Florida DUI Lawyer Blog

Jim Leyritz, the former professional baseball player, has been awaiting trial on a DUI manslaughter charge for several years. He was involved in a car wreck in the early morning hours of December 28, 2007, that left a woman in another vehicle dead. The trial was completed yesterday, says Broward DUI lawyer Moore, who has followed the case in the news. The Leyritz case was complicated: the toxicology tests performed on the driver of the other vehicle demonstrated that her blood alcohol content was well over the legal limit at which intoxication is presumed, 0.08 percent. Likewise, a blood test taken several hours after the accident showed Leyritz’s BAC over the limit as well. This has resulted in public controversy as Leyritz has maintained his innocence. According to media reports, the prosecution never offered any sort of plea deal.

Leyritz was charged with DUI manslaughter. The jury found him guilty of simple DUI, determining that he was in fact driving under the influence of alcohol but there was insufficient evidence to find that he had actually caused or contributed to the car accident. On the contrary, there was evidence presented by an expert witness showing that due to the timing of Leyritz’s consumption of the alcohol -- some of it shortly prior to getting in his car to leave his birthday celebration -- rendered his BAC higher hours later than it was when he was driving. Nonetheless, because the jury convicted Leyritz of driving under the influence, the jurors were apparently not persuaded by this argument, notes Fort Lauderdale DUI attorney Moore.

The passenger in Leyritz’s car testified that Leyritz had driven through the intersection where the accident occurred as the light changed from yellow to red. Based on that timing, the other vehicle would have likely had a completely red light, rather than a green light. In the absence of hard evidence showing otherwise, the jury apparently accepted this explanation, concluding that they could not find beyond a reasonable doubt that Leyritz had caused the unfortunate accident.

This matter has received widespread media attention due to both Leyritz’s fame and the unusual facts of the case. It is uncommon for a DUI-related accident to involve two drivers whose blood tested over the legal limit. The criminal standard “beyond a reasonable doubt” does not mean beyond all possible doubt, or beyond the shadow of any doubt, but simply beyond any doubts which would be plausible or realistic. In this case, the jurors returned for a rare Saturday session to finish up the case.

A jury deliberated for only two hours this week before coming back with a verdict that may have saved the career of one man, says Broward DUI lawyer William Moore. Joe Baird was cleared of wrongdoing when the six-member jury panel returned a verdict of not guilty in his DUI case.

Prior to the verdict, however, the alternate juror delivered a concerned note to the judge. According to the alternate, who listened to the testimony and other evidence presented in the trial, but did not have a role in making the final decision on the case, one of the jurors was possibly unable to stay fair and unbiased. The juror in question, according to the alternate, had attended the funeral of a friend’s child who was killed in a drunk driving accident. Incidentally, that friend had also been called up as a potential juror prior to the selection of the final jury to hear the DUI case, but she was excused due to her prior drunk driving experiences related to the loss of her child.

According to Fort Lauderdale DUI attorney Moore, the testimony in Baird’s case was somewhat unusual. Baird’s longtime girlfriend and an assistant testified about Baird’s serious problem with balance. They stated that he suffers from serious vertigo and cannot do some day-to-day activities like most people can. For that reason, the defense contended that he failed the roadside field sobriety tests, but that police officers had been unwilling to accept his explanation. There was limited testimony about the amount Baird had been drinking. One witness testified that he purchased an alcohol drink for Baird shortly before the county administrator left a party the evening of his DUI arrest, but did not see him consume the beverage. Other witnesses reported seeing him drinking early in the night, but only about two beers, which would almost certainly not have been enough to leave him too impaired to driver several hours later.

Baird also refused to submit to a breath alcohol test, which are almost always requested in cases in which a law enforcement official suspects DUI, says Broward drunk driving lawyer Moore. Because he refused to submit to the breath test, Baird’s Florida driver’s license will be suspended for one year as an administrative matter. However, he will not face criminal punishment, such as jail time, probation, or DUI school.

Continue reading "Vero Beach Count Administrator Cleared of Driving Under the Influence" »

Fort Lauderdale DUI attorney William Moore keeps tabs on the latest DUI arrests in the area and celebrity DUI arrests more generally. In Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade Counties, however, the two categories frequently overlap. Ritzy areas of south Florida, known for hard-partying nightlife, gorgeous beaches, and places to be seen, attract movie stars, television actors, professional athletes, musicians, and glitterati of all kinds. Recently, two more have been in the news, says Broward DUI lawyer Moore.

On July 12, Miami Beach police officers arrested Jeffrey Donovan for DUI in South Beach. The actor, who is known for his role in Burn Notice, is accused of failing roadside field sobriety tests administered at the traffic stop. The police report also indicates that Donovan refused to submit to a breath alcohol test, says Fort Lauderdale DUI attorney Moore. Donovan’s publicist has declined to comment on the DUI arrest. Donovan was released on a $1,000 bond. He plays agent Michael Western on the USA TV show, in which a burn notice is synonymous with a pink slip.

Romero Britto was arrested on Washington Avenue in Miami Beach in March for DUI. Britto, who is originally from Brazil, is known an a pop artist. His work, including both sculptures and paintings, decorates public transit stations and other public spaces. Miami Beach police conducted a traffic stop after reportedly seeing the artist’s Bentley swerve, Fort Lauderdale DUI lawyer Moore says. Currently, he is completing DUI school, a series of classes designed to inform DUI offenders about the consequences of DUI. He is expected to accept a plea deal next month, in which he will receive a sentence of 100 hours of community service, a $1,000 fine, and the suspension of his driver’s license for six months in exchange for his guilty plea. At the time of his arrest, his blood alcohol concentration was allegedly nearly twice the “legal limit” of 0.08 percent.

These arrests follow the prominent arrest of football star Donte Stallworth for DUI Manslaughter several months ago after partying all night at a club in Miami Beach. Jim Leyritz, the former Yankees baseball player, was also arrested for DUI Manslaughter in Davie in 2007 and faces trial for the charge in September.

Continue reading "Broward DUI Attorney: Celebrity DUI Arrests in the News in South Florida" »

The Broward Sheriff’s Office announced that Robert Ray Huizenga in the early hours of July 21 for boating under the influence, also known as BUI, Broward DUI attorney William Moore has learned. A woman called police at about 11:15 p.m. on July 21 to report that she believed two men were trying to break into her house, as they were jiggling the lock on the back door.

Law enforcement officials responded to the home, which is located on the 300 block of Lido Drive. There, police found two men present. The first was Patrick Stewart, who is 44 years old, who was at the home. Huizenga was the second man, Fort Lauderdale DUI lawyer Moore has confirmed. When police arrived, he was in a nearby boat, close to the property. Police officers requested that Huizenga toss them a rope in order for them to tie up the boat to the dock. Huizenga had difficulty with the task, which police said required several attempts. They also reported that his speech was slurred, smelled like alcohol, and informed police that he was at his house. (Huizenga does not live at that residence.) He was arrested for BUI and refusing to submit to alcohol testing, while Stewart was arrested for possession of marijuana and other drug charges, in addition to trespassing.

Huizenga is the 47-year-old son of H. Wayne Huizenga, who used to own the Dolphins. He has previously been arrested for incidents involving alcohol. In fact, he is currently on probation for a 2003 DUI incident, in which he was arrested and convicted of driving under the influence after causing a wreck that left a 71-year-old man with a concussion, a broken elbow, and other serious injuries. He also refused to submit to an alcohol test, such as a breath or blood alcohol test, to determine his level of intoxication at the time of his arrest for that offense. That conviction was his third in ten years, which triggers more serious sentencing under Florida DUI law. Huizenga served only 83 days in jail for the felony, followed by less than four months of house arrest and several years of probation. If he is found to have committed a violation of probation, he could be re-sentenced to up to five years in prison, according to Broward DUI lawyer Moore. Following his first appearance in court, the judge ordered that Huizenga be kept in jail.

Continue reading "Son of Former Dolphins Owner, Billionaire H. Wayne Huizenga, Arrested for Boating Under the Influence" »

Broward DUI lawyer William Moore has discussed the DUI Manslaughter case of former professional baseball player Jim Leyritz on this blog previously. Leyritz is a well-known ex-catcher and infielder who got a number of key hits during his 10 year career, which was spent largely with the New York Yankees, but also included stints with the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox, the Anaheim Angels, and the Texas Rangers. On December 28, 2007, Leyritz was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after his involvement in an early morning Broward County accident at a stop light. Law enforcement officers obtained two blood samples from Leyritz, which put his blood alcohol concentration at 0.14 and 0.13 percent. The samples were taken two and a half and three and a half hours following the accident, respectively, Fort Lauderdale DUI attorney Moore has learned. The driver of the other vehicle was killed. Police have also determined that her BAC was 0.18 at the time of the accident and the media has reported that her cell phone records indicate that she was texting and driving at the same time. Leyritz was ultimately charged with DUI Manslaughter for her death and is scheduled to go to trial in September.

Now, Broward DUI attorney Moore has discovered that Leyritz is apparently in additional legal trouble. Leyritz, who is 45 years old, has been free on pretrial release. He was arrested in Davie, where he resides, on July 2. The arrest was for domestic battery against his former wife, with whom he and his three children share a home. Police reported that Leyritz’s ex-wife gave at least two versions of events, stating that they argued over child support when he hit her in the face and shoved her to the ground. Later, she said that Leyritz pulled her out of bed and pushed her into a wall. The couple’s children were sleeping at the time of the incident. He is being held without bail after a judge ruled that the arrest violated the terms of his pretrial release, although Leyritz told law enforcement officers that his ex-wife was intoxicated and that her injuries were self-inflicted, as part of a scheme to punish him for his attempt to get her out of their home.

Continue reading "Fort Lauderdale DUI Attorney: Jim Leyritz, Facing DUI Manslaughter, Finds More Criminal Trouble" »

Broward DUI attorney William Moore has learned that Donté Stallworth, the 28-year-old wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns, is accepting plea bargain today. Stallworth, a Miami native who is already famous on the football field, gained notoriety after his involvement in a drunk driving accident that left a local father dead. Stallworth allegedly partied through the night in Miami Beach on March 14 of this year, only leaving the upscale Fontainebleau bar as dawn broke over Miami. He then preceded over the Macarthur causeway to return to his home in Miami. On the way, however, Stallworth was involved in a car accident when he struck a pedestrian. Mario Reyes was 59 when he was killed, crossing the street to catch a bus home after working all night as a crane operator. Stallworth cooperated with investigators, telling them that he honked his horn and flashed his lights at Reyes before the collision. Reyes did not survive.

Fort Lauderdale DUI lawyer Moore says that Stallworth faced up to 15 years in prison for the DUI Manslaughter charge. The case might not have been ideal for the state attorney’s office to take to trial, however, due to two points that jurors might believe shifted at least a part of blame to the victim: Reyes was jaywalking, not in a crosswalk, across the road at the time of the accident and Stallworth’s statements that he flashed his headlights and honked at the pedestrian. It is not clear, however, if Stallworth’s statements have been substantiated. Stallworth submitted to roadside field sobriety tests following the accident and a breathalyzer device recorded his BAC at 0.126, higher than the “legal limit” at which Florida law presumes a driver is impaired. After being charged, Stallworth posted bond and was permitted to travel between Miami and Cleveland due to his obligations with the Cleveland Browns.

Stallworth’s plea deal was accepted by the judge in his case. Under its terms, he will spend 30 days in jail in exchange for his guilty plea. He will also be required to complete two years of house arrest, eight years of probation, and 1,000 hours of community service. Stallworth’s driver’s license has been permanently revoked. Prosecutors said they had taken into consideration the defendant’s remorse over the accident, his cooperation with police, and his lack of prior driving problems. The family of Mario Reyes had also considered filing a wrongful death civil lawsuit against the football star, but sources close to the family say that they have reached a monetary settlement with Stallworth. The family reportedly was ready for the painful criminal saga, as well as the potential civil component, to be over.

Continue reading "Fort Lauderdale DUI Attorney – Guilty Plea Expected in Stallworth case" »

Palm Beach DUI lawyer William Moore takes note of celebrity DUI cases, because they raise the public awareness about the drunk driving and also familiarize people with the justice system. Former pro basketball star Charles Barkley has been drawing national news attention for his DUI problems as of late. On December 31 of last year, he was stopped by police as he left an area nightclub. He was given field sobriety tests at the scene, which he failed, and arrested on suspicion of DUI. His arrest sparked widespread interest, as well as condemnation, as he is seen as a role model figure for young people.

West Palm Beach DUI attorney Moore has learned that Barkley elected to plead guilty to two separate misdemeanor DUI-related charges. As a result, Barkley agreed to spend three days in jail at the Tent City corrections facility. Additionally, Barkley must complete an alcohol treatment program. He received a lesser sentence due to his agreement to enter the program.

Barkley was released on March 9 after spending a long weekend in jail, complete with two 12 hour work-release days. Due to his fame, Palm Beach DUI lawyer Moore says that Barkley had to be housed separately from other inmates at the facility, a precaution corrections officials took for his own safety. He stayed in a unit by himself. He also received his meals alone, rather than with the rest of the jail. Barkley has previously acknowledged his error, saying that he exercised bad judgment and will “take the beatdown” that comes with it. Barkley has not issued a public statement regarding the conditions at the Tent City facility or his experiences while he was incarcerated.

Below is a video of a selection of Charles Barkley’s career NBA highlights:

Additionally, Charles Barkley’s public appearance and apology for his DUI is here:

He acknowledges that he has let down his family, the NBA, and his endorsements, which Barkley calls “one hundred percent my fault.” Barkley apologized and notes that he has “embarrassed everybody in my life and that’s not cool at all.” West Palm Beach DUI defense lawyer Moore commends Barkley for his upfront attitude about the entire situation.

Continue reading "West Palm Beach DUI Attorney – Charles Barkley’s High-Profile DUI" »

Last week we reported that the star of TLC’s “Little People, Big World” Matt Roloff was in trial facing misdemeanor charges of DUI in his home state of Oregon. Roloff, who failed to provide a breath test and reportedly refused field sobriety tests, defended the charges by arguing he drove erratically because he was not used to the pedals in his wife’s customized van. Judge Donald R. Letourneau handed down the ‘not guilty’ sentence after Roloff’s attorney asked the judge to dismiss the jury after some members of the six panel of jurors performed internet research on various legal definitions and DUI tests against the judge’s instructions not to seek outside information. The Oregonian newspaper reported that the jurors researched Rather than moving for a mistrial, Roloff’s attorney requested the judge rule on the charges.

Judge Letourneau found Roloff not guilty of the DUI charges. He told The Oregonian newspaper that the Oregon Supreme Court found the horizontal nystagums gaze test only 77% accurate and that the state had failed to prove Roloff was DUI beyond a reasonable doubt. The judge did however find Roloff guilty of refusing to take a breath test as well as for failing to stay in his lane of travel. Roloff was fined $742.00 and $103.00 in court fines. Further, Roloff’s driving privileges have been suspended for three years due to a prior DUI diversion program he agreed to enter in 2003 and his failure to take the breath test following his more recent arrest.

Matt Roloff, the size star of TLC’s reality show “Little People, Big World” about a family of little people that include Roloff, his wife and one son who face numerous challenges as little people in a big world (the family also includes two normal sized children) is currently in trial on one charge of misdemeanor driving under the influence of intoxicants last summer. Roloff, who is 4 foot tall and regularly uses crutches to walk, was pulled over on a rural road in Washington County, Oregon where Roloff lives after a deputy noticed a white van make a wide turn after leaving a local pub and drive over the yellow double line a few times. Police claim they immediately noticed an odor of alcohol and asked Roloff to step out of the van. Roloff, who was driving his wife’s van, reportedly failed sobriety tests and refused a breath test. Police deputies on the scene noted that Roloff was argumentative and uncooperative with police during their investigation.

Roloff’s attorney, Robert Themmel, however argued to jurors today that Roloff reacted “the only way he knew how to a deputy who wouldn’t listen to him”. During opening statements, Thuemmel told the jury: "He is a man whose entire life has brought him to a place where, to stand up for himself, has taught him to be a little bit more assertive, more combative." Adding: "He speaks out more for himself than some." Thuemmel also intends to argue that Roloff, who admitted to having one beer that evening, was having problems reaching the pedal because he was not used to the height of the pedal extensions in his wife’s van and that he refused the breath test because he did not “trust” the deputy.

The jury is expected to deliberate today.

The L.A. District Attorneys Office charged ‘Risky Business’ star Rebecca De Mornay, 48, with two counts of misdemeanor driving under the influence in connection with her October 30, 2007 arrest. De Mornay, who is best known for starring opposite a young Tom Cruise in the popular 80’s movie, was pulled over on famed Sunset Boulevard and arrested after allegedly failing field sobriety tests. She reportedly had a blood alcohol content of .09.

Former O.C. star, Mischa Barton, was arrested last night in West Hollywood, California. Barton was pulled over after police saw her “straddling two lanes of traffic” and change lanes without signaling at around 2:45 a.m. In addition to being charged with suspicion of DUI, Barton, was also charged with driving without a license. Reports also indicate she was charged with possession of a controlled substance. Barton was arrested, booked and released this morning at 10:00 a.m.

Popular Latin rapper, Pitbull, (real name Armando Perez) was arrested on suspicion of DUI last night in Miami after passing an unmarked police car doing a reported 93 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. According the police report obtained by TMZ.com the rapper refused to get out of the car. The officer detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Pitbull and ordered him out of the car to perform field sobriety tests which he reportedly failed after losing his balance and being unable to perform the finger-to-nose test. Pitbull was arrested and released on $1,000.00 bail.

Last month, 1980’s movie icon Mickey Rourke was arrested for driving under the influence on a Vespa in Miami Beach. The Miami Herald is reporting that Rourke’s defense to the DUI charge is that the Breathalyzer used by the Miami Beach Police Department malfunctioned. Rourke’s attorney maintains that when Rourke first took the test the machine gave a blood alcohol reading of .081, just over the legal limit in Florida. However, a second test was administered later on and Rourke’s blood alcohol reading was said to be a .074. It is not determined whether the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s office will drop the charges filed against Rourke.

No, not Ralph Macchio. The other guy who got his butt kicked. Sean Kanan who was arrested and charged with DUI in Los Angeles on August 18, 2007 with a blood alcohol of over .08% pled no contest to the misdemeanor DUI charges. He was sentenced to serve 96 hours in L.A. County jail, followed by five years of probation. In addition, the judge ordered he pay fines and complete an 18 month alcohol education program. Wonder if Mr. Karate Kid will serve mere minutes of his sentence like some of the popular female celebrities in L.A.?

Bill Murray, the star of great movies like Caddyshack, Ground Hog Day, and The Razor’s Edge, was arrested for DUI in Stockholm, Sweden. Following a golf tournament, Murray was pulled over while driving his golf cart through downtown Stockholm.
A Detective-Inspector said Murray refused to take a breath test citing American legislation, so he “applied the old method – a blood test.” Murray was released and it is believed he returned to the United States.
The Detective-Inspector stated Murray would be charged with DUI if his BAC exceeded the legal limit. Murray signed a document admitting he was driving drunk and allowing a local police officer to plead guilty for him if his case goes to court. We hope the officer doesn’t have pay Murray’s fine.
Sweden’s BAC limit is only 0.02 percent. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Administration, Sweden’s penalties for DUI range from fines for a first offense with a BAC between 0.02 and 0.10 percent to a possible prison sentence of 1 to 2 months for a BAC over 0.10 percent with aggravating circumstances. Unlike the United States, Sweden imposes progressive fines based on income.

On November 8, 2007, Mickey Rourke was arrested for driving under the influence in Florida.

Rourke was arrested while operating a Vespa motor scooter with a woman on the back between the hours of 4 and 5 a.m. Rourke was stopped for allegedly doing a U-turn in front of a police officer forcing him to activate his brakes. Rourke allegedly failed roadside sobriety exercises and exceeded Florida’s blood alcohol limit by only .001. How ridiculous. If Rourke pleads either guilty or no contest to this charge, I am going to be amazed. Why these celebrities are not fighting these DUI’s is beyond me. Even without seeing the police report, or DUI video, if one exists in this case, I’m confident that the case is absolutely defendable due to the low blood alcohol evidence obtained by the Intoxilyzer.

In another celebrity arrest, T.V. host Gary Collins was booked for driving under the influence on Tuesday night. Collins is alleged to have caused an accident involving a total of four vehicles. Injuries included one individual being taken to the hospital after being knocked unconscious from the impact.

Gary Collins is best known for his work in the 80’s T.V. show “Hour Magazine.”

Actor/comedian, Tracy Morgan is best known for his portrayal of characters like animal expert, Brian Fellows on Saturday Night Live, and more recently for his role on NBC’s acclaimed show “30 Rock.” However, the funnyman may also be known for his run in with the law and love of drinking and all things alcohol.
In November 2006, Morgan was arrested on suspicion of DUI at 4:30 a.m. in his beloved city of Manhattan. He reportedly admitted he had been drinking beer at a local night club. Sadly, Morgan was already on probation stemming from a prior DUI charge. In order to avoid jail time for a second DUI and possible violation of probation, he entered into a plea agreement to wear a SCRAM bracelet, or DUI ankle bracelet made popular by other celebrities like rapper, Eve, and appear at high schools to warn students about the dangers of drinking and driving.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Morgan reflected on his partying ways, saying:
“It happened. Unfortunately, it happened. I'm not perfect. I'm like anyone else. Driving under the influence isn't cool. I have kids and I don't want anyone to get the wrong message about that. It's something I've resolved in my life. Things got a little bumpy and it was taken care of. And I feel great about it and feel good in my sobriety."
Morgan told the reporter he takes his sobriety “one day at a time” but what he really wanted was “25 to 30 drinks!" Morgan fell off his chair in laughter and admitted to the reporter he was only kidding. Perhaps laughter really is the best medicine.

-William Ryan Moore, Esq.

How many chances and lucky breaks do celebrities seem to enjoy these days following arrests for DUI? Far too many it seems. Those of us familiar with DUI laws and penalties for the rest of us non-celebrity folk know all too well that we aren’t serving 82 minutes of a jail sentence for a second DUI conviction. Nor are we likely to be released after only a few days of our jail sentence due to anxiety? Anxiety? Early releases for anxiety would at the very least serve to reduce inmate crowding I suppose.
Unless you were living on another planet this year, it was impossible to avoid the news of celebretards, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, two girls known more for their wealthy parents than anything truly noteworthy, who were both sentenced to serve jail time for their respective DUI charges. Paris Hilton was sentenced to 45 days but ultimately served about 21 days. However, several days into her stint in the local county jail she was released due to “anxiety” and allowed to go home. Who doesn’t remember the look on the face of the poor little rich girl, with tears streaming down her face being driven back to jail to complete her sentence after the L.A. County Sheriff’s “mix up?” Injustice indeed.
And Ms. Richie, a former heroin addict and all-around party girl, who received her second DUI (mind you she admitted to being high on pot and the pain killer Vicodin, not on alcohol) who served less than an hour and a half of her sentence. No doubt reinforcing the lack of faith non-celebrities have in the judicial system. At least in California’s judicial system.
However, could the tide be turning? Just this month two celebrities appeared to have been handed unusually lengthy sentences for violating DUI related laws, at least in Hollywood. The star of “24,” Kiefer Sutherland, arrested for his fourth DUI charge, pled no contest and was sentenced to serve 30 days in jail. A whole 30 days. That’s like serving three years in non-celebrity world. Of course, for the sake of the public (and Fox) the Court will allow him to serve this sentence while “24” is on a filming break for the winter. How lucky for us viewers.

And perhaps lesser known celebrity Michelle Rodriguez of “Lost” fame shouldn’t have ignored the Court’s order to perform community service. Ms. Rodriguez, who along with her “Lost” co-star, Cynthia Watros, was arrested for DUI back in December 2005 was court ordered to complete 30 hours of community service for her DUI related charges. She recently admitted to failing to do so. (She got the boot from “Lost” – didn’t she have all the time in the world to complete 30 hours?) She will be required to turn herself in on Christmas Eve to complete 180 days in L.A.’s county jail. 180 days? Now that’s a sentence. Coincidentally, Michelle only served 4 hours and 20 minutes in jail in May 2006 for her DUI charge due to (you guessed it) overcrowding – even though she was sentenced to two months for violating probation.

Yes it appears the tide is indeed turning when it comes to celebrity DUI sentencing, but the actual time served, remains to be seen. Am I alone in thinking that Jack Bauer, I mean Kiefer Sutherland, will be out in less than 24 hours?

-William Ryan Moore, Esq.

Could ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star, Orlando Bloom be the next celebrity caught in an alleged ‘hit and run’ or DUI scandal? Bloom was involved in an accident at approximately 2:15 a.m. early Friday morning on October 12, 2007, after leaving a night club in Los Angeles. TMZ reported that he driving a Toyota Matrix belonging to the director of photography for ‘Pirates’ when he crashed into a parked Porsche Cayenne. Just before the accident, Bloom was spotted arguing with an unidentified man about the man’s wife before taking off in the Matrix.
Bloom had two female passengers with him, one of whom reportedly sustained a fractured neck in the wreck. Photographers and camera crew filmed Bloom as he walked away from the scene of the crash leaving his two bleeding passengers at the scene! Paparazzi ran after Bloom and encouraged him to return to the scene of the accident which he did after second thought. TMZ reports that upon returning to the scene, LAPD did not administer sobriety tests and declared that Bloom was not under the influence of alcohol despite having just left a night club. Once again, it seems to pay to be a celebrity. Let’s see what his female passengers have to say once they recover from their injuries.

-William Ryan Moore, Esq.

We all know she said “no no no” to going (and staying) at rehab but apparently British songstress, Amy Winehouse, also says “no no no” to getting behind the wheel of a car. The talented but troubled Winehouse has made no secret of her love for alcohol and other substances. She recently celebrated her 24th birthday by drinking with some mates in London. She admitted she would be drinking at her party but was overheard saying “drugs were a private matter.” It has been reported she and her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, were treated briefly for addictions to heroin and other drugs. Fortunately, to date, Ms. Winehouse has not been seen behind the wheel of a car.

-William Ryan Moore, Esq.