Posts Tagged ‘ Drunk Driving ’

Best Lawyer Lead Gen Yet: Advertise Next to your Mugshot!

March 22nd, 2013. By AbiK

Why try to brush that bad rap under the carpet when you can capitalize on it—by serving ads for your law firm up to it!

Well, it probably wasn’t the intent of Florida attorney Thomas Lewis Edwards. Heck, he had nothing to do with it really—just a matter of whatever ad company he’s using serving up ads based on web searches for his name.

See, Edwards had the misfortune of being criminally charged with drunk driving and allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident. Not usually good PR for an attorney. (Note: Edwards is criminal defense attorney.) And, after he posed for the in-house photographer—styled in emerald green stripes (a look that not everyone can pull off, mind you), his mugshot made it online.

From there, thanks to the logic built into the ad server, voila—the ad for his law firm appeared right next to his mugshot. Needless to say, once picked up by Gawker, Reddit and ABA Journal, it went viral. Talk about an endorsement!

The one who’s not mentioned in this but who sort of reaps some collateral damage out of it is Edwards’ partner, Geoffrey Mason. Guessing there were a couple of awkward moments and closed-door sessions at the firm once the screenshot went viral.

According to the Gainesville Sun, upon being asked about the irony of the situation, Mason took in stride and replied, “It is what it is.”

Yeah, it is.

Tags: Car Accident, Criminal Defense, Drunk Driving, DUI, DWI, Lawyer Lawsuit, Thomas Lewis Edwards
Posted in Automotive, Lawyers | No Comments »

Ted Nugent, Dokken Drummer Arrested in Golf Cart

July 17th, 2012. By AbiK

Ted Nugent drummer and founding member of 80’s heavy metal band Dokken, Mick Brown was arrested last week after he was seen driving drunk in a golf cart. A golf cart he allegedly stole no less.

There’s something sad about this image, of course, if you reflect upon Brown once being atop a Kenworth 18-wheeler banging out “It’s Not Love” in a Dokken video circa 1985—now juxtaposed with the gleeful mug shot of him published circa July 8, 2012 (see pic above, compliments of Bangor, ME police). Brown is now 55. Party on.

Apparently, Ted Nugent was playing a gig in Bangor, ME with Styx (“Laaady…when you’re with me I’m smiling…”) and REO Speedwagon (“…and I’m gonna keep on lovin’ youuu…”). Afterward Brown allegedly took the opportunity to snag a golf cart (whose who knows?) and start tooling around a bit recklessly on a “foot path”.  After security officers got a tip about Brown’s joyride, they tried to stop Brown. He, however, allegedly sped past them and also shoved one of the officers.

According to the LA Times, Brown was finally stopped in his golf cart tracks and he was booked on the following charges: operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, driving to endanger, theft and assault. Brown was released on $4,000 bail.

The Times article also notes damage to two traffic cones—as mentioned in the official police report. Here’s the excerpt: “Officer Jordan reported that about a minute later he observed the golf cart with two women also on board near the Railroad Street grade crossing… No damage was reported to the cart although two traffic cones were damaged, one still under the cart, significantly so.”

At press time, no word on the cones’ condition. Or if Brown is still looking as giddy as he does here.

Tags: Bangor ME, Dokken, Drummer, Drunk Driving, DUI, DWI, Golf Cart, Heavy Metal, Mick Brown, REO Speedwagon, Styx, Ted Nugent
Posted in Celebrity | 2 Comments »

Riddle: When is your Sugar Daddy your Daddy, too?

February 6th, 2012. By AbiK

“Sugar Daddy – noun; a well-to-do usually older man who supports or spends lavishly on a mistress, girlfriend, or boyfriend.”

As per Merriam-Webster. And as in, “She’s on the lookout for a new sugar daddy.” That’s the definition—so see if the shoe fits as you read on, then try to answer the riddle: When is your Sugar Daddy your Daddy, too?…

Aside from the natural questions that arise from such an arrangement (e.g., Is Goodman technically romantically involved with his child? Can he be charged with incest should he now have “sexual relations” with Hutchins? Would his biological children be aunts or uncles to any child he might have with Hutchins? If Carroll Goodman (John’s ex-wife) has a birthday party for her son or daughter—will she feel an odd obligation to invite their new sister?), one can’t help but raise a suspicious eyebrow as to the motive here. Why—WHY?—would a man of seemingly healthy mind—allegations of cocaine use aside—want to adopt his 42-year old girlfriend? And, of course, that leads us to the backstory…

In 2010, Goodman was in a car accident for which was he charged with DUI—or more specifically, DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident. The manslaughter and homicide parts come from the nature of the accident—Goodman  allegedly blew through a stop sign and ran into another car.  Scott Patrick Wilson was in that other car and he tragically lost his life as a result. (Wilson’s parents have filed a civil suit).

Goodman goes to trial on March 6 for those criminal charges—and he stands to get up to 30 years in prison if he’s convicted. The civil trial is set for March 27.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the trial: Goodman adopted a daughter!

Yes—Five…months…before…his…trial. Raise that eyebrow and turn your glance to the money trail.

It’s a little tricky, but Goodman had apparently set up a trust for his two minor children. If the Wilson’s were to win their civil suit, they would not be able to touch the money in the trust. But Goodman could lose a substantial amount of money he has that’s not in trust—and if so, he’d be unable to touch the money that’s in trust for his kids because that money is reportedly tied up until the kids are 35 years of age.

Ahh…but if he adopts a 42-year old—since she’s over 35—and she goes on the trust as well, then she can access one-third of that money which would mean HE can access that money, too! “Genius!” he must’ve thought. (Wonder if he thought about how much he might be pissing off his real kids once they get a drift of the situation…)

And that’s what has the legal world abuzz right now—is this a surefire move to ‘beat the system’? Will it work? Will the adoption hold up in court as legit?

And does it even matter given that the court of public opinion has basically already lambasted Goodman and his apparently integrity-lacking girlfriend? If it was a ‘genious’ legal move—which has yet to be seen—it was a disastrous PR move—a young man dead as a result of alleged DUI, two young children pulled into some weird financial and familial threesome…

It’s a riddle for sure. But the answer to “When is your Sugar Daddy your Daddy, too?” is…

Clearly, when it’s John Goodman.

Tags: Adoption, Drunk Driving, DUI, DUI Lawsuit, Heather Laruso Hutchins, John Goodman, Scott Patrick Wilson
Posted in Emerging Issues, lawsuits, Totally Tortelicious | No Comments »

Bradshaw & Bryant: Stopping DUI One Taxi Ride at a Time

October 25th, 2010. By BrendaC

This new column at LawyersandSettlements.com looks at a side of lawyers you don’t hear too much about—the side that gives back…pays it forward..and shares the love. We’ve found quite a number of attorneys who log non-billable hours helping others—simply because they believe it’s the right thing to do. Their stories are inspiring, and hey, who knew lawyers were so…good? If you’ve got a story to share about an attorney who’s doing the right thing, let us know—we’d love to let others know, too. Today, we talk with Mike Bryant of Bradshaw & Bryant…

Attorney Mike Bryant on Giving Back: “It’s Just the Right Thing to Do.”

Attorneys often see, close up and personal, the tragedy that results from drunk driving. Five years ago, a Minnesota firm decided it would pick up the tab for people who needed a ride home from a bar during the first two weeks of the New Year. “Yes, it is expensive,” says Mike Bryant, an engaging, warm kind of guy and a partner in the four-lawyer personal injury firm of Bradshaw & Bryant.

Minnesota Attorney Mike Bryant

“We pay for a couple of hundred rides during that period, but I like the idea of doing it,” says Bryant. “It’s just the right thing to do.”

The public has become increasing unsympathetic to people who drink and drive, and with good reason. “It creates a mess,” says Bryant, speaking about drunk drivers. “And it also affects their families, maybe their ability to earn a living, and if they are involved in an accident where people are injured or killed, it’s a disaster.” 

The firm has handled many cases involving alcohol and catastrophic injury. “We have seen the effects that criminal charges have on people charged with driving under the influence (DUI), and we have also seen people who have been injured as a result of accidents involving alcohol,” says Bryant. “It is horrible all around.”

“I’ve had people phone me up and thank me, and taxi drivers like it too. They say they get better tips,” adds Bryant.

For the first year, Bryant’s firm paid for New Year’s Eve plus the next two weeks of cab rides, but the cab company said most people take care not to drink and drive on that particular night of the year because they know the police are watching.

“The problem is after New Year’s Eve,” says Bryant. “There are a lot of office parties, people having “get- togethers,” and that’s when they make mistakes. So we now pay for the two weeks after New Year’s Eve.”

Bryant says the free taxi rides at New Year’s have been a local tradition in the community. “There was another company that did it, but they stopped. We decided to jump in. We do it in conjunction with the radio station and the cab company, but we foot the bill,” says Bryant.

Interestingly, Bryant says the statistics show that Thanksgiving is actually when police find the most drunk drivers on the road. The firm is thinking about adding a few extra days during that time of year. 

Mike Bryant is a partner with Bradshaw & Bryant. He is a graduate of the William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota. He has been named by his peers as one of Minnesota’s top 40 personal injury lawyers four times in five years.

Tags: Bradshaw & Bryant, Drunk Driving, DUI, Mike Bryant, Minnesota, Taxi
Posted in Emerging Issues, Lawyers, Lawyers Giving Back | No Comments »