Prominent attorney fatally shot on lawn of his Rolling Hills Estates home
Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives today are trying to sort out a mystery in upscale Rolling Hills Estates after a prominent attorney was fatally shot on the lawn of his home.
Neighbors identified the man as Jeffrey Tidus, an attorney with Baute & Tidus, a boutique civil law firm in downtown Los Angeles. Tidus was an active political contributor and a former board member of the California State Bar. He was known for his pro bono work for clients in need.
One neighbor told The Times that Tidus had returned from a social event Monday evening. He went inside his home, then went back out to his car to get a laptop computer. The witness, who asked that his name not be used, said some neighbors thought Tidus had fallen outside his home and only learned that he was shot after paramedics arrived.
James T. Fox, who lives near Tidus, said he didn't hear any shots last night and was shocked to hear that the attorney had been fatally wounded.
Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore said the shooting occurred at 8:33 p.m. at a home in the 4600 block of Sugarhill Drive. The street is home to several large, $1-million-plus ranch-style houses.
Whitmore said he could not provide details about the shooting other than to say the victim was taken to a hospital, where he died at about 9:30 a.m. today.
According to his law firm's website, Tidus "has been active practice as an arbitrator and mediator over a wide-range of civil disputes. He is a graduate of the Straus Institute for Mediation's Basic and Advanced Mediation training program. He is a member of the American Arbitration Association Commercial Mediation Panel.
"He also has testified as an expert witness on matters involving legal ethics and billing practices. He is also the author of the CEB Action Guide on Discovery and Discovery Motions. Mr. Tidus' present and former clients include Hawthorne Savings, New Century Financial, Thales Navigation, Isuzu Motors of America, California Federal Savings, Aames Financial, First Alliance Mortgage Company, First Los Angeles Bank and Tokai Bank."
The firm declined to comment on the matter.
-- Richard Winton
Photo: A photograph of Jeffrey Tidus on his firm's website. The firm is Baute & Tidus. Credit: bautelaw.com/
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EDITOR'S PICKS:
Looks like a hit job although not much details. Politics is a shady world.
Posted by: KK | December 08, 2009 at 01:22 PM
sad, no sound? Maybe used a silencer? Rolling Hills, wow, people generally are nosy over there. Someone must have been hiding in the bushes and waiting. Well he pissed off the wrong person.
Posted by: rob | December 08, 2009 at 01:58 PM
People don't just show up at random prominent lawyers houses and whack them for s and giggles. You know this guy must have pissed someone off. Just because your a bigshot high profile attorney doesn't make you bullet proof.
I feel bad for his family.
Posted by: NarNar | December 08, 2009 at 02:03 PM
Cool!
Posted by: Baronpilot | December 08, 2009 at 02:09 PM
This country has lost its moral compass.
Posted by: jk | December 08, 2009 at 02:12 PM
"Mr. Tidus' present and former clients include Hawthorne Savings, New Century Financial, Thales Navigation, Isuzu Motors of America, California Federal Savings, Aames Financial, First Alliance Mortgage Company, First Los Angeles Bank and Tokai Bank."
Well, any one of these institutions may have ordered the hit.
Posted by: patroklos | December 08, 2009 at 02:13 PM
Sounds like it could have been a follow-home robbery.
Posted by: lwps | December 08, 2009 at 02:16 PM
I knew Jeff Tidus. He was a good lawyer and a decent man. This is absolutely unbelieveable. My heart goes out to his loved ones. May he rest in peace.
Posted by: Pan3686 | December 08, 2009 at 02:17 PM
This needs 'special' followup by the media. Big money involved. The kind that makes America 'great'.
Posted by: Clive Roberts | December 08, 2009 at 02:58 PM
My heart goes out to his family. Jeffrey was a good man.
Posted by: Larry in Sonoma | December 08, 2009 at 04:05 PM
He was a good man. My heart goes out to his family, friends and co workers.
Posted by: Larry in Sonoma | December 08, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Was he a political contributor to the "wrong" side?
Posted by: ColeslawPatriot | December 08, 2009 at 04:14 PM
Check the security cameras from the houses around it.
Posted by: Martin | December 08, 2009 at 04:16 PM
I met Mr. Tidus briefly during an interview recently. He couldn't have been a more warm and friendly person. This is a terrible tragedy and my condolences go out to his family and his firm.
Posted by: Mike | December 08, 2009 at 05:35 PM
Police checking bushes in the neighborhood and wondering whether this were a suicide? Laptop, which his wife said he was getting out of his car, found nearby? Looks like murder to me......
Posted by: ewvdt | December 09, 2009 at 07:45 AM
If no gun was recovered near the body, how can it even be considered a suicide???????
Posted by: jose castaneda | December 09, 2009 at 08:39 AM