Monday, July 23, 2012

GW: DR. Smith has a bad month

Charlie Smith reported in the Greenwood Commonwealth Dr. Arnold Smith has a bad month. First the medical board suspended his license. The Mississippi Supreme Court denies his appeal for bond last week. Then attorney Lee Abraham sues him for changes to his "lifestyle" due to the alleged murder for hire plot".

"Lee Abraham is suing Dr. Arnold Smith for civil conspiracy, saying he’s had to alter his daily actions and lost enjoyment of his normal life as a result of a plot to murder him.

The three-page lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Leflore County Circuit Court.

It provides little detail but does give a glimpse into Abraham’s reaction to the attempt on his life, which culminated with a shootout between hit men and agents from the state Attorney General’s Office on April 28 at his Market Street law office.

Defendants in the suit are:

• Smith

• The North Central Mississippi Regional Cancer Center, a Greenwood clinic owned by Smith

• Unknown other conspirators

The lawsuit states that the defendants reached a “meeting of the minds” and entered into a conspiracy to kill Abraham, which included hiring hit men Keaira Byrd and Derrick Lacy.

Evidence of that conspiracy includes a video, recorded by Smith himself inside the Cancer Center, of him telling a man identified by police as Byrd to “take a (expletive) picture with a hole between his eyes” after the assassin shoots Abraham.

According to investigators, Byrd arranged to meet with Abraham at the attorney’s office with a guise of selling Abraham some evidence in an ongoing investigation against Smith being conducted by the Attorney General’s Office. Abraham arranged with Attorney General Jim Hood for three agents to be present at the exchange.

But Byrd arrived wearing a ski mask and carrying an assault weapon, and shots began flying just inside the law office doors. Byrd died, and Lacy was critically wounded. One agent was grazed by a bullet, but Abraham wasn’t harmed.

“Defendants’ actions were defeated, but not without causing Plaintiff Abraham substantial harm including but not limited to mental and emotional distress. Defendants’ actions were so heinous as to cause outrage and revulsion,” the lawsuit states.

As a result of the conspiracy, Abraham “has been and is altering normal daily actions and, therefore, has suffered the loss of enjoyment of his normal life,” it said.

Abraham is seeking compensatory and punitive damages as well as court expenses. No specific amount is being requested.

He’s represented by attorneys Scot Spragins of Oxford and Ralph Chapman of Clarksdale.

Circuit Judge Ashley Hines of Greenville has been assigned to hear the case.

It’s the latest blow in what has been a bad July for Smith.

On July 10, the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure prohibited the oncologist from practicing medicine pending an independent mental exam. Dr. Vann Craig, the board’s executive director, could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

But Smith, 70, hasn’t been able to see patients since April 29 because he’s been held without bond at the Leflore County Jail. On Thursday, the state Supreme Court denied the oncologist’s petition to have bail set.

He’s awaiting the action of a grand jury, which convenes in August, on charges of the capital murder of Byrd and two counts of conspiracy to commit murder against Abraham, against whom Smith has long held a grudge and accused of holding strong economic and political power.....

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, Lee did finally have to trim the thick bushes and low-hanging limbs in his yard to deprive future contract killers of places to lay and wait. Clearly he deserves compensation for hiring a yardboy...

Pugnacious said...

Having been a cancer patient myself, I'm wondering who's tending the store now that Dr. Smith is behind bars.

Shadowfax said...

Recalling the cancer doctor who was recently convicted for 'cutting' patient cancer meds, I'm left to wonder just what level of competent care his patients were getting anyway. Some will suggest he was a caring, competent, efficient physician while also being a total nutcase otherwise. I reckon a full moon affects us all differently.

Anonymous said...

Pugnacious: my guess is 1) someone competent and 2) not a(n allegedly) murderous psychopath.

I hope y'all up there can adjust to that severe change ;-)

Pugnacious said...

I never knew that Dr. Smith's medical competency was ever in question. Have you a link?

If General Hood has questions about his cancer therapy treatments--shorting doses or whatever- it is just a matter of obtaining the cancer drug company records and comparing them to what Dr. Smith has dispensed to his patients. It would certainly be another nail in Dr. Smith's coffin.

Coincidentally, there was a re-run on MSNBC's American Greed last night that profiled a doctor that engaged in shorting cancer doses to his patients...and the cancer drug supplier, Eli Lilly, was aware that the doctor was "shorting" dosages. Lilly settled out of court for tens of millions of dollars.

Pugnacious said...

The "Doctor" in question was actually the pharmacist that supplied the cancer drugs to the treating physician. No link was made to the treating physician.

Pugnacious said...

There is an update to the drug company settlement.

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Diluted-drugs-victims-want-civil-suit-reopened-3412563.php

Pugnacious said...

I'd like to see General Hood's own hitmen put under oath and cross-examined.

Sadly, there are no Gerry Spences or Ramsey Clarks around around anymore.

Shadowfax said...

Dr. Smith's self-imposed dilemma has nothing to do with his treatment of cancer patients. That the man is a nutcase when not in his white coat, simply makes me wonder how he can change his personna when he puts it back on. Is Puggy suggesting that 'General Hood' should have cut the good doctor some slack because of his medical status in the neighborhood?

And, yes, thank God there are no Ramsey Clark's around any more. But Holder puts him in the shade.

Pugnacious said...

I was not aware that Ramsey Clark, unlike Eric Holder and the POTUS, was on record for sanctioning the continued torture of the inmates at Guantanamo.

Can you provide a link?

Pugnacious said...

Is Puggy suggesting that 'General Hood' should have cut the good doctor some slack because of his medical status in the neighborhood?~Shadow...

Yes, until it is proven in a court of law that he is guilty of the charges against him. And let his patients choose if they wish to continue to avail themselves of his services as their "cancer doctor."

Kingfish said...

the thread hijack is now over.

Anonymous said...

Awwww, KF - I was looking forward to seeing Pugnacious dig this hole deeper. Defending Smith - yes, I understand the innocent until proven guilty concept - but I would be leaving him in jail based on nothing but the video. And God forgive me for saying something nice about AG Conway, but I'm not sure I understand what her gripe is about his activities in this case.

Anonymous said...

FYI: Dr. Smith's patients are being treated by the other oncologist in Greenwood, who was also threatened with violence by Dr. Smith when their office split up several years ago.

Anonymous said...

I can't imagine what it would be like to have a hit man actually try to kill me in my office... Much less the toll the aftermath of the shooting would have on me, my family and friends... Not to mention employees and coworkers... I'm not sure I would want to go back in that building again. WTG Mr. Abraham. Nice countermeasure.

Pugnacious said...

Kingfish~

I've watched your Dr. Smith video--it reminds me of the Errol Morris documentaries-- on YouTube for the third time. And I've read Dr. Smith's letter to Governor Byrant post by Jon Pittman Hey. I'll admit that the comments seem bizarre(some say delusional), but I cannot take the quantum leap to conclude that Dr. Smith would then hire local black street toughs in Greenwood to carry out such a high profile hit on Abraham.

In your video Dr. Smith claims that he hired Rex Armistead to investigate his suspicions of a conspiracy against him. But I've seen nothing in the press or blogs related to Armistead's role in the affair. Is he now deceased? He'd be up in his late eighties by now.

The other matter that bothers me is the claim that the FBI refused to get involved in a matter involving the murder-for-hire hit allegation by a Abraham, so they took the matter to Hood. At what level of the US DOJ was that command decision made? Did the FBI monitor Hood's trap for the alleged assassins?
And the double-tapping coup de gras of the "hitman" also raises eyebrows.

Henry David Thoreau said, that there are times when the circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find the trout in the milk."

I have yet to see the "trout in the milk."

On Rex Armistead:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crimemyths/message/12940?var=0

Anonymous said...

Leave it to a left wing nut bag to condone Smith's actions.

Anonymous said...

This guy Pug doesn't seem to understand the clear distinction between protection of Constitutionally mandated legal concepts (e.g. presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law), and the legal responsibilities laid on a board that administers a PRIVILEGE (e.g., a medical license).

Pugnacious said...

What I do not know is WHY Dr. Smith's privilege to practice medicine was suspended by the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure? Apparently, you are privy to information not made available to the public.

The fact is that Dr. Arnold Smith is being held without bond, based soley upon scuttlebutt and hearsay "testimony." And General Hood's "agents" have whacked the prime witness against him in a pre-arranged ambush.

What medical-related infraction(s) did the Board deem grounds for suspending his license? It is true that Dr. Smith was not treating patients under his care who were suffering from life-threatening illnesses while he was locked behind bars without bond, through no fault of his own.

I like to see what grounds the Board has for dismissal based upon the cloud of "suspicious speculation." The only information that I have seen as to an investigation by the Board into Dr. Smith's activities was a report that an agent from the Board, Mickey Boyette, was sent to Greenwood after Dr. Smith had reported a robbery and assault.

And I hope that the grand jury will demand to view all the cellphone tower evidence(including that of General Hood and his agents) to see who was WHERE and WHEN before and after the ambush came down in Abraham's office on a Saturday night.

Unfortunately, Mississippi is the only State in the Nation that does NOT allow juror's questions in trials. Texas does NOT allow juror's questions in criminal cases.

Pugnacious said...

I do not know what prompted Tom Freeland to delete all the comments( including the Arnold Smith Topic byline itself )from his blog It was a hate fest over there against Dr. Arnold Smith, with the old gang spewing out their venomous comments reminiscent of the pre-sentencing hearings for the families of the victims of serial killers Jeffrey Dahmer and the Green River killer.

If there is ever an independent investigation into the pre-arranged ambush whacking of Byrd by General Hood's "agents," there may be elected officials in high places "whose goose is cooked."

Bert Case outta' be on this story like white-on-rice, beginning with an interview with Dr. Arnold Smith. Where is he being caged, anyway? God, I hoped he hasn't been put on suicide watch! I've heard the horror stories of what goes on at those Mississippi "suicide watch" rendentions... all prescribed drugs confiscated, stripped naked, put in solitary confinement with blaring lights 24/7 and forced to sleep on a concrete slab. This happened to a friend from Noxubee county who was falsely accused of knowlingly buying a stolen air conditioner from a black man who had stolen it from a black church. His black court appointed public defender told him to plead guilty because there is no way that a white man could get a fair trial in Noxubee county, and that he could be facing twenty years in Parchman prison. He was 50 years old and his only infraction of the law was one speeding ticket in his lifetime.Upon pleading guilty, Judge Lee Howard fined him and sentenced him to five years probation.

A short time later, a SWAT team converged on his home at night--he and his wife lived in a small room attached to their store building which was located near the Tombigbee River. They claimed that they were looking for a "sawed-off shotgun that he was reported to have owned. It was a lie. No sawed off shotgun was found.

Still, Byron Weeks was hauled off to West Point. There the living Hell for him and his wife began and went on for four years at the Rankin County Correctional Center, after Judge Lee Howard revoked his probation and sent him to Parchman for the "rendition."

Pugnacious said...

I had not seen this video before now. The comment about submitting proof via a cellphone photo of a "bullet between the eyes" comment might be that "trout in the milk," I must confess. Hard to explain the comment being taken out of context.

I hope that this trial makes its way to TruTV.


http://www.clarionledger.com/VideoNetwork/1656625819001/Hearing-for-Greenwood-doctor

Pugnacious said...

Hattiesburg's WDAM television-- in a report on Dr. Smith's latest failure to have Judge Hilburn removed as the trial judge in the murder charges against him--reported that the Federals were involved in the ambush slaying of Byrd...a suspicion that I already had entertained, based upon the double-tapping of Byrd--the bullet entering the top of the skull and exiting the lower jaw.

I will call Randy Swan today for clarification of that report. How many days does it take for Whitfield doctors to determine if someone is sane enough to stand trial? It is not generally known, but the State of New York has reinstituted the practice of shock therapy. The doctor called by Judge Hilburn to
evaluate Dr. Smith's "sanity" is New York-based. The Mad Poet," Ezra Pound, underwent years of shock therapy at the hands of the Federals at DC's Saint Elizabeth Mental hospital, while he was incarcerated there from 1945 to 1958.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.