Attorneys for Andrea Sneiderman and her in-laws are awaiting a decision from the judge in their visitation dispute on whether a deposition scheduled Friday should proceed at DeKalb County jail.
Sneiderman's lawyers have requested that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Bensonetta Tipton Lane grant a continuance until after her bond hearing scheduled for Aug. 21. The 36-year-old mother of two is "focused on the charges made against her," according to the motion, which further states her incarceration has "limited their ability to effectively prepare for the deposition."
Sneiderman was indicted last Thursday on charges she was a co-conspirator with her former boss, Hemy Neuman, who is serving life in prison without parole for the November 2010 fatal shooting of Rusty Sneiderman outside a Dunwoody day-care facility.
Andrea Sneiderman has denied any involvement in her husband's killing, asserting that she testified during Neuman's trial to help the prosecution.
In a response filed Tuesday, Esther Panitch, the attorney representing Rusty Sneiderman's parents, argued she has successfully prepared clients before in jail and that "should not interfere" with opposing counsel Howard Gold's ability to instruct his client prior to the deposition, which was originally scheduled to take place in a law office. She adds, "it is entirely possible that [Sneiderman] may be denied bond."
Panitch's deposition, whenever and wherever it occurs, will be limited in scope. Judge Lane specifically prohibited questions about Sneiderman's financial situation and ruled she would reserve judgment on inquiries about Rusty Sneiderman's murder.
Andrea Sneiderman's attorneys, noting that Panitch also represents their client's brother-in-law, Steve Sneiderman, in a wrongful death suit filed against their client, said the Dunwoody lawyer has a "hidden agenda" for pursuing a jailhouse deposition.
"For obvious reasons, Ms. Panitch is desperate to obtain a videotape of [Andrea Sneiderman] while she is temporarily incarcerated awaiting her bond hearing so that the jury can see her in prison clothing," states the motion.
In her response, Panitch said Sneiderman could change into street clothes prior to being deposed.
Panitch also filed a motion requesting that Lane order Andrea Sneiderman's parents to facilitate weekly Internet phone conversations that had been taking place between Rusty's parents and the late entrepreneur's two children, ages 7 and 3. Doug Chalmers, a member of Andrea Sneiderman's defense team, had sent an e-mail to Panitch stating there would be no contact via Skype "at least until the bond hearing. We will revisit the issue at that time."
Panitch and Chalmers declined requests for comment.
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