Pinellas doctor accused of killing attorney to get court-appointed lawyer
A Pinellas plastic surgeon who could face the death penalty if convicted of the murder of a Largo attorney will likely wind up with a court-appointed lawyer to defend him at trial.
Tomasz Kosowski, 46, told a judge during a brief status hearing Wednesday that he still had not hired an attorney nearly a month after his defense team withdrew from the case.
'No one's willing to help,' Kosowski told Judge Joseph Bulone.
Kosowski also told Bulone that he and his mother don't have the money to hire a private attorney.
'Well, then maybe I should appoint the public defender, right?' Bulone said.
Standing at a lectern dressed in orange jail clothes, Kosowski shrugged.
Bulone asked Kosowski if he wanted to represent himself or appoint a public defender. Kosowski said he does not want to represent himself.
A moment later, Bulone appointed the Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender's Office to represent Kosowski, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Steven Cozzi. A representative from that office told Bulone there is likely a conflict that will preclude the office from representing Kosowski but did not elaborate.
If so, Bulone said, Kosowski will likely end up with an attorney selected from a list of defense lawyers who are willing and qualified to take death penalty cases in Florida.
Court-appointed attorneys in death penalty cases in Florida are typically selected from a Capital Collateral Registry maintained by the Justice Administrative Commission. These attorneys must meet specific qualifications and experience requirements outlined by state law and rules of criminal procedure.
Bulone set another status hearing for June 25.
'Hopefully, we'll have the lawyer here that's going to try the case,' Bulone said.
The case had been set to go to trial this month. But in a May 1 hearing, Bulone granted a motion filed by Kosowski's defense team to withdraw from the case. One of the attorneys, Bjorn Brunvand, cited comments Kosowski and his mother made during video jail calls indicating they weren't happy with his representation. Kosowski said during the calls that he didn't want to pay Brunvand and was considering filing a grievance against him.
Brunvand said during the hearing that he had other reasons he didn't want to share with Bulone in open court, but Kosowski didn't want Brunvand to speak to Bulone without being there, too. Bulone granted the motion and told Kosowski to find a new lawyer.
He still had not hired one by the next hearing in mid-May, so Bulone gave him two more weeks.
Kosowski has been in jail without bond since his arrest in March 2023. That year, Kosowski was representing himself in a lawsuit he filed over a medical billing dispute. Cozzi represented one of the defendants.
After one particularly heated deposition, witnesses recalled, the doctor followed the lawyer into a law office restroom and called him a 'scumbag.' It was about this time that Cozzi began to fear for his safety, his husband testified.
On March 23, 2023, Cozzi went to work at his Largo office. But surveillance videos showed he never left. He did not call in to a telephone hearing in Kosowski's lawsuit scheduled for that morning, but Kosowski did.
A fellow lawyer found Cozzi's phone and personal items at his desk, where his computer was open to the text of an unsent email. Investigators would find blood in the office's restroom. Videos also showed a person, who detectives believe was Kosowski, entering the law office that morning with a cart and later leaving with a large object on top of it.
Other surveillance video obtained by police showed the man driving a Toyota Tundra to Kosowski's Tarpon Springs home.
While conducting a search warrant on Kosowski's home, investigators found blood in his garage and in the Toyota Tundra that was caught on surveillance footage.
Later on the day that Cozzi went missing, Kosowski's red Toyota Corolla was picked up on license plate readers in the Miami area. When Kosowski was arrested in Tarpon Springs a few days later, police found a bloodied ballistic vest, duct tape, a paralyzing agent, syringes with sedatives, brass knuckles, a Taser and nearly $300,000 in cash, records state. Cozzi's DNA was also found in the Corolla's trunk.
According to court documents, Cozzi's blood was mixed with Kosowski's DNA in a sample collected from the garage floor of Kosowski's home on Seaview Drive in Tarpon Springs, and both men's DNA was found on evidence taken from the outside of the restroom door at Cozzi's office.
Investigators suspect Kosowski dumped Cozzi's body in a dumpster off U.S. 41 in Collier County. The body has never been found.
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Politico
09-06-2025
- Politico
A gerrymandering fight, state-style
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Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Yahoo
Pinellas doctor accused of killing attorney to get court-appointed lawyer
A Pinellas plastic surgeon who could face the death penalty if convicted of the murder of a Largo attorney will likely wind up with a court-appointed lawyer to defend him at trial. Tomasz Kosowski, 46, told a judge during a brief status hearing Wednesday that he still had not hired an attorney nearly a month after his defense team withdrew from the case. 'No one's willing to help,' Kosowski told Judge Joseph Bulone. Kosowski also told Bulone that he and his mother don't have the money to hire a private attorney. 'Well, then maybe I should appoint the public defender, right?' Bulone said. Standing at a lectern dressed in orange jail clothes, Kosowski shrugged. Bulone asked Kosowski if he wanted to represent himself or appoint a public defender. Kosowski said he does not want to represent himself. A moment later, Bulone appointed the Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender's Office to represent Kosowski, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Steven Cozzi. A representative from that office told Bulone there is likely a conflict that will preclude the office from representing Kosowski but did not elaborate. If so, Bulone said, Kosowski will likely end up with an attorney selected from a list of defense lawyers who are willing and qualified to take death penalty cases in Florida. Court-appointed attorneys in death penalty cases in Florida are typically selected from a Capital Collateral Registry maintained by the Justice Administrative Commission. These attorneys must meet specific qualifications and experience requirements outlined by state law and rules of criminal procedure. Bulone set another status hearing for June 25. 'Hopefully, we'll have the lawyer here that's going to try the case,' Bulone said. The case had been set to go to trial this month. But in a May 1 hearing, Bulone granted a motion filed by Kosowski's defense team to withdraw from the case. One of the attorneys, Bjorn Brunvand, cited comments Kosowski and his mother made during video jail calls indicating they weren't happy with his representation. Kosowski said during the calls that he didn't want to pay Brunvand and was considering filing a grievance against him. Brunvand said during the hearing that he had other reasons he didn't want to share with Bulone in open court, but Kosowski didn't want Brunvand to speak to Bulone without being there, too. Bulone granted the motion and told Kosowski to find a new lawyer. He still had not hired one by the next hearing in mid-May, so Bulone gave him two more weeks. Kosowski has been in jail without bond since his arrest in March 2023. That year, Kosowski was representing himself in a lawsuit he filed over a medical billing dispute. Cozzi represented one of the defendants. After one particularly heated deposition, witnesses recalled, the doctor followed the lawyer into a law office restroom and called him a 'scumbag.' It was about this time that Cozzi began to fear for his safety, his husband testified. On March 23, 2023, Cozzi went to work at his Largo office. But surveillance videos showed he never left. He did not call in to a telephone hearing in Kosowski's lawsuit scheduled for that morning, but Kosowski did. A fellow lawyer found Cozzi's phone and personal items at his desk, where his computer was open to the text of an unsent email. Investigators would find blood in the office's restroom. Videos also showed a person, who detectives believe was Kosowski, entering the law office that morning with a cart and later leaving with a large object on top of it. Other surveillance video obtained by police showed the man driving a Toyota Tundra to Kosowski's Tarpon Springs home. While conducting a search warrant on Kosowski's home, investigators found blood in his garage and in the Toyota Tundra that was caught on surveillance footage. Later on the day that Cozzi went missing, Kosowski's red Toyota Corolla was picked up on license plate readers in the Miami area. When Kosowski was arrested in Tarpon Springs a few days later, police found a bloodied ballistic vest, duct tape, a paralyzing agent, syringes with sedatives, brass knuckles, a Taser and nearly $300,000 in cash, records state. Cozzi's DNA was also found in the Corolla's trunk. According to court documents, Cozzi's blood was mixed with Kosowski's DNA in a sample collected from the garage floor of Kosowski's home on Seaview Drive in Tarpon Springs, and both men's DNA was found on evidence taken from the outside of the restroom door at Cozzi's office. Investigators suspect Kosowski dumped Cozzi's body in a dumpster off U.S. 41 in Collier County. The body has never been found.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
When will Pinellas doctor accused of killing attorney finally head to trial?
A Pinellas plastic surgeon accused of murdering an attorney still didn't have a lawyer on Wednesday just five days before his trial was scheduled to begin. Tomasz Kosowski was set to stand trial in the slaying of Largo attorney Steven Cozzi starting on Monday. But after his lawyers withdrew, citing ethical conflicts, Kosowski chose to represent himself at a hearing last week. Pinellas Circuit Judge Joseph Bulone told Kosowski then he needed to have an attorney present at his next hearing on Wednesday. He didn't. Again, Kosowski stood alone at the courtroom lectern. Bulone granted his request to delay what is expected to be a lengthy murder trial. Kosowski, 46, is charged with first degree murder in Cozzi's death and has been in jail without bond since his arrest in March 2023. Cozzi's body has never been found. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if Kosowski is convicted as charged. Bulone told Kosowski he needs to have a lawyer present for his next hearing May 28. 'We're not going to go on forever like this,' he said. 'If you're not making a good faith effort, then I'll appoint one for you.' In 2023, Kosowski was representing himself in a lawsuit he filed over a medical billing dispute. Cozzi represented one of the defendants. After one particularly heated deposition, witnesses recalled, the doctor followed the lawyer into a law office restroom and called him a 'scumbag.' It was about this time that Cozzi began to fear for his safety, his husband testified. On March 23, 2023, Cozzi went to work at his Largo office. But surveillance videos showed he never left. He did not call in to a telephone hearing in Kosowski's lawsuit scheduled for that morning, but Kosowski did. A fellow lawyer found Cozzi's phone and personal items at his desk, where his computer was open to the text of an unsent email. Investigators would find blood in the office's restroom. Videos also showed a person, who detectives believe was Kosowski, entering the law office that morning with a cart and later leaving with a large object on top of it. Other surveillance video obtained by police showed the man driving a Toyota Tundra to Kosowski's Tarpon Springs home. While conducting a search warrant on Kosowski's home, investigators found blood in his garage and in the Toyota Tundra that was caught on surveillance footage. Later on the day that Cozzi went missing, Kosowski's red Toyota Corolla was picked up on license plate readers in the Miami area. When Kosowski was arrested in Tarpon Springs a few days later, police found a bloodied ballistic vest, duct tape, a paralyzing agent, syringes with sedatives, brass knuckles, a Taser and nearly $300,000 in cash, records state. Cozzi's DNA was also found in the Corolla's trunk. According to court documents, Cozzi's blood was mixed with Kosowski's DNA in a sample collected from the garage floor of Kosowski's home on Seaview Drive in Tarpon Springs, and both men's DNA was found on evidence taken from the outside of the restroom door at Cozzi's office. Investigators suspect Kosowski dumped Cozzi's body in a dumpster off U.S. 41 in Collier County. Pinellas Assistant State Attorney Nathan Vonderheide said he plans to call 56 state witnesses over six weeks of trial. A new trial date has not been scheduled. Kosowski said Wednesday he had met with two lawyers in the last week, but did not want to hire either of them. Vonderheide said Kosowski has logged 229 hours on jail computers, which he argued was ample time to review discovery if Kosowski decides represent himself. 'Dr. Kososwki is a very smart man. He has an MBA and a medical degree from Dartmouth. His writing reflects that. It's very articulate. It's better than some lawyers that I've litigated against,' Vonderheide said. 'I think the next stage of the inquiry is whether he's ready to represent himself for trial.' 'We've been ready to try this case since April 2023,″ he added. Kosowski has represented himself at two status hearings, but said he does not intend to do so when his trial begins. 'Depositions aren't complete ... and I'm not sure whether forensic testing is complete. So there are lots of things that aren't done in this case — no matter what Mr. Vonderheide tells you," Kosowski said. Bulone pushed back. 'There's a whole lot more things that have been done than things that haven't,' he said. 'The main reason that we're not ready is that you don't have a lawyer, but you're going to get one soon because you don't have a choice.'
