Legal News

'Girls Gone Wild' founder blames flu for court no-show

By Jonathan Hayter

A day after landing in federal custody for failing to appear at his court hearing, Joe Francis, founder of "Girls Gone Wild," was quickly released after he explained his tardiness to the court, according to a release sent out by his company, Mantra Films Inc.

The release says that Francis fell ill over the weekend with symptoms of the flu. Still extremely ill, Francis attempted to contact the pretrial officer to request a postponement of Monday's hearing. But the pretrial officer was out of the office; when Francis learned his message had not been received, he got out of bed and headed to the courthouse, whereupon he was taken into custody.

Meanwhile, the revolving door of potential attorneys for Francis continued on Tuesday, as Crowell & Moring's Janet I. Levine appeared at the rescheduled hearing, stating that her firm might represent the "Girls Gone Wild" guru in his tax evasion case.

Levine told U.S. District Judge S. James Otero of the Central District of California  that Francis had not yet retained Crowell & Moring. But she added, "This is something Mr. Francis intends to accomplish as soon as possible."

Otero did not appear convinced.

"The court is concerned that Mr. Francis has exhibited a pattern of behavior designed to delay his case," Otero said about the tax case, now entering its third year.

Otero agreed to release Francis but ordered him to be detained at his primary residence subject to electronic monitoring.

Full story at dailyjournal.com.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on February 04, 2009 (boomark / email).