Lindsay Lohan Faces Fresh DUI Trial
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Linsday Lohan will be back in court as early as next year following fresh driving under the influence claims.
The 21-year-old Hollywood star was allegedly drunk when she was involved in a car crash in October 2005.
Lohan was initially cleared of any wrongdoing in the accident as local police concluded that the other driver involved in the incident, Raymundo Ortega, had made an illegal U-turn.
However, it has emerged that Ortega, who claims to have been knocked unconscious in the accident, is suing the actress on the grounds that she was driving under the influence of alcohol.
Superior Court Judge Michael L Stern said on Tuesday that the trial will go ahead on April 7 next year.
The decision comes as a surprise as police sources have been quoted as saying that there was no alcohol or drugs involved in the crash.
Ortega is looking for at least $200,000 in damages from Lohan.
These are turbulent times indeed for Lohan who was last month considered lucky to escape with one day in jail after she pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and drugs charges. She was also sentenced to community service, three years probation and was ordered to complete a drug treatment program, which is currently underway.
And it appears she is making a very real effort to straightening out her life. At the time of the sentence she issued a heart-felt statement, saying: “It is clear to me that my life has become completely unmanageable because I am addicted to alcohol and drugs. Recently I relapsed and did things for which I am ashamed. I broke the law and today I took responsibility by pleading guilty to the charges in my case.”
Last week, Linsday Lohan gained the help and support of her father, Michael Lohan, when they met for the first time in two years. He also struggled with alcohol and drug addiction and was released from jail in March after completing a two-year sentence for DUI.
