Jury chosen for fraud case retrial due to dozing attorney
PITTSBURGH (AP) – A jury has been chosen in the case of a businessman accused of mortgage fraud who won a new trial because his defense attorney was seen sleeping by the judge, witnesses and jurors who convicted him last year.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that jurors were selected Monday for the proceedings in the case of James Nassida scheduled to begin Aug. 29.
U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose ruled earlier this year that Nassida was denied a fair trial because Stan Levenson dozed during the October trial. Levenson has acknowledged that he fell asleep because he was taking cold medicines that made him drowsy.
Prosecutors allege that Nassida, founder of Century III Home Equity, used inflated assets and fake property appraisals to help clients get millions in fraudulent mortgage loans.