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Lohan's Latest Court Date: No Deal, No Delay, No Show
Lindsay Lohan's lawyer Mark Heller leaves the LAX C on March 1, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
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Mark Heller, the attorney for Lindsay Lohan, was in court today to meet the new judge on her case and to try to get the whole works delayed so they could work out a deal. But it was no dice on all fronts, and Lohan's trial will continue as scheduled, with Lohan herself ordered to appear at the next date.
Superior Court Judge James R. Dabney rejected a motion to dismiss charges stemming from a car accident in June when the actress was already on probation in a separate case, reports City News Service.
Dabney also denied a defense motion to continue the March 18 trial date to April, and scolded Heller for filing papers that did not conform to California procedures.
Heller is a New York-based attorney, who had to make special arrangements to be able to represent LiLo in Los Angeles, including getting a local lawyer to vouch for him. That attorney, however, hasn't practiced law for a few years. His first appearance in L.A. on behalf of Lohan was at the end of January, when Lohan bravely fought a cold and getting turned down at hotels to make it into court.
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Dabney pointed out Heller's errors in the pleadings, and admonished him for not being aware of California court proceedings. He told Heller that if Lohan wants Heller to stay on as her counsel, "Dabney would require her to sign a waiver stating that Heller was not competent in California law," adds L.A. Now.
Heller pleaded for Dabney to show "compassion" for his client, as she heads towards trial on misdemeanor charges associated with a traffic accident last summer. She's also on the hook for a possible probation violation.
Earlier this week, Heller also appealed to prosecutors to have them work as a team behind the scenes to "fix" Lohan, through some non-traditional means not afforded to the average defendant. In a letter, Heller indicated that if the court basically stalls the case, it would help Lohan become the "proud, productive and positive contributor in her life, to her family, society, and to her industry."
Dabney was not into the stalling idea. The show must go on.
There's also been talks of a plea bargain, though Lohan has said she doesn't want one. But so far no plea deal has been made. Dabney said plea talks can continue, and don't have to stop just because the trial gets underway. L.A. Now adds:
To avoid trial on [the misdemeanor] charges, as well as violating her probation on a separate shoplifting conviction, Lohan will have to agree to serve at least 90 days in a lockdown rehabilitation facility, according to a source familiar with case. The Los Angeles City Attorney has refused to allow Lohan to receive anything less, according to a source.
It's back to court March 18 for Lohan and Heller.Incidentally, the actress was not required to attend today's pre-trial hearing. She was rumored to have been partying in New York instead.
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