Defendant Anita Maxwell, who is approaching trial for workers’ compensation fraud in downtown Los Angeles criminal court, appeared this morning, March 15, 2016 in department 120.   Judge Craig Richman was perky and talkative as usual, but Anita Maxwell appeared annoyed and unhappy as she sat in the third center row of the gallery seats in the uncrowded court room.

Maxwell was a CNA at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills.  She has a history of injuries dating back to 2001.  She got treatment after her most recent injury which occurred while on the job at Cedars Sinai, and claimed she was commuting from Adelanto to her medical appointments, a commute of 264 miles round trip.   She submitted statements and was reimbursed for $6,500 in mileage expenses.  But surveillance determined she was commuting from her actual residence in Valley Village to her medical appointments at Cedars Sinai

A slender woman in a refined, tailored black dress from the public defender’s office turned around from the attorney’s table, walked to Anita Maxwell, and spoke to her.   She told Anita that the attorneys were coming and that her new attorney, a public defender, was coming to the court room.   Anita wasn’t feeling well, as the representative acknowledged.  She told Anita she could wait until Thursday and have her proceeding on Thursday.  That was an option.  But in spite of her feeling ill, Anita did not want to leave. She also wouldn’t let the conversation end.

Anita Maxwell:  Let me speak for myself.

Judge Craig Richman:  I understand you’re not feeling well.

Anita Maxwell:  I have never even met that lawyer…

Judge Craig Richman:  Mr. Fenske is coming.

Anita Maxwell:  He doesn’t even work there anymore.

She was referring to the public defender’s office.  Her attorney, Karl Fenske, left and now Anita has lost her lawyer.  It was clear she felt very disturbed and distressed over being abandoned by her attorney.   She kept talking in the court room.

Judge Craig Richman:  Anything you say can be held against you. 

Anita looked so distressed and like she couldn’t breathe through her nose.  Her lips were pouty as she was hunched forward while she sat in the center aisle bench.  She wore a light grey short sleeved top with black pants and tennis shoes.   Anita then patted her short dark hair which was above shoulder length and was curled under.

Then a brown haired woman dressed in different colors of beige came through the doorway and approached Anita.  “Anita Maxwell?” she said.  Anita acknowledged she was that person. Then she soon stepped out of the court room with her new attorney.  A trial resumed on another case while Anita was getting connected with her new lawyer.

Maxwell’s case was continued to May 6, 2016.  This new lawyer sporting different colors of beige may not keep the case.  This writer asked her for her name and was turned down with the excuse that she wasn’t sure she was staying on the case.

Anita Maxwell faces a demand of $26,658.16 in restitution.  Her new lawyer-- maybe short term lawyer-- was heard telling Anita outside the court room door:

The dark haired public defender in beige:  There’s so much restitution because of the surveillance.   If they are willing to negotiate, that would be great.   That’s what we want.   If you’re able to get 3, 4 thousand dollars let me know….

Anita Maxwell:  My mother died in October.

It wasn’t clear what her point was about her mother dying after hearing the public defender say to let her know if she can come up with 3, 4 thousand dollars.   Anita was then heard stating that she never got a dime from “that show”.   She’s most likely referring to the fact that she was a contestant on “Bridezilla”. 

A woman of her similar body type and overall appearance with red lips was standing with her speaking in “we” references and made the comment “this is what we need”.  

Anita Maxwell’s next court appearance is now on calendar for May 3, 2016 in downtown Los Angeles’s Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center department 120.   She lost her lawyer, may lose this next one, and is still trying to come up with some restitution.