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Wrongful Death Lawsuit Upheld in Robert Blake Murder Case
May 12, 2008

An appeals court has upheld a wrongful death lawsuit verdict finding actor Robert Blake liable for the death of his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakely. The only concession the actor, who was acquitted of the murder of his wife in 2005, received was a cut in the $30 million settlement amount, which was halved by the 2nd District Court of Appeal.

Prior to 2002, Robert Blake was the actor most known for his star turn in the television series Baretta. On April 18 that year, Blake was arrested for the murder of his wife. The arrest had been more than a year coming. Bonnie Lee Bakely was shot dead on May 4, 2001, as she waited in their car on a street round the corner from a restaurant where they had just had lunch together. Blake told her he was going back into the restaurant to fetch his gun, which he had left behind on the table, and which he kept as protection. Blake later told police this story and claimed he was in the restaurant when the shooting occurred.

There were holes in his story right from the very beginning. For one, diners at the restaurant could not remember him coming back into the restaurant. Two of his bodyguards later came forward to testify that he had approached them to hire them to kill his wife. He was arrested a year later, and the case went to trial in a highly publicized fashion.

In 2005, the actor was acquitted. His defense team was able to point to reasons why the two bodyguards had come forward to give evidence. Holes were pointed out in their stories, and the case was lost.

Bakely's 4 children bought a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit against the actor. In November of 2005, the actor, who protested loudly that he was bankrupt, was found liable in the death of Bonnie Lee Bakely, and her children were awarded the settlement. Blake appealed the wrongful death verdict, and now an appeals court has upheld the earlier settlement of the wrongful death lawsuit. The amount of the settlement, however, has been reduced from $30 million to $15 million. Bakley's family is reportedly happy with the verdict.

Blake's attorneys had argued on the basis of juror misconduct, saying the jurors, at the time of the awarding the wrongful death settlement, had discussed the cases of OJ Simpson and Michael Jackson, two other high profile cases where the public felt the guilty got away, and did not get what they deserved. Discussing the matter in such terms, the attorneys argued, clouded the jury's judgment, leading them to approve a huge settlement. The court seems to have dismissed that assumption, but has allowed for a smaller settlement.

This is one more instance where civil lawsuits can deliver some justice when the criminal courts fail to deliver. It's disheartening for people to watch helplessly as high profile murderers get away with murder, quite literally. The sight of their mother's possible killer pleading bankruptcy as he withers before a $15 million wrongful death settlement is definitely justice for the Bakley family.

If you have lost a loved one in a fatal accident, you need the help of an experienced California wrongful death lawyer. Contact an attorney at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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