ORLANDO, Fla. – Casey Anthony's attorneys argued on Monday that the bankruptcy court, not the state court should decide Anthony's defamation civil lawsuit.
Anthony's attorneys said the bankruptcy court should decide if Anthony defamed Zenaida Gonzalez, who claims Anthony framed her as a kidnapping babysitter.
Among the attorney's arguments was that last week's TODAY show interview with Judge Belvin Perry tainted any state court jury, so the defamation issue should be resolved in the federal bankruptcy courts.
The defamation case was put on hold after Anthony filed for bankruptcy protection. The judge will have to decide to resolve in the defamation suits in state court or federal court at the next hearing, which is set for May 30 at 3 p.m. The judge could also decide to handle the defamation cases himself in bankruptcy court.
If Anthony is found to have maliciously defamed Gonzalez, any damages she would be ordered to pay would not be protected by the bankruptcy.