Judge Denies Motions In Fight Over Kilpatrick Book Profits

Judge To Rule On Where Former Detroit Mayor's Book Profits Will Go

DETROIT – A judge on Wednesday ruled that the profits from former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's book would remain in an escrow account that would be focused on paying down his more than $800,000 restitution bill to the city.

Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner in June ordered the publishers of "Surrendered! The Rise, Fall and Revelation of Kwame Kilpatrick" not to pay Kilpatrick, his family members, agents, or others directly, but to put profits into the designated escrow account.

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Kilpatrick attorney Daniel Hajji had requested that Groner order a new hearing regarding the book profits.

Read Document:Groner Ruling 8/17/11

Hajji had said the original ruling violated Kilpatrick's First Amendment right to free speech.

But in Wednesday's ruling, Groner called that argument "unsubstantiated."

"Clearly, this court is not abridging the defendant's freedom of speech, but is ordering that any proceeds made from his telling of his story go to first pay the restitution that defendant stipulated to pay back the city of Detroit," Groner's ruling states.

Groner wrote that Kilpatrick still owes $861,085.40.

Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and resigned from office in 2008 after he lied at a civil trial to cover up an extramarital affair with his chief of staff. That lawsuit cost Detroit $8.4 million.

The 41-year-old was imprisoned in May 2010 for failing to disclose assets and surrender sufficient funds that could have reduced his $1 million restitution to Detroit.

Kilpatrick's family has been living near Dallas. He was given a two-year parole term and was allowed to go be with them.