[StBernard] St. Rita's case may cost $30,000

[Westley Annis]

St. Rita's case may cost $30,000

By JAMES MINTON
Advocate Baker - Zachary bureau
Published: Aug 5, 2007 - Page: 1B 

ST. FRANCISVILLE - Local expectations of a brief economic boost from a
high-profile trial moved from St. Bernard Parish are being tempered by the
sudden realization that West Feliciana Parish taxpayers may have to foot
much of the bill.

Trial is scheduled to begin in St. Francisville on Aug. 13 for St. Rita's
nursing home owners Salvador and Mabel Mangano.

The two are charged with 35 counts each of negligent homicide and 24 counts
each of cruelty to the infirm stemming from the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina, when flood waters inundated the St. Bernard Parish facility.

The trial, which possibly could last four to six weeks, was moved to West
Feliciana Parish because of potential difficulties in seating an impartial
jury in St. Bernard to hear the case.

The influx of visitors - witnesses, family members of the victims and
friends and relatives of the Manganos - is expected to generate revenue for
the parish's motel, bed-and-breakfast establishments, restaurants and other
businesses.

But West Feliciana Parish Police Jury President Bert Babers said he learned
last week that his parish may have to pick up the tab for many of the
trial's costs, which could top $30,000.

"We take great exception to that, obviously," Babers said.

"I wish I could say West Feliciana isn't going to have to pay for it, but I
can't," Babers added.

West Feliciana Clerk of Court Felicia Hendl said she has known all along
that West Feliciana would have to pay for the trial, and said she raised
objections to having it moved to "a poor parish."

"It's our baby. We've given it one of our West Feliciana case numbers. Once
it comes here, it's our case," Hendl said.

Hendl said she and St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court Lena Torres discussed
logistics soon after retired state District Judge Jerome Winsberg, who is
presiding over the case, decided on West Feliciana.

Winsberg, of New Orleans, has a home in West Feliciana Parish.

"I'm very fortunate because Miss Lena is sending up some of her people to
help us on a day-to-day basis," Hendl said.

Hendl said she has not calculated the cost to her office for the work done
thus far, which includes maintaining the large number of documents filed in
the case in recent months and issuing subpoenas to witnesses and potential
jurors.

"But we've spent a lot of time on it," Hendl said.

Ambrose Sims, who recently became the Police Jury's parish manager, said he
became aware of the issue last week. He and Sheriff J. Austin Daniel met
with Winsberg after a pre-trial hearing Wednesday to get an idea of what
expenses the parish will be expected to cover.

"We're looking at roughly $30,000," Sims said of his estimate.

The highest figure on Sims' list of estimates is for the services of a court
reporter, who will charge $500 per day, he said.

Parish officials have asked the state Supreme Court to help pay for the
court reporter, Sims and Hendl said.

Sims said the judge expects the trial to last 30 days, with two more days
for deliberations. The six-member jury will not be housed as a group away
from their homes until they begin deciding the case, he said.

The parish also will have to pay for the jury's lunch, provide coffee, soft
drinks and pastries for breaks, Sims said.

"It was totally a surprise to us," Sims said.

The sheriff also said he will have to bear the expense of providing bailiffs
for the trial.