Casey Anthony: Zenaida Gonzales' Civil Suit Depostion Hearing Delayed

A hearing in the civil suit against Casey Anthony filed by Zenaida Fernandez Gonzalez never made it into a courtroom Tuesday but there were still fireworks.

Morgan and Morgan, the firm representing Gonzalez, wants to depose Casey Anthony and Anthony’s legal team wants to stop it.

VIDEO: Anthony motion hearing delayed

Judge Jose Rodriguez put attorneys on both sides in their place saying the personal attack would not be tolerated and that the filing for Tuesday’s hearing was inappropriate and that it’s a matter that needs to be addressed and argued in a formal courtroom. Stuffed in a small conference room Judge Jose Rodriguez quickly made it known to both Casey Anthony and Zenaida Fernandez Gonzalez' attorney that this was not the place or the time for this type of hearing.

“I do not appreciate this done on the second day I take over the civil division.”And Judge Rodriguez made it clear he does not appreciate the jabs being made toward opposing council in court documents.

"Focus on the law...not on personal factors.” The judge ordered that the two sides will hold an official hearing on Thursday morning to argue whether or not Gonzales lawyer, Keith Mitnik, should be able to take sworn statements and ask questions of Casey Anthony before her murder case is tried.

“We need to clear her (Gonzales) name as soon as we can. Delay means more time with her reputation,” said Mitnik. Gonzales alleges Casey Anthony destroyed her good name when she said a nanny by the same name kidnapped her child.The defense has been arguing that this Zenaida is the wrong one.

They claim the Zenaida who kidnapped Caylee is 24 years old.“We hope that Judge Rodriguez acknowledges Ms. Anthony does have her 5th amendment right to remain silent even though it’s a civil matter. If it does incriminate her in a criminal procedure then she should not have to testify under oath,” said defense attorney Jose Garcia.

Which brings up another argument that Judge Rodriguez will have to settle. “She filed a counter claim back against our client against Ms. Gonzalez. She can't under oath do that and use the 5th amendment. It’s called sword and shield. You cannot use shield of the 5th amendment and use the sword in civil litigation when you're bringing an action yourself,” said Mitnik.

Judge Rodriguez will hear from Zenaida Fernandez Gonzalez's attorney and Casey Anthony's in his courtroom at 11:00 a.m. Thursday.

As things stand now, Casey Anthony is scheduled for depositions with Gonzalez's attorney Monday at 10 a.m.

Casey Anthony Case: Judge Delays Hearing In Civil Case Involving Zenaida Gonzales' Civil Lawsuit

Baez Held Emergency Hearing Held On Monday, Judge Rules On Tuesday Regarding Civil Case

A judge on Tuesday decided to schedule a formal hearing later this week in the civil case involving a woman who shares the same name as the baby sitter Casey Anthony claimed she left her daughter, Caylee, with at an Orange County apartment complex. Casey Anthony was scheduled to testify under oath on Monday, January 5, at the Orange County Jail in the civil lawsuit filed by Zenaida Gonzalez, but Anthony's attorneys are seeking to halt the scheduled deposition.

Anthony, 22, remains jailed on first-degree murder charges in the death of Caylee, who was 2 years old when she was reported missing in mid-July. Human remains discovered by a utility worker in a wooded area near the home of Caylee's grandparents -- where Casey and Caylee Anthony also lived -- were identified as the missing girl on December 19, 2008.

Anthony told investigators that she left Caylee with a baby sitter named Zenaida Gonzalez at the Sawgrass Apartments in mid-June, but the two were gone when she returned to pick up her daughter. Detectives said the story did not check out, and Anthony was initially arrested on child-neglect charges shortly after her mother, Cindy Anthony, called 911 to report Caylee missing in mid-July.

Gonzalez is the only person by the name Zenaida Gonzalez with a connection the apartment complex. She once visited the complex while searching for a place to live, although she never rented an apartment there.

Gonzalez, who is represented by high-profile attorney John Morgan, filed a defamation lawsuit again Casey Anthony months ago for providing deputies with her name.

"(Casey Anthony) made a mistake when she pulled that name because, through our law firm and the legal system, Zenaida is going to push back."

"It was a lie," Morgan said in reference to the claim that Caylee was left with his client. "It was false and it was slander."
"(It) has been stressful," Gonzalez said. "I've never been through a situation like this."

After being shown photos of "this" Zenaida Gonzales, Casey Anthony said this is not the woman she left Caylee with. Casey stated it was another woman named Zenaida Gonzalez.

This Zenaida Gonzales was also shown pictures of Caylee's Florida Driver's License, other photos and photos of Caylee. Zenaida denied knowing either of the two Anthony's.

Afterwards, Zenaida filed her civil suit and then, Casey Anthony's attorney, Baez, filed a counter-claim against Zenaida Gonzales, suing her, as well.

New Tip Line Released

Meanwhile, Casey Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, released a tip line phone number on Monday, hoping to gain information about the time frame surrounding Caylee's disappearance.

The number to the new information is 407-442-2814.

Baez said he's interested in receiving information, photographs and video from the time Caylee was last seen until her remains were found.