| ► Attorney Joan Benge of Gretna, LA; lawbreaker, loser |
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Attorney Joan Benge of Gretna, LA; lawbreaker, loser 
Up to a few years ago, Joan Benge was a judge on the 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna.
During her tenure on the bench, the Judicial Commission filed misconduct charges which subsequently led to Joan being removed from the bench by the Louisiana Supreme Court.
About six months after Joan ascended to the bench, she presided over a personal injury trial wherein Phil Demma, previously an associate of ex-Judge Ronald Bodenheimer, wherein Demma claimed to have cracked a tooth in a car accident and demanded $20,000 in damages.
At the time of Demma’s trial, the FBI was conducting an investigation of corruption called “Wrinkled Robe) at the Jefferson Parish Courthouse, which specifically targeted Judge Bodenheimer. FBI agents secretly recorded a conversation between Judge Benge and Bodenheimer wherein she said Demma’s case was a loser and that she wasn’t inclined to award him anything.
Judge Bodenheimer urged Judge Benge to be nice to Demma, claiming he would be there politically for her. During the taped conversation, Judge Benge made 17 references to her thoughts as to why Demma should get nothing. Despite her protestations, Benge subsequently award Demma over $4,000.
Demma’s lawyer, John Venezia originally asked for $23,323. During her taped conversation with Bodenheimer and before she ruled in Demma’s favor, Benge said she would “zero” the case “if it wasn’t for Venezia.”
The FBI declined to prosecute Benge; however the Supreme Court wasn’t so kind when it kicked her off the bench.
As we speak (ca. Jan 2012) Joan is practice law at 200 Derbigny Street in Gretna.
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