2009 CT 001816 SC
The Defendant was stopped for almost running a North Port Police Officer off the road. The Defendant stated he dropped his water and that is what caused him to swerve. The Police in their rush to judgment felt the Defendant was impaired by something. They requested the Defendant perform field sobriety tests of which he performed poorly. It turns out that the Defendant was taking prescription medication. The Officer in trial alleged that the Defendant informed him that he took four to five tablets just hours ago and took more than he should have. This evidence did not deter Anne Marie Rizzo as she fought the State and the police at every turn. Once the Defendant was arrested he blew .000 on the breath test machine and provided a urine sample which turned up positive for methadone and Xanax. We presented the defense of involuntary intoxication and argued that the Defendant only did what he was told to do by his Doctor. In an all day trial despite numerous rulings against the lawyers of Finebloom & Haenel the jury came back in 40 minutes with a not guilty verdict. AMAZING!
