Prosecutor Who Spoke Out on Case Wins Award

The prosecutor who recently angered top officials in Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti’s office for questioning the handling of a politically connected defendant has won a $10,000 award from a national justice organization.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Grosbard won the honor from the Foundation for Improvement of Justice, which honored him along with nine others for “seeking justice regardless of the personal consequences.”

The foundation’s announcement said Grosbard, who works in the district attorney’s Pomona office, “has demonstrated unusual dedication to the enforcement of our laws; and assisted victims and professionals across the nation.”

Grosbard, 44, a former federal prosecutor, stirred the wrath of senior prosecutors when he openly objected to the handling of an assault case involving a man whose father and lawyers were closely connected to powerful politicians, including county Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke.

Burke talked to Garcetti about the case, which then received unusual attention from the top levels of his administration.

When the case was transferred to Grosbard, he argued for rescinding a previous plea bargain arrangement that allowed Brian Patrick Ballou, 27, to plead to a minor gun charge in exchange for a probationary sentence, despite strong evidence that Ballou shot a stranded motorist in the back. Grosbard called the deal a “horrendous disposition” but was unable to get it changed. A few months later, Ballou was arrested on new felony gun counts.

Grosbard’s involvement in the Ballou case was among several accomplishments cited in his nomination letter to the foundation, which was established in 1984 by the widow of an executive in the Multimedia Inc. publishing chain.

The foundation honors to citizens, legislators, organizations, judges, lawyers and police officers who contribute to justice in areas such as crime prevention, victims’ rights, reducing recidivism and child protection.