O.J. Simpson wants Miami-Dade to pay $6,000 in legal costs for road-rage case

By David Cázares, Miami Bureau, Posted January 8 2002

Sun-Sentinel Link

O.J. Simpson is back on the legal calendar this week.

But instead of defending the famous ex-football star and actor from another charge, Simpson's attorney will instead be coming with his hand out.

On Thursday, attorney Yale Galanter will ask Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy to order the county to reimburse Simpson for $6,206 in expenses related to his recent road rage trial.

Simpson, 54, was acquitted Oct. 24 on charges of assaulting a Kendall neighbor, Jeffrey Pattinson, in a traffic dispute. Jurors said there was insufficient evidence.

Because Simpson was left holding the bill for the expenses related to his defense -- including $3,250 for investigators and $900 for a bail bond -- Galanter is sending the bill to the county. Galanter's motion to compel the county to pay, which he said is standard operating procedure following an acquittal, takes advantage of a state law that allows defendants to recoup expenses.

"You're not entitled to legal fees but you are entitled to recover the costs of investigators and depositions -- the costs of litigation," Galanter said. "That's money a law firm spends on behalf of a client that the client is obligated to pay."

But some legal observers say allowing someone such as Simpson to get out of paying the bill is not right, particularly as he is not indigent and can afford a high-priced attorney.

"There are thousands of defendants out there who have not been reimbursed," former Miami-Dade County prosecutor Laura Spencer said. "It very rarely happens. I think this is a matter of vengeance for O.J. Simpson."

For Galanter, who contends the prosecution took a minor incident and blew it out of proportion because of his client's celebrity status, the request isn't about his famous client at all. The bottom line: It isn't Simpson but his law firm that is seeking the money.

"I didn't even discuss it with him," Galanter said. "This is something that lawyers routinely do. This is a legal thing. This isn't an O.J. Simpson thing."

David Cázares can be reached at dcazares@sun-sentinel.com or 305-810-5012.

Copyright © 2002, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

[then why is he even mentioned in the case?????]

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002