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Lawyer of the Day: I’m Not As Think As You Drunk I Am

DWI attorney Tyler Flood.JPGThe Houston Press has written an exposé on the kind of lawyer that makes drunk Texans proud. DWI specialist Tyler Flood is revealed in all his glory as the Press discusses why he is so skilled at helping drunk drivers in their time of need:

“Listen, most of the people we get off are intoxicated. But that’s the justice system,” [Tyler Flood] says. “I’ve always thought people would be very concerned if they knew what we were doing.”

Really? You think people would be concerned by your practice of setting drunk drivers free to careen down the streets of your city? Who would have a problem with that?

More from Flood after the jump.

Flood probably wouldn’t be so successful if Houston area prosecutors didn’t suck:

Attorneys like Flood make their good living on shredding the baby prosecutors who in Houston use DWI trials to cut their teeth. “It’s not hard to win sometimes. You can kind of prey on them a little bit,” Flood says.

Your tax dollars, hard at work.

Everybody is of course entitled to a competent defense. And another prominent DWI defense attorney, Doug Murphy, suggests Texas lawmen are targeting wealthy drunkards:

Murphy claims cops target people driving nice cars or from nice bars for DWI arrests, hoping they’ll pay to fight in court, which brings extra overtime. He keeps handy a 2006 Houston Chronicle article that found one DWI officer making more than $100,000 of overtime in a single year. DWI lawyers say they now get a huge chunk of business from Washington Avenue. (They should get another boost from the 1,200 convictions that will be revisited now that a Texas Department of Public Safety employee was caught faking breathalyzer inspection records.)

That’s a good argument. But aren’t we fundamentally talking about drunk people driving cars and potentially injuring or killing people? Attorneys like Flood aren’t exactly dealing with a sympathetic clientele.

But hey, lawyers gotta eat too.

Getting Off [Houston Press]

Comments

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1 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:45 PM

first?

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2 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:46 PM

haha, I was just reading the article, I've never actually tried to be first.

-first?

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3 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:48 PM

Is everyone at lunch?

-first?

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4 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:48 PM

2: fail.
1: this was one of the few times that "firsty" would have been appropriate.

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5 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:48 PM

Elie- do you propose only the innocent get representation?

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6 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:49 PM

LateralLink must love this being posted right above their "It's Always Sunny in Texas" ad. Nice!

7 Posted by 1999 Christina Aguilera | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:50 PM

"Hormones racing at the speed of light
But that don't mean it's gonna be tonight."

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8 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:50 PM

And if you got a DUI, you'd be singing a different tune, I'm sure. This guy shouldn't be a target, he's just doing his job.

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9 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:51 PM

Elie - if it were alleged that police were targeting a minority group (rather than wealthy) for selective enforcement would you be so blase?

You, sir, are a transparently hypocritical walrus.

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10 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:53 PM

Crim defense lawyers (I am not one) serve a very important role, even those that manage to get clearly guilty people off--they (hopefully) keep the government honest and make it work its tail off before it can deprive you of your liberty (or life).

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11 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:55 PM

Elie,

Taken to its logical conclusion, you are against the adversarial legal system and feel that if one is charged one is guilty. How very fascist of you. Do you support shutting down the Public Defenders office too?

12 Posted by Res Ipsa | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:56 PM

Substitute "Flood" with "FTT corporate criminal enterprise enablers," "drunk people/drivers" with "CEOs, "and "baby prosecutors" with "the SEC," and you've got an even more true story.

Funny how Elie's willing to cut down Flood, but not the FTT corporate enablers that kill far more economic lives than drunk drivers each year.

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13 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:56 PM

Who cares about the moral slant? People will pay the guy to do what he does.

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14 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:57 PM

most people find black criminal suspects to be an unsympathetic clientele, which is why it's ok for them to go straight to jail without trial or counsel.

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15 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:58 PM

Shafeef and I recently tag-teamed Kash. We took turns eating out her ass. We both detected a crusty brown sediment during our feast. I think it was a combination of mold and ear wax. Shafeef believes it was dried shit.

16 Posted by Elie Mystal | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:58 PM

5 and 11: what part of "Everybody is of course entitled to a competent defense," do you not understand?
-- Elie

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17 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:59 PM

He went to the same law school as me. Go, TTT <3<3<3 !!!

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18 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 12:59 PM

Well said 10!

- not 10 and not a crim defense attny

19 Posted by Douchie | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:00 PM

15 - did you felch with Kash?

16- Elie - I must say for the first time - you eviscerated 5/11. FTW, nicely played...nicely played...

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20 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:02 PM

16,

That’s a good argument. But aren’t we fundamentally talking about black suspects walking around and potentially raping or killing people? We aren’t exactly dealing with a sympathetic clientele.

21 Posted by Douchie | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:02 PM

Elie - congrats on your recent speech!!!

http://www.junglewalk.com/popup.asp?type=a&AnimalAudioID=6056

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22 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:02 PM

16: "Aren't we fundamentally talking about drunk people driving cars..............."

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23 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:03 PM

It's a fine line between a .06 and a .08. I wonder how Mr. Holier Than Thou would like it if he were stopped after having a glass of wine with dinner, and accused by a crooked cop of being much more intoxicated than he really was.

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24 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:04 PM

Is he really rocking a fauxhawk or is his hair just piled up in the center?

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25 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:05 PM

Why do black people always give white people dirty looks on the subway?

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26 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:07 PM

Is that a fauxhawk or a Moehawk?

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27 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:07 PM

Elie,

You followed that up with:

"But aren’t we fundamentally talking about drunk people driving cars and potentially injuring or killing people?"

I took that to mean that the people charged shouldn't have a chance at defense because they were endangering the public. Please feel free to clarify.

-11

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28 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:07 PM

His paralegal (see article) is not bad. Decent rack. Kind of like a plump(er) Kash.

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29 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:08 PM

Elie--what's the point of this blog? A lawyer acknowledges that most people acquitted of drunk driver were, in fact, drunk driving. Is that really a surprise? Then why try to make a big deal out of it with all the sanctimonious language?

You can't try to stir up a false controversy and then point to a single sentence as an excuse.

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30 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:08 PM

I wonder if it is legal or ethical to "economically" profile someone? It wouldn't exactly be the same as a pretextual stop based on race.

31 Posted by evrenseven | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:08 PM

16: That's like when Glenn Beck takes back everything he says with a quick half sentence after making an absurd claims.

Although, it's hard to imagine how a prosecutor can screw up a DUI case... either you were above the legal limit while the car was in your control or you weren't. I guess it has to do with how testing is done? It's the only avenue I could imagine.

A friend of my family was sentenced to 8 years in prison for a simple DUI... .1 where the legal limit is .08. There were rumors that the judge recently had a family member die in a DUI accident. Federal habeas appeals went nowhere. It was awful. Dude has his entire life derailed because of a judge on a mission. Granted he was guilty, even pleaded guilty. But lawyers like this, as scummy as the rest of us decide they may be, are still important.

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32 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:09 PM

Elie, take off your MADD hat you douchebag shill.

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33 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:09 PM

Elie - You're ridiculous. Why is representing drunk drivers reprehensible while representing rapist, drug dealers and other criminals who can't afford it noble? It's the justice system, either everyone has a right to counsel or only the innocent have a right.

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34 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:09 PM

If it wasn't clear before, it is now: Elie has no understanding at all of the profession he so breathlessly covers.

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35 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:12 PM

Mystal--Neither you nor your racist dad ever had a few drinks and then drove home? Be honest, race bater.

36 Posted by Douchie | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:13 PM

Elie's response:

http://www.junglewalk.com/popup.asp?type=a&AnimalAudioID=6056

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37 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:13 PM

They could stop DWI in an instant if they wanted to by requiring alcohol testers in cars. Why don't they? Easy - because it is EXTREMELY PROFITABLE for the state to issue hundreds of thousands of fines, each in the thousands of dollars, every year. It's about the politicians and bureaucrats wanting more revenue, plain and simple.

This is no different than the way the state deals with smoking if you think about it for a second - they have to talk it down in order to justify the ever-rising so called sin taxes, but if everyone stopped smoking tomorrow, the loss of revenue would just result in them finding something new to vilify and tax.

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38 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:14 PM

Mystal, suck my ass, you obese race bating baby eating WALRUS!

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39 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:15 PM

"Your tax dollars hard at work." --> stupid comment

"Hey, lawyers gotta eat to" --> stupid comment

"If the prosecutors didn't suck" -->see above

Next time, just post a link to vaguely interesting stories like the above rather than giving us your "perspective."

THIS IS NOT JOURNALISM PEOPLE!!!!

*****David Lat - if you read this article, ask yourself if you want your name to be associated with this crap. Elie really should be paid for the hour he spent on this "story."

Thanks

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40 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:16 PM

Does Attorney Flood have PacMan or Defender in his office? Hard to tell from the photo.

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41 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:16 PM

"Your tax dollars hard at work." --> stupid comment

"Hey, lawyers gotta eat to" --> stupid comment

"If the prosecutors didn't suck" -->see above

Next time, just post a link to vaguely interesting stories like the above rather than giving us your "perspective."

THIS IS NOT JOURNALISM PEOPLE!!!!

*****David Lat - if you read this article, ask yourself if you want your name to be associated with this crap. Elie really should be paid for the hour he spent on this "story."

Thanks

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42 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:16 PM

"Your tax dollars hard at work." --> stupid comment

"Hey, lawyers gotta eat to" --> stupid comment

"If the prosecutors didn't suck" -->see above

Next time, just post a link to vaguely interesting stories like the above rather than giving us your "perspective."

THIS IS NOT JOURNALISM PEOPLE!!!!

*David Lat - if you read this article, ask yourself if you want your name to be associated with this crap.

Thanks

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43 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:17 PM

"Your tax dollars hard at work." --> stupid comment

"Hey, lawyers gotta eat to" --> stupid comment

"If the prosecutors didn't suck" -->see above

Next time, just post a link to vaguely interesting stories like the above rather than giving us your "perspective."

THIS IS NOT JOURNALISM PEOPLE!!!!

*David Lat - if you read this article, ask yourself if you want your name to be associated with this crap.

Thanks

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44 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:17 PM

37 - um, maybe its because we don't live in a nanny state that treats all adults, no matter how responsible, as if they were three year olds. Well, Californians might. But the rest of us still live in a free society - and we're gd proud of it too.

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45 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:20 PM

Elie (16) - 11 here:

Maybe you have reading comprehension issues - I raised a cry against your blase attitude. I fail to see how your attempt at a rebuttal ("Everybody is of course entitled to a competent defense,") suceeds in defeating my argument.

I reiterate - you are a hypocrit.

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46 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:20 PM

Elie (16) - 11 here:

Maybe you have reading comprehension issues - I raised a cry against your blase attitude. I fail to see how your attempt at a rebuttal ("Everybody is of course entitled to a competent defense,") suceeds in defeating my argument.

I reiterate - you are a hypocrite.

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47 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:20 PM

"But aren’t we fundamentally talking about drunk people driving cars and potentially injuring or killing people? Attorneys like Flood aren’t exactly dealing with a sympathetic clientele."

Good to know that Elie is against allowing DD defendants their day in court, but I'm sure he is all in favor of those murder defendants having top-flight representation and wails against the system being unfair to capital defendants. Better 100 poor murderers go free than 1 rich drunk driver?

48 Posted by Partner Emeritus | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:23 PM

A personal message to T. Flood.

Although you are not a peer, I congratulate you on your "success." You obviously have a sense of fashion (nice suit by the way); however, I believe you may be color blind as you do not know how to match ties with suits (stripped tie + stripped suit=style faux paus). Also, I would suggest a different haircut. Lastly, you are trying too hard to project a successful image. In Texas, wearing a Baume & Mercier watch and toting a Mont Blanc pen may impress your simple minded friends and family. However, next to my Patek Philippe and Visconti pen, your possessions are mere accoutrements of a pauper trying to appear to a member of high society. That is all.

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49 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:23 PM

30,

I don't know about unethical with respect to the targeted individual, but I think it is unethical for a police officer to essentially cherry pick his targets for the purposes of bilking the system for overtime spent sitting around in court. Yes those rich drunk drivers are dangerous, but what about all the less affluent neighborhoods who aren't being patrolled as often because the cops are looking to bust a fat cat.

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50 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:24 PM

I'm not a big fan of Elie, but I think the point he was making here, is that the lawyer plainly stated that most of their clients were actually drunk. Drunk drivers kill people all the time. Seriously dangerous. And if *lost* someone to a DD you would feel differently. There shouldn't be tricky ways to get out of punishment for someone who legitimately drove drunk and killed or paralyzed someone. The friend mentioned above in post 31 with 8 years in jail deserves it if he killed someone. if not, then I agree that was overly severe and unjust. I agree with poster 10 to, but the general point Elie made is worth mentioning.

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51 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:24 PM

Obviously only black people have a right to defense counsel. Most drunk drivers are white because black people can't afford cars. Therefore, people accused of drunk driving should not be allowed to retain counsel.

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52 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:26 PM

I would suck a date out of a dead camels ass if it gave me the chance to make sexy sexy with Kash and her magical beaver.

ShaFeef

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53 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:26 PM

drunk driving is a victimless "crime"

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54 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:27 PM

uh, he name is Elie. And he can't practice. and he's doughy. and bitchy. you think he is smart?

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55 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:27 PM

Regarding drunk driving. Breathalyzers are blatant 5th Amendment violations. Ever wonder why cops who are pinched dor DUI always refuse to take them, even in NY where refusal=admission of guilt (another unconstitutional statute). .08 should not be agst the law. Bad driving period shd be against the law, whether done DUI or not.

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56 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:27 PM

uh, his name is Elie. And he can't practice. and he's doughy. and bitchy. you think he is smart?

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57 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:28 PM

uh, his name is Elie. And he can't practice. and he's doughy. and bitchy. you think he is smart?

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58 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:30 PM

But the real question is this: Of the people reading this in Houston, how many of you just put his name and number in your cell phone?

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59 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:34 PM

43-44,

Who the F told you this was supposed to be journalism? This is a blog idiot. If you want journalism, there are several places you can go ...

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60 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:34 PM

Ship all muslims back to africa.

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61 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:35 PM

Um Tyler Flood is HOT

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62 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:35 PM

No...YOU'RE out of control, occifer.

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63 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:36 PM

Oh and it's 42-43, sorry 44!

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64 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:37 PM

I tooootally agree with Elie. It is definitely a more noble pursuit to force top-flight prosecutors to fully prove a case using reliable evidence when you're defending murderers like OJ Simpson. You HAVE to draw the line, though, when it comes to vigorously defending accused drunken drivers who were arrested based on unreliable evidence and subjective determinations by a self-interested police officer. And preying on poor young prosecutors! The nerve!

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65 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:38 PM

Hahaha... from his bio:

"There are two types of lawyers, Lions and Lambs. Lions fight and Lambs get SLAUGHTERED."

http://www.whiteflood.com/trial_attorneys/trial_attorney_flood.html

Ridiculous. I agree the dude is hot.

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66 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:38 PM

Elie,

You said, "Really? You think people would be concerned by your practice of setting drunk drivers free to careen down the streets of your city? Who would have a problem with that? " and followed it up with "Everybody is of course entitled to a competent defense."

Reconcile the statements.

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67 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:39 PM


Is DUI the only crime (other than traffic speeding) where guilt or innocence is based on a mechanical measurement (BAC)? Without measuring BAC, it is impossible to determine whether a person is at .06 or .12.

Most people who drink socially and drive a car have probably driven with a BAC of 0.08+ on multiple occasions, but did not feel or appear drunk.

Considering the increasingly devastating stigma of DUI, everyone with a reputation to protect should keep and use a portable BAC breathalyzer in their glove box.

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70 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:42 PM

I am fascinated by this guy.

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71 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:45 PM

50,

In addition to drunk drivers, know who else kill people every day? murderers. should they also not get lawyers?

72 Posted by Douchie | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:46 PM

Obama says "don't jump to conclusions about Ft. Hood shooting"!

I think the Hasan yelled Alahu Ahkbar as he was slaughtering people, not L'chaim!!!!

Islam - TTT religion.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091106/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_fort_hood

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73 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:46 PM

50,

In addition to drunk drivers, know who else kill people every day? -muslims. should they also not get raped?

74 Posted by Douchie | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:46 PM

71 - no; they should get Elie.

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75 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:49 PM

Today is officially punch a Muslim day.

Dick Cheney

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76 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:50 PM

Pointless post . . . great advertising for Tyler Flood, though!

77 Posted by Douchie | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:51 PM

KASH BEAVER-SHOT:

http://redtube.com/12255

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78 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:53 PM

9- When was the last time you heard the wealthy who are concerned about being selectively targeted complain about racial profiling?

Ironically call people hypocrites much?

Everyone is so self righteous. FTW.

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79 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:54 PM

Okay, time to ban Douchie - posting porn links. Seriously, tool, get a life.

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80 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:54 PM

PE (40),

This isn't 1952, you know nothing of modern style. Everyone knows that a two stripe combination is perfectly acceptable so long as the stripes are different sizes. Additionally, no one outside of European royalty would recognize your Patek Philippe, so your efforts to set yourself apart from the common man would go completely unnoticed. That is all.

-Clinton Kelly

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81 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:54 PM

Go fuck yourself with this ridiculous post. Its the job of defense attorneys to do their best for their clients, whether the are guilty are not. What would you rather they act as one-man juries and lay down when they think their client is guilty? How old are you? Are you really this fucking naive? Fucking loser.

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82 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:55 PM

"aren’t we fundamentally talking about drunk people driving cars and potentially injuring or killing people"
The key word being "potentially." It should be a crime to "potentially" cause harm.

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83 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:56 PM

The article is really embarrassing to ATL. Why single out DWI defenses? There are so many heinous charges - child molestation, rape -- for which legal defenses make you go "hmmn." How childish to whine about returning drunk drivers to the road and not even mention the same quandary for defending *all* icky crimes. Ever heard of public defenders? I can't believe Lat lets this stuff through.

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84 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 1:56 PM

65 - thanks for posting that. He named his kid March? March Flood?

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85 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 2:03 PM

I would hit that very very hard

http://www.whiteflood.com/images/texas_injury_attorney_flood.jpg

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86 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 2:08 PM

61, 65, 85: Slow Friday, Lat?

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87 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 2:11 PM

This comment is directed to number 48, Partner Emeritus:

You may pretend to own a Patek, but your inability to spell "striped" - indeed, twice in the same sentence - demonstrates you to be an idiot, no matter how hard you may try to acquire the veneer of a "peer" attorney. That is all.

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88 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 2:16 PM

Picture of the dude next to his urinal ad:

http://www.houstonpress.com/photoGallery/index/?section=news&gallery=1520379&position=5&page=1

The article is hilarious:

"His monthly tab at CVS is through the roof for all the hair products he purchases"

"His wife has one drawer in the closet, and he has Drawer-sssssssss"

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89 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 2:17 PM

Hahaha --- 88, Elie should have included those gems

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90 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 2:18 PM

The same is true of the plaintiff bar. They make tons of $$$ because BigLaw has no real trial lawyers left. Just overpaid pretend lawyers called "litigators".

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91 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 2:33 PM

Don't feed the trolls, Elie.

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92 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 2:35 PM

Douchebag 78 - try to make sense. It makes it so much more meaningful for the reader.

Toodles,

9

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93 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 2:39 PM

Carrie Prejean in "God helps those, who help themselves"

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94 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 2:45 PM

Oh give me a break. DUI arrests have gotten completely out of control due to MADDs crazy overbearing campaign. If you have 2 glasses of wine at a nice dinner and drive home, which all of us always do - and which is not a bad thing b/c we are able to drive and not too drunk, you can get a DUI. That's ridiculous. These people are drunk and potentially killing people? Give me a break. Total overreaction. Elie, you have fallen prey to the marketing campain of overcriminalizing our behaviors!

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95 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 2:55 PM

94- Amen!

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96 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 2:57 PM

I wonder if Flood's prestigious firm can get this lady off:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/11/03/2009-11-03_wisconsin_woman_mary_strey_calls_911_to_report_herself_as_drunk_driver.html

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97 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 3:06 PM

PE, will knowing how to spell "striped" help me get a job at a peer law firm? Please advise.

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98 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 3:14 PM

Carrie Prejean in "Watch me make my hand disappear"

99 Posted by Affirmative Walrus | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 3:21 PM

Can't we just agree that drug peddlers, rapists, and murderers deserve vigilant legal representation, and drunk drivers do not?

Or do I have to spell it out in black and white?

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100 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 3:38 PM

There was a brilliant, but habitually drunk attorney I had the pleasure of knowing (now dead), Vincent Lyons, who was so intoxicated during a DUI trial that when summoned into chambers by the court, Vince missed the door and walked into the all in front of the jury--who of course acquitted his client.

Regarding Ellie's ethical dilemma, in this day and age of pro prosecution juries and scientific testing, if the police and prosecutors are so incompetent that the occasional guilty drunk driver slips through the bear trap--so be it.

Regarding Ms. Prejean, there is a far more pleasing photograph posted here:

http://blogonaut-blogonaut.blogspot.com/2009/11/pageant-lawyer-uses-sex-tape-to-force.html


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101 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 3:43 PM

This would never happen in Texas.

Oh wait . . . .

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102 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 4:02 PM

Guys in my high school used to drink and drive all the time. It was no big deal.

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103 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 4:20 PM

I AM WALRUS WATCH ME EAT !!!

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104 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 4:25 PM

Could he be any cuter?!?!

105 Posted by afterthebeef | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 4:34 PM

I am surprised that nobody has commented about the part of the article where Flood admits he wrote a review of himself on Yahoo!

I found it really cringe-inducing that Flood openly admits to manipulating people when it comes to things like toning down his flashiness for the jury, preying on the "baby" prosecutors, and other things. You can tell the other DUI attorneys in the article are a lot smarter about the things they tell the reporter because they attack the flaws of Flood and the police but they don't reveal too much about their legal strategies in court. I guess Flood is the type of attorney who thinks any publicity is good publicity. However, it's not really good for your business to reveal your whole set of playing cards to the whole Houston metropolitan area.

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106 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 4:43 PM

From the article, this guy sounded like the biggest D-bag . C'mon, reading the jurors to decide whether you should sport a Montblanc or a Bic? What a sleazebag. "I'm fighting for your constitutional rights. . ." what sanctimonious bullshit.

Read the article - this guy is every negative stereotype of lawyers - and remember that when you tell people you are a lawyer, this is the image that pops into their head.

This guy represents people who ADMIT THAT THEY WERE DRUNK. The biggest profile of one of his clients was someone who blazed through a light and T-boned a police car, with bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. And he was acquitted. And this self-entitled motherfucker bitched to the reporter about how his life was turned upside down because he had to breathe into a breathalyzer to START HIS CAR for nine months and was forced to *gasp* drive to work instead of biking a few times a week.

Granted, it's Houston Press, whose articles are written by people with about a 15 year old's maturity level.

My wife and I drive the streets of Houston, and our kids probably will someday too and it's scary how much drunk driving goes on here.

I'm not saying drunk drivers don't deserve a defense. And the article hints at (but does not attempt to verify or explore) flaws in the justice system re: DWIs (e.g. that cops target wealthy drivers who are likely to go to trial so they get overtime for testifying, that breathalyzers are "junk science"). But I see the little white flowered crosses on the side of the road all along the highways in this state and they weigh more heavily on my mind than cops profiling BMWs and Infinitis on Washington Avenue.

107 Posted by afterthebeef | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 4:43 PM

I also found his Twitter account that seems to be abandoned.

http://twitter.com/DWIGOD

Such an interesting username.

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108 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 5:09 PM

But according to Trichter, the brunt of the state's abuse of power soon shifted to DWI, for which he estimates more innocent people are arrested than any other crime combined. Trichter paints breathalyzers as junk science, field sobriety tests as outrageous affairs cooked up to incriminate, and forced blood tests, which take place during no-refusal weekends and have recently been permitted in any stop involving a child passenger or an injury, as a menacing specter for a modern democracy.

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109 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 5:28 PM

I had a friend arrested for DUI because he was entering an address into the GPS in his Porsche on the freeway and swerved. He had zero alcohol in his blood stream, only very low levels of common prescription antidepressants, and was plainly not intoxicated at the time. (Either that or, if a low level of Prozac is intoxicating, half the housewives in Orange County are DUI every day...)

The officer completely and utterly fabricated several parts of the report he wrote in trying assert that my friend was intoxicated before the blood work came back.

The DA chose to go to trial anyway, apparently either utterly incompetent or wanting trial practice no matter what, because the state's own expert would not testify on cross that he thought the levels of drugs in the defendant's bloodstream would render him intoxicated.

My friend was acquitted, but not before spending over $20,000 on a trial. The cop took the pay to go to court, perjured himself on the stand, then retired the following month.

The system of DUI enforcement is very, very broken.

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110 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 5:48 PM

Dear 109:

From what you describe, the system of DUI enforcement works very well.

The innocent are cut loose.

Their lawyers are well paid , if not well paid, for their time + have the bragging rights.

Lying cops lose.

The baby DDA in your friend’s case took more shit in the 72-160 hours following his ignominious loss than you could ever imagine.

Your friend saved at least what he spent in attorneys fees and costs in the increase in insurance premiums and fines he would otherwise have paid.

Its pretty much win, win from what I gather.....

BTW, to the poster willing to suck a date out of a dead camel’s ass in exchange for a date with Kash, I doubt she would appreciate you desperation or allow you to kiss her with that mouth afterward.

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111 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 6:46 PM

Oh, great article Elie! A lawyer getting drunk clients off the hook for DWI. What a scumbag, huh? Nothing like those Big SHIT LAW minions pushing shit paper, helping take down a world economy while lining their pockets.

I can definitely see how this guy would upset you. I mean for the love of GOD... a lawyer actually defending his client. What a fucking douchebag!

Tick-tock till the next Craveth story leaks in!! Happy masturbating!!

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112 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 7:29 PM

Are you f---ing joking 110, or just a moron?

You spend $20,000+ defending yourself (plus take substantial time off from work unpaid) from a false charge of which you are obviously, abjectly innocent, based on perjured testimony for which the cop pays no price, for a system which knowingly falsely charges people for profit, and you call this "win win" and the system working? How would you feel if you had to empty your savings defending a charge of which you were totally and clearly innocent? The guy should never have been arrested, and even if he was, once the blood work came back, the charges should have been immediately dropped. The fact that they weren't dropped was bad faith on the part of the DA, who didn't have a snowball's chance on trial and was knowingly trying to extract a plea from an innocent defendant.

I take it you're a prosecutor based on your attitude, your statement about the guff you're sure the DDA got, and the fact that you refer to him as a DDA (much more precise than most posters here, who have no exposure to prosecutors).

Let's hope a member of your family is subsequently arrested and then tried all the way to the end for something it's obvious they're not guilty of and you spend the bulk of your savings defending them, and then you can call it "win-win." You are disgusting and prosecutors like you who knowingly victimize innocent people are a blight upon the bar and this country.

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113 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 7:52 PM

Lawyers are whores, so what's the big deal. Getting drunks back on the road is nothing compared to getting child molestors back on the street to make nice with small children. How about organized crime, terrorists, black people, you name it, and scumbag attorney-whores will represent them for whatever price the market will bear. Yes, we're all whores, even though some of us might represent nice white folks in suits.

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114 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 10:21 PM

First off...I personally know Tyler Flood and he is an excellent defense attorney. Everyone seems to forget this is a Houston Press article. He was followed around for months and only a tiny portion of his everyday life was captured in the article. Tyler does not brag about putting drunk drivers back on the street. His only concern is to make sure that his client's rights are protected. I think it's easy to judge when you read an article. I also think that it is interesting that no one is interested in the positive aspects of the article. Like the fact that one of his peers quoted, "he tries cases and he wins." How about the end when he is arguing with HPD to allow him into the blood draw area on a Saturday night to watch the procedure on a no refusal weekend. Any other defense attorneys fighting to get into the PD on a Saturday night in order to make sure that the PD is following procedures??? Nope. There are a lot of people talking bad about a person that they don't even know. It shouldn't matter how much he spends at CVS or where he advertises. I think some of his competition is jealous. He "did come out of nowhere." The man is a marketing genius. People can talk all the shit they want...his face is everywhere...his name is everywhere...he has a great reputation as a trial attorney. He is respected by judges and court staff. Anyone who has been around the press knows that comments and quotes get chopped up and mis-used. I have never heard Tyler bad mouth any other attorney. Another misquote..."I can't help it" refers to not being about to help texting clients to follow up...not that he can't help bad mouthing other attorneys. Tyler never bad mouthed anyone in front of the reporter that was a comment from another attorney that is competing with T for business. Of course, some of the other DWI attorneys around town are jealous. The man knows how to market and earn business. He is a good salesman with a great service for sale. If he knew the man...you would like him. It's easy to cast judgment on others...we need to look at ourselves and make sure our words arent turning us into hypocrites.

Keep your head up T!!! You are a great lawyer who deserves a lot of respect. People just don't know how to handle an attorney that advertises, has a high volume of clients but still fights each and every case until the end. I walk next to you with my head held high any day!!!

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115 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, November 6, 2009 10:53 PM

Yep 84 - March Flood, and my four year old's name is Senator! And by the way - its a Golden Tee in my office, no pac-man or defender! These are all very interesting comments. Duly noted. No offense intended by this article!

T. Flood

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116 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, November 7, 2009 10:20 AM

#114 - Hey, Tyler!


Seriously, the story was entertaining, but I hope all those drunk drivers quoted will stay off the roads whenever they tie one on (this means you, Sergei).

The Texas lawyer with the slogan, "Representing those who mess with Texas" beat Tyler Flood in the catchphrase contest.

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117 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, November 7, 2009 10:22 AM

Wow, this guy managed to throw all prosecutors, a judge, all court staff, and all other defense attorneys under the bus in one fluff article. Well done, counsel. See how that works for you.

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118 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, November 7, 2009 11:26 AM

114 = Tyler Flood

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119 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, November 7, 2009 11:54 AM

118 = try again...not Tyler Flood

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121 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, November 7, 2009 1:11 PM

119 (or Mr. Flood, whichever you prefer),

You admittedly review yourself on Yahoo. Knowing that, I am right to assume that you are the author of every anonymous post about you on the internet.

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122 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, November 7, 2009 9:41 PM

121 or whatever you prefer...you're wrong...there are people who know Tyler...me being one of them...the review was a complete joke...you might want to check it out...Tyler used his name to review himself...it's not an anonymous post but I don't expect simple minded people to understand.

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123 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, November 7, 2009 9:42 PM

121 or whatever you prefer...you're wrong...there are people who know Tyler...me being one of them...the review was a complete joke...you might want to check it out...Tyler used his name to review himself...it's not an anonymous post but I don't expect simple minded people to understand.

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124 Posted by guest | Permalink Sunday, November 8, 2009 9:30 AM

As most criminal defense attorneys will tell you, the worst criminal client to represent is an innocent one.

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