Caylee Anthony Update 2 February

The spokesman for Casey Anthony's defense attorney isn't who he says he is.

Todd Black told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday that Todd Black isn't his real name, and he wouldn't give his true identity.

Black -- whose news releases triggered a recent Florida Bar investigation into Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez -- said his last name is an "abbreviated" form he has used professionally in the past.

Typically, spokespeople use their real names.

Using fake identities raises serious ethical issues, according to public-relations consultants such as Margaret "Marti" Mackenzie, who is hired by attorneys.

"To use a fictitious name flies in the face of creating a trusting and ethical relationship with the media," said Mackenzie, author of Courting the Media: Public Relations for the Accused and the Accuser. "And for anybody in the media, frankly, who covers the statements released knowing this person's rather charlatan behavior, I consider that also to be unethical."


Who is Todd Black?

The Public Relations Society of America's code of ethics lists "honesty" as one of its professional values, and states members must "be honest and accurate in all communications," and "avoid deceptive practices."

Black has acted as a spokesman for Baez through a company called Press Corps Media since about September.

He has declined requests to be photographed or provide a picture of himself and will not participate in in-person media interviews. It's unclear where he lives or works.

After Black told the Sentinel he doesn't use his real name, a reporter left him a voice-mail message asking for more details.

Black didn't respond.

Instead, another Press Corps Media contact, Sabrina Cane, sent an e-mail stating:

"In general we can tell you that it's been standard procedure for many years to have our company's story reps utilize abbreviated names for security purposes, most especially now with the Casey Anthony Case that is overrun with hostile attitudes and serious threats that have been generated by negative media coverage."


Press Corps Media

The Florida Bar initiated an investigation into Baez in October after the State Attorney's Office faxed the Bar several releases Black had sent to media outlets.

The Bar found that no disciplinary proceedings against Baez were appropriate and closed the file Jan. 22.

Two of the releases criticized State Attorney Lawson Lamar.

One letter submitted to the Bar as part of its inquiry into Baez was from Press Corps Media's president, Peter Tillman.

Both Tillman and Timothy Chinaris, an attorney representing Baez in the inquiry, stated that Press Corps Media was retained by a Connecticut family. Chinaris said his client had not paid and will not pay "any part" of Press Corps Media's fees or expenses, and he did not know or talk with anyone from the media company before it was retained.

The Sentinel attempted to contact Tillman by leaving a voice-mail message at the telephone number provided on the letterhead, but Black returned the phone call.

"He's not interested in discussing anything with you," Black said of Tillman.

Black wouldn't say who the Connecticut family is and when pressed for information about Press Corps Media and its parent company, Arrested Media, he said, "You guys are going to waste your time creating whatever story you want to create."

Surprise, surprise! Jose Baez and Casey Anthony have hooked up with a shady company. Jose Baez would have probably done better having a receptionist write press releases. And they have been using fake names for a while before the Casey Anthony case.

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