Podcast Summary: “The Quarterback and The Con Artist”

Podcast: Jonathan Walton Media
Host: Jonathan Walton
Episode: 9 – "What the Fuck Did You Just Do?"
Date: October 29, 2025

Main Theme

This episode delves deep into how former NFL quarterback Eric Kramer, still recovering from a traumatic brain injury and vulnerable due to a court-imposed conservatorship, becomes further victimized by con artist Courtney Baird. It follows the escalation of Courtney’s deception from financial abuse to engineering a false domestic violence charge against Eric, the legal and personal fallout, and the battle to clear his name and regain his autonomy. The episode exposes massive failures in the legal system, especially concerning conservatorship and domestic violence claims, underscoring the dangers of mistaken advocacy and self-serving manipulation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Manipulation of the Conservatorship System

• Courtney Baird influences a mentally incapacitated Eric Kramer, prompting him into marriage and continuing to steal from him—despite the legal protections supposedly afforded by his conservatorship.
  • “She masterfully tricks attorneys and judges into doing her bidding by manipulating a mentally incapacitated Eric Kramer, instructing him on what to think, what to do and what to say.” (Jonathan Walton, 01:45)
• Systemic breakdown: Court-appointed figures adopt the abuser’s narrative.
  • “So basically what the judge is listening to as the primary message is the wishes and the language of the abuser.” (Anna Durgan, 02:11)

2. Eric’s Awakening and Courtney’s Countermove

• As Eric’s mental clarity returns, he realizes the extent of Courtney's manipulation and theft.
  • “Eric suddenly realizes Courtney hustled him into marrying her and that she's stealing from him.” (Jonathan Walton, 03:01)
• Eric’s Calm Ultimatum: He asks Courtney for a divorce, but instead of leaving, she initiates a fabricated domestic violence claim.

3. The False Domestic Violence Accusation

• Courtney calls the police, and Eric is arrested without evidence on her say-so—illustrative of how LA County responds post-O.J. Simpson case.

  • "All any cop … needs is a wife claiming her husband hit her for them to immediately arrest the husband." (Jonathan Walton, 16:10)
  • “You can thank O.J. for this.” (Arresting Officer to Eric Kramer, 16:25)

• Courtney exploits the situation: With Eric in jail and unable to intervene, she steals nearly $20,000 in four days, using his credit cards for personal expenses.

  • “She charged Taylor Swift tickets. She paid for her daughter’s soccer for the whole entire year.” (Anna Durgan, 18:34)
  • “The one and only person that should have gotten arrested that morning got left with my credit card.” (Eric Kramer, 19:02)

4. Further Legal Victimization and Reputation Damage

• The media runs with the arrest story, tarnishing Eric's reputation and undermining his chances of recourse against Courtney.
• Court system continues to fail: Courtney manipulates the courts to secure $20,000 for relocation, while Eric accrues legal costs fighting a fabricated case.
  • “That’s $20,000 of Eric’s money. And Eric has to spend thousands more to hire a lawyer to defend against this bogus domestic violence charge that Courtney invented out of whole cloth.” (Jonathan Walton, 20:28)
• Eric’s own attorney attempts to negotiate a no contest plea—effectively treating him as guilty without proper advocacy.
  • “Here again is another lawyer in the system that does not represent my best interest. That sold me out.” (Eric Kramer, 21:10)

5. Turning Point: Advocacy and Real Legal Defense

• Anna Durgan’s Intervention: Anna is horrified by Eric’s attorney’s capitulation; she demands action and finds top defense attorney Todd Melnick.
  • “The judge goes, Eric, do you understand? Do you agree? Eric was silent... I was cursing, my voice was raised, and I basically said, ‘What the fuck did you just do?’” (Anna Durgan, 23:05)

[25:00] Introduction of Todd Melnick, famous for the “Longshot” defense (using Curb Your Enthusiasm footage to exonerate a murder defendant).

• Todd Melnick’s Approach: Instantly doubts Courtney’s story due to contradictions and investigatory logic.

  • “I started putting things together. Statements that she had made that were inconsistent ... In terms of physical violence...didn’t make sense to me...” (Todd Melnick, 28:19)

• Notable inconsistency: whether Courtney’s daughter was present during the alleged incident.

  • “Courtney initially told sheriff’s deputies...her daughter was asleep upstairs...then days later...her daughter was actually standing right beside her...” (Jonathan Walton, 29:10)

• Dismissal of Charges: Todd Melnick’s work leads to the case being thrown out.

  • “When it came time for trial, there was a motion to dismiss the charges and we all went home happy.” (Todd Melnick, 31:04)
  • But, “There’s no headline with Eric Kramer. Charges dropped. Domestic violence was bogus... The harm is done.” (Jonathan Walton, 31:27)

6. The Fight Against Conservatorship Abuse

• Anna and Eric’s persistence leads to ending the conservatorship in Nov 2018.
  • “I eventually got a letter of capacity.” (Eric Kramer, 32:42)
• They sue the court-appointed conservatorship attorney for malpractice—exposing how in Eric’s case, he failed to speak with detectives or experts, though he did so in another case.
  • “So it appears this court appointed conservatorship attorney was conned by Courtney Baird too. And according to his deposition testimony... Did you find Courtney credible? Answer: Yes.” (Jonathan Walton/Anna Durgan, 36:20-36:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s like a con artist game of telephone.”

  • (Jonathan Walton, 02:37)

• “Boy, what a miracle it is for you to be sitting here talking to me as a regular person again.”

  • (Jonathan Walton to Eric Kramer, 06:19)

• “There wasn’t one single bit of domestic violence that went on that morning by anybody. Yet this lying thief...I’m arrested for doing nothing.”

  • (Eric Kramer, 17:39)

• “Her story keeps changing. If I throw something at you from ten feet away, I’m not going to miss.”

  • (Eric Kramer, 29:55)

• “Don’t rely on anyone other than yourselves ... You have to be your own advocate. You have to be your own investigator. You have to be your own detective.”

  • (Anna Durgan, 32:01)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------| | 01:23 | Recap of Courtney’s admitted financial theft | | 03:57 | Eric’s recollection of being mentally incapacitated in court | | 07:07 | Eric’s lucidity emerges; pivotal realization | | 09:42 | Eric’s decision to seek a divorce from Courtney | | 16:10 | Eric is falsely arrested for domestic violence | | 18:34 | Details on Courtney’s theft after Eric’s arrest | | 20:28 | Eric must pay Courtney $20k to move out | | 21:10 | Eric’s attorney negotiates a plea against Eric’s wishes | | 23:05 | Anna confronts Eric’s (ineffective) attorney | | 25:00 | Introduction of Todd Melnick | | 28:19 | Breakdown of holes in Courtney’s allegations | | 31:04 | Case dismissed; damage to Eric’s reputation remains | | 32:01 | Anna’s message about self-advocacy | | 32:42 | End of Eric’s conservatorship | | 36:38 | Court-appointed attorney admits he found Courtney “credible”|

Tone & Style

The episode is gripping, direct, and raw—mixing investigative depth with personal testimony and moments of wry, sometimes exasperated humor. Walton’s narration balances outrage at systemic failures with empathy for Eric’s ordeal, and guests like Anna Durgan and Todd Melnick infuse the story with righteous indignation, dogged determination, and clear-eyed analysis.

Key Takeaway

Eric Kramer's story is a sobering indictment of how easily legal protections can be manipulated by a determined abuser—and how crucial self-advocacy and persistent allies can be when systems fail. The episode is a clarion call to question surface narratives, scrutinize so-called experts, and never underestimate the power of one’s own voice in the face of injustice.