<p>The Tallahassee police initially labeled an accident involving a Florida State football player as a hit and run, a criminal act, but later decided to issue him two traffic tickets, an examination by The New York Times found.</p>
<p>And here’s [another</a> story](<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/12/us/florida-state-football-casts-shadow-over-tallahassee-justice.html]another”>http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/12/us/florida-state-football-casts-shadow-over-tallahassee-justice.html) about another Florida State player:</p>
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<p>I find this story implausible. You find it implausible. The owner of the scooter denies it. Yet Officer Just Fell Off the Turnip Truck accepts it.</p>
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<p>Now Florida State fans have blocked access from Twitter to the NY Times story about the Florida State player involved in the hit and run. They don’t deny the facts; they just want to go la-la-la-la-I-don’t-hear-you.</p>
<p>They don’t deny:</p>
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<li><p>That P.J. Williams was involved in a crash at 2:37 am that totalled two cars.</p></li>
<li><p>That he ran away the scene of the accident.</p></li>
<li><p>That he was never tested for alcohol.</p></li>
<li><p>That he was driving with a suspended license. </p></li>
<li><p>That he was never asked about his drinking or why he was driving with a suspended license.</p></li>
<li><p>That he was not charged with hit & run, though other drivers in less severe accidents who don’t have suspended licenses get charged with hit & run if they leave the scene of the accident.</p></li>
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<p>No, no, they don’t deny any of those things. But everyone else should be denied the opportunity to read the story, because football. This is disgusting.</p>
<p>The number “incidents” involving FSU football players that are shoved under the rug is disgusting. I don’t care who wins against them in a game this season, I just hope someone does. </p>
<p>This is the second Times story about FL State students and the Tallahassee police. Here’s the first:
<a href=“At Florida State, Football Clouds Justice - The New York Times”>http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/12/us/florida-state-football-casts-shadow-over-tallahassee-justice.html</a></p>
<p>FSU is also anti-possum.</p>
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<p>I just read about this over the weekend. Appalling, but not surprising in the least. FSU football program puts winning above anything else. Their QB Winston, has hired a top notch attorney to represent him in his sexual assault case, which is now almost 2 years old and has now filed for a delay. The whole things turns my stomach.</p>
<p><a href=“Jameis Winston's attorney requests delay in hearing”>http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2014/11/07/jameis-winstons-attorney-requests-delay-in-hearing/18651601/</a></p>
<p>Oh, and who is paying the attorney fees? Hmmm. FSU? Most likely. Or will Winston pay him back with his multi-million dollar salary when he enters the NFL draft next year? </p>
<p>What’s wrong with Winston having a good lawyer…would everyone feel better if Winston was run over right now and tossed in prison for 20 years without due process. This whole FSU Winston thing is complicated and it is not for the NY Times to decide. Winston will stall off the FSU hearing as long as possible before quiting school and making himself available for NFL draft…he won’t hang around for FSU hearing because what he says there could be used later in courts when the young woman with rape allegation comes after him, FSU, and Tallahassee PD for money. When that happens it will be every man for himself and Winston, FSU, and the Tallahassee PD won’t be kissing cousins anymore.</p>
<p>Nothing’s wrong with him having a good lawyer, but everything’s wrong with FSU paying for it, if they are.</p>
<p>Doubt very much FSU is paying legal fees for Jameis Winston for matters related to rape allegation. FSU could have referred Winston to an attorney which is perfectly legal. If the attorney helps him pro bono or at reduced fees that is legal too.</p>
<p><a href=“Attorney suing FSU's Chris Casher for unpaid legal fees - NBC Sports College Football”>http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/16/attorney-suing-fsus-chris-casher-for-unpaid-legal-fees/</a></p>
<p>I wonder if a lawyer could take the case pro bono or for a reduced fee? The sole reason to do so is based on potential future legal work based on being a football player which would seem to be an impermissible benefit according to the NCAA (I’m just spit-balling here).</p>
<p>“The sole reason to do so is based on potential future legal work based on being a football player”</p>
<p>The other reason is marketing for that lawyer. We’re reading his name in the paper today. That’s five figures worth of public relations, if not more.</p>
<p>Lawyers do pro bono work in communities regularily without expecting future business. Attorneys doing pro bono work for college student-athletes should also do pro bono work for regular students too…of course that is the grey area that is questioned here with Winston and other high profile college athletes…they often get special treatment.</p>
<p>“The other reason is marketing for that lawyer. We’re reading his name in the paper today. That’s five figures worth of public relations, if not more.”</p>
<p>I’m not sure it’s the right kind of marketing though. I think most people feel that he has been given special treatment.
Is that the kind of client most Lawyers want to represent?</p>
<p>At this point I think the only thing that won’t go his way is if FSU loses a game this year. </p>
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<p>There is some truth to the old adage that there is no such thing as bad publicity.</p>
<p>“Is that the kind of client most Lawyers want to represent?”</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter. He’s a criminal defense attorney. His potential clients want a lawyer who can get them out of trouble. They want special treatment too! Being associated with famous miscreants – as long as they get out of trouble – makes a defense lawyer look great.</p>
<p>The lawyer wouldn’t be able to take it pro bono as a ‘favor’ to the university. That would be a booster providing services and against NCAA rules. The article pointed out that the university cannot pay the legal fees.</p>
<p>I think if the player went through the regular channels, applied at legal aid (civil matter) or asked for a court appointed attorney (criminal) and an attorney was appointed who just happened to be an FSU alum, that would be okay. Arms length. In Tallahassee, it might be hard to find a lawyer who isn’t an FSU fan.</p>
<p>Many of the players are, themselves, indigent. For a court appointed attorney, they wouldn’t consider the family’s income like FAFSA would. These players have no income.</p>
<p>Their is no integrity in FSU Football and no accountability from those at the school that are outside of the program because the football program produces revenue for the University. </p>
<p>This is what Florida college football has been like for decades. Similar things went on at the University of Florida and University of Miami when they were in their prime. The combination of a Heisman trophy winner and the internet just makes it easier to learn about.</p>
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<p>The NY Times is not deciding any case. It is revealing apparent favorable treatment of FSU players by the Tallahassee police department.</p>