Last week, Nelson Mullins partner Sarah E. Buffett boarded a plane in North Carolina that was bound for London, refused her meal, popped a prescription sleeping pill, and drank at least three glasses of wine, all on an empty stomach. The results were as bad as could have been expected, because this woman went from a Biglaw partner to a partner with issues.
Buffett allegedly had a full-on meltdown, as described by PhillyVoice:
Buffett, seated in first class, allegedly became physically aggressive and was damaging her seat, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday. She allegedly tried to smash the aircraft window with an entertainment system remote before getting out of her seat and acting in a menacing manner in front of the cockpit door.
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As we noted previously, flight attendants had to ask passengers for assistance when restraining Buffett, who managed to escape her plastic restraints twice before someone had to wrap her legs with tape to prevent her from moving. Buffett’s behavior was so bad that the pilot was forced to turn the plane around and land in Philadelphia. Buffett was criminally charged with violation of 49 U.S. Code § 46504, a crime punishable by a fine and/or possible imprisonment of up to 20 years.
It’s really too bad that Buffett doesn’t specialize in criminal law.
Sarah Buffett has since been reprimanded by Nelson Mullins and suspended from all duties, and her bio (available on the next page) has been wiped from the firm’s website. Now, she seems to be on an apology tour. Here’s a statement on the incident that we received from her lawyer, David B. Freedman of Crumpler Freedman Parker & Witt:
Ms. Buffett wishes to express her sincerest apologies to all the passengers, flight staff, and everyone else affected by her behavior. She experienced an unprecedented reaction to the prescription medication she was taking, under a physician’s care. She is undertaking all appropriate professional, medical, and personal measures to ensure such behavior can never happen again.
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Sarah Buffett is sorry for her plane party fouls. She promises she’ll never get caught again.
(Flip to the next page to see Sarah E. Buffett’s Nelson Mullins bio, which was removed from the internet last week, as well as a link to her criminal complaint.)