Marquette attorney to take Richardson case

MUNISING — An Upper Peninsula attorney will take over Tom Richardson’s defense on murder and manslaughter charges, Richardson’s sister said.

After lawyer Jason Elmore was removed from the case when he was deemed a potential witness, Richardson retained Karl P. Numinen. Deb Dahlstrom, Richardson’s sister, said Elmore’s law firm, McCurdy and Wotila, intends to appeal the judge’s decision that Elmore cannot proceed as Richardson’s defense attorney.

“They are doing that along with Tom and us because we don’t want Tom deprived of the attorney of his choice,” Dahlstrom said.

Because Richardson was removed from the case, Dahlstrom said the entire firm was too.

Since Judge Charles Stark’s ruling to remove Richardson, Dahlstrom said McCurdy and Wotila has interviewed and given Richardson access to new attorneys.

Numinen is a partner with the Marquette law firm Pence and Numinen. The firm specializes in litigation and, more specifically, domestic relations and civil litigation.

After growing up in the Marquette area, Numinen spent 12 years downstate in Lansing and Grand Rapids earning his law degree and practicing law, according to his bio on Northern Michigan University’s Web site. Numinen is an adjunct criminal justice professor at the university.

The first issue that Numinen is expected to handle will be at 1:15 p.m. on April 16 in 11th Circuit Court. The date is scheduled as Richardson’s pretrial.

Richardson remains lodged in the Alger County Jail without bond. He is charged with killing his wife, Juanita, on June 22, 2006 at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

mwhetstone@cadillacnews.com | 775-NEWS (6397)