Posted on 11/29/2009 3:38:50 PM PST by kcvl
When he informed the Florida Highway Patrol that he was canceling a scheduled interview for a third time Sunday, golfer Tiger Woods did so through Orlando attorney Mark NeJame, who told authorities he is now representing Woods. Officers want to question Woods about the incident in which the SUV he was driving hit a fire hydrant and a tree outside his home at 2:25 a.m. Friday, leaving him bleeding and temporarily unconscious.
NeJame is a veteran attorney who, according to a biography on his firm's website, has "primarily devoted his entire career to the practice of criminal defense" and has "handled numerous high profile cases involving lawyers, judges, professionals, celebrities, athletes, politicians, law enforcement officials and renowned business people." His biography also notes that he has been the subject of many media profiles, with headlines that include "Orlando's Own Johnnie Cochran," "Defender is a Contender," and "Voice for the Voiceless."
Among other clients, NeJame has represented basketball star Shaquille O'Neal, as well as a reality show director, a Middle Eastern millionaire, a Florida state senator accused of DUI, and many others. He played a brief role representing the grandparents of young Caylee Anthony in the sensational murder case. He's also prominent in Orlando civic activities and raised money for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential race.
As for being "Orlando's own Johnnie Cochran," an Orlando Sentinel write-up of Nejame's 2003 wedding -- an article posted on NeJame's firm's website -- referred to him as "the defense attorney known as the Johnnie Cochran of Orlando." The firm's website also includes an article from Orlando Spotlite Magazine, in which NeJame was asked, "You've been referred to in the media as being the 'Johnnie Cochran' of Orlando, being Orlando's premier attorney. How do you feel about that?" NeJame was happy to be compared to the man who most famously got O.J. Simpson off on double-murder charges. "I'm honored and humbled when someone thinks enough of my representation to compliment me," NeJame answered. "I really just do the best I can." [Note: In a number of places on NeJame's website, Cochran's first name is misspelled as "Johnny." It is corrected here.]
NeJame was also asked about his reputation as a "media attorney," that is, one who represents his clients in the media as well as in court. "A skillful attorney will know how and when to utilize the media," NeJame said. "It should be one of many cards that an attorney knows how to play."
Woods has issued a statement taking responsibility for the events of early Friday morning but not spelling out just what those events were. Given some of the factors discussed earlier, it seems unlikely that his car crash will lead to any criminal charges against anyone. But it's already playing in the court of the media -- and Woods now has a media lawyer to get him through it.
If the club don’t hit.....
Isn’t this like hunting squirrels with a cannon?
What else is going on here?

Mark NeJame
He is morphing into Kobe/OJ. Just tell the truth and get the real story out there.
LOL! Brilliant!
Looks that way...may be his divorce lawyer, though.
Ominous Parallels.
Drunk, beating his wife, saying obama is a nut job on tape...???
Yep! He’s a short little guy!
Talking to the Police by Professor James Duane
Professor James Duanes now famous 5th Amendment lecture - popularly known as Dont talk to the police! - has amassed a considerable internet following. The lecture, given as part of Regent Law Schools spring preview weekend.
Tiger Woods takes blame, praises wife, hires Mark NeJame — will golfer be easier to control than George and Cindy Anthony?
Will Tiger Woods be an easier-to-handle client than George and Cindy Anthony?
Mark NeJame is about to find out. The world’s No. 1 golfer has hired the high-profile Orlando defense attorney. NeJame will help guide Woods and his wife, Elin Nordegren Woods, through a public-relations thicket after the golfer injured himself in car accident outside his home early Friday. The incident has prompted worldwide speculation because of Woods’ stature and the Woods’ silence up to now on the crash.
I just heard the 9-11 call, saw the car and heard his COMPLETE statement. If he and his wife are fighting...so be it. I’m glad no one was seriously hurt. That’s a nice looking family.
What else is going on here?
Just the exercising of one's Constitutional right to never talk to the police... LOL...
As you all know, I had a single-car accident earlier this week, and sustained some injuries. I have some cuts, bruising and right now I'm pretty sore.
This situation is my fault, and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again.
This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way. Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible.
The only person responsible for the accident is me. My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false.
This incident has been stressful and very difficult for Elin, our family and me. I appreciate all the concern and well wishes that we have received. But, I would also ask for some understanding that my family and I deserve some privacy no matter how intrusive some people can be.
I wonder if his wife wasn’t pissed off because she heard
the other broad was pregnant too? This just doesn’t make sense.
Do golf gloves shrink if they get wet and then dry?
He is morphing into Kobe/OJ. Just tell the truth and get the real story out there.
If there is no need to ever talk to the police (and one shouldn't under any circumstances) -- I don't know why he should talk to you or me... LOL...
I don’t have any problem with Woods hiring an attorney. He’s known for not screwing around with the rumor mill and somebody is gonna get sued before this is over.
Tiger is a coward.
He’s digging in.
Sayonara Noob.

JACKIE: That's totally inappropriate. It's lewd, lascivious, salacious, outrageous!
DAmmit! you beat me to it!
what did he do?
“Who told you to put the balm on? I didn’t tell you to put the balm on. Why’d you put the balm on?”
Bet he has a few bruses and maybe a big ol’ lump (bimp) on his head from that club!
You know the place is likely covered with surveillance cams.
How long before TMZ has those files?
When i watch Golf, which is not too often I usally follow the ABT rule, Anybody But Tiger.
Never liked the guy.
Not his fault, It’s just me.
If he is a Player he should of never married one of the most amazing creations of god then throw it in our faces.
Has anybody ever seen the boat he bought for her?
Really??? Whom has Tiger raped or murdered? He hit a fire hydrant for pete's sake. Are fire hydrants getting special victim's status these days?
He admitted that he was at fault and he is exercising his right not to talk to the police about a traffic accident that didn't injure anyone but Tiger.
Do you feel the truth isn't being told because it doesn't fit the salacious things going on in your mind? Do you feel that you are somehow entitled to know something more than you do now? If so, why?
Jeez, The National Enquirer and TMZ are getting to be trusted and reliable sources for discussion around FR. Between that, and the folks that are calling for Tiger's head on a pike because he trashed a tree and a really expensive vehicle, it makes one wonder where those Constitution and Bill of Rights loving folks that supported the tea parties have gone.
Wonder what the hue and cry would be if this had been ... oh, say Rush involved in this minor traffic indident?
Question: if the accident started and ended on Tiger’s own property, that is, he never drove on a public street or public property, what jurisdiction or authority do the police have?
I think he’s just trying to get a gig for 1-800-SAFEAUTO
If you have nothing to hide you don’t act and do the things that Tiger is doing. His actions are classic of a douche bag trying to hide something. This and his hidden steroid use no longer give me a reason to respect the guy. Sure, he’s probably the greatest golfer ever. But he’s still a douche who I don’t respect. But I am one person. Everyone else will still fawn over him as people are prone to do.
It didn’t and so they do.
Having trouble breaking 100, are ya? Or is it just the money that tees you off?
I am so tired of these celebrities who have everything having so much trouble in their lives.
WTF.
After they have complete financial security, everything money can buy, leisure time out the wazzu...can’t they just live a decent life without all this crap?
“Wonder what the hue and cry would be if this had been ... oh, say Rush involved in this minor traffic indident?”
Yeah, I don’t get this interest in a minor traffic incident either. You know what the most amazing part of it was? His amazing wife actually broke the back window, with a golf club no less, and drug him to safety. She is one amazing woman, incredibly quick thinking. I can only imagine the horror Tiger was going through as the impact with the fire hydrant made escape through any of the 5 doors impossible, requiring his heroic (heroineic?) wife to call upon her Viking ancestors and summon the power of Odin to smash the back window, freeing her trapped husband from the claustrophobic confines of a Cadillac Escalade..
That was her story, the first story, right? What a crazy traffic accident.
I am not jealous of wealth. The Paparazzi where on this the moment 911 was called, they WILL get the truth so he might as well issue a statement telling the truth. I thought he was this super stand up guy with an Ex Marine Dad.
Forgot to say...you’re totally right though. If Rush had a wife and she had to bust the back window of his SUV out with a golden EIB microphone to save him from a fate worse than death, we’d show no interest. If anything it would be even less ironic for Rush to be almost killed by an SUV and then saved by a microphone than it is for Tiger Woods to be rescued from a traffic accident by his golf club wielding wife.

Tiger Woods' Yatch
lawyer up... now how bout the wife???
The FHP gets involved whenever there is destruction of public property (fire hydrant) and/or destruction of property other than his (tree). Also, as soon as he drives off his property (driveway), it becomes the FHP’s business.
Streets are not private property. They belong to the city/county/state.
Well, that was creative and quite humorous, but it didn’t answer the question you quoted from my post. Personally, I could not possibly care less about this non-story, but I do find the interest it is drawing here quite fascinating. Are you getting those reports from Elin straight from the police, or through the FR/NE/TMZ hotline?
One has to wonder how many domestic arguments, similiar to this, occurred in the US this weekend. I am guessing, thousands maybe? This is ridiculous, this kind of incident could happen to anyone in any family. It is no one’s business.
his SUV hit a fire hydrant and a neighbor's tree
In FL, it's all about whether or not an injury has occurred, or if the property damage reaches a certain level. If these two factors are met - in this case they were - then fact that the collision occurred on private property is immaterial. Furthermore, FL state law precludes you from operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, or under the influence of drugs anywhere in the state, to include private property.
It is surprising that blood wasn't drawn. Although, we don't that for sure because all the police have said is that alcohol wasn't a factor. They've said nothing about prescription drugs. If Tiger knows he had something in his blood, he might need a capable defense attorney. We'll see.
If you have nothing to hide you dont act and do the things that Tiger is doing.
No..., that's not true. No one should ever talk to the police. You need to study up on these things and your Constitutional right to never talk to the police... :-)
See the following for some good information about why no one should ever talk to the police.
Talking to the Police by Professor James Duane
Professor James Duanes now famous 5th Amendment lecture - popularly known as Dont talk to the police! - has amassed a considerable internet following. The lecture, given as part of Regent Law Schools spring preview weekend.
who aren't worldwide celebrities that have millions of fans. That's life in their world. They certainly love the attention when they want it.
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