that the sanctions which Whalen is imposing on the city of Detroit carries the message loud and clear.
Yatooma said he will have to go through his billing to add everything up.
Legal expenses could range in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.