Ali Baba, a Jacksonville hookah bar, is being sued for serving an underage drinker who was involved in fatal car accident.

The crash happened just after midnight November 14, 2010.  Maida S., 19, had a 12:30 a.m. curfew.  Maida was on her way home and only minutes away when her car was hit, and she was killed.

Police arrested 20-year-old Robert T.  He is charged with DUI and vehicular homicide.

“Somebody knock(ed) on our door at four o’clock in the morning and the horrible thing is it’s the policeman,” said Nida S., Maida’s mother.

Nida said her daughter was her best friend.  She said the 2010 Sandalwood High School graduate had big plans for her life.  She was studying to be a pharmacist.

An FHP investigative report notes that Robert’s blood alcohol level was .204.  “Why you would serve an underage alcoholic to the extent he’s almost three times the legal limit. That is shocking,” said the family’s attorney.

Nida’s attorney said Robert, a US Navy sailor, had just gotten out of rehab and was drinking at the Ali Baba Hookah bar minutes before the crash.

“If they had obeyed the law and not served an underage alcoholic drinker this accident would have never happened,” said Nida’s attorney.
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A 19-year-old who drove impaired, crashed and killed a man has been sentenced to six years in prison, followed by seven years probation.

Yet it still was somewhat of a break for the defendant, who scored from 13 years up to 20 years in prison under Florida’s prison sentencing guidelines following his guilty plea to DUI manslaughter last year.

Circuit Judge Karen Miller agreed to depart from those guidelines late Thursday, finding the legal reason to do so, in part that his crime was isolated and unsophisticated. She ordered him to regularly speak before student groups of the perils of impaired driving.

“I do believe he is remorseful,” the judge concluded after hours of heart-wrenching testimony from family members of the 45-year-old victim and the defendant’s family.
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A Jacksonville woman drunk at the wheel in a crash with a van full of people will spend nearly 20 years in prison.

The women, 27, was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison and 10 1/2 years of probation on one count of DUI manslaughter and four with serious bodily injury, Assistant State Attorney Mark Borello said.

The women was merging onto Interstate 10 eastbound near Interstate 295 when her pickup struck the back of a van carrying 11 people shortly after 2 a.m. almost a year ago today.

The crash caused the van to overturn and all — including four children — were injured. Moses Hughes Jr., 49, of Wildwood died. The women, who was wearing a seat belt, wasn’t harmed.

Been arrested for drunk driving in Jacksonville? If so, feel free to contact the Jacksonville DUI attorneys at Musca Law for a free consultation:

Duval County Office
841 Prudential Drive, 12th Floor
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Phone: 904-610-6545

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The woman who allegedly caused an accident which sent a 41 year old mother of 2′s car plummeting off the Buchman Bridge leading to her death plead not guilty to DUI manslaughter yesterday 3-29-10.

Not only is the suspect charged with DUI manslaughter, but leaving the scene of an accident. Because of this she faces up to 30 years in prison opposed to 15.

Updates as they are available.

Have you been arrested for DUI in Duval County?

Don’t worry. Although I hope you aren’t charged with something as serious as DUI manslaughter you have your rights either way. If you have any questions about your Duval County or Jacksonville DUI arrest/charge give us a call at 904-610-6545. We have had great success defending those accused of DUI in Jacksonville, FL.

A women who killed a man driving under the influence was sentenced today to 15 years.

Della Foss, 47, was on combination of many drugs including Ambien, Xanax and Cocaine when she drove her car off the road in June 2008 and killed Mr. Sewell as he walked to work along the Trout River Bridge.

“I didn’t know Mr. Sewell, but I do know that there’s a hole in your family that can never be filled,” Foss said while crying. “For that, I want to tell you how sorry I am for what happened.”

Richard Davis, who’s engaged to Foss, said the system failed his fianceé.

“We’re very disappointed in the public defender’s office,” Davis said. “We have no belief that there’s any such thing as a fair trial in Duval County without money.”

It is believed this is the first case in the state of Florida in which someone has been convicted of DUI manslaughter due in part to Ambien.

Obviously no drunk driving charge is to be taken lightly nowadays, but penalties are even more serious if you were involved in an accident or vehicular homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you are facing DUI charges in Jacksonville or Duval County we can assist you. Whether you need help retaining your drivers license at your administrative review hearing, avoiding a DUI conviction on your record, avoiding jail time or getting an old DUI conviction expunged we have the experience and knowledge to make it happen if anyone can. However, we ask you contact us as soon as possible as our early intervention can greatly effect the results we are able to achieve.

Duval County Office
841 Prudential Drive, 12th Floor
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Phone: 904-610-6545

I know it can be tough choosing a lawyer to represent you after a Jacksonville DUI arrest. Because of this I highly encourage you to view the success Musca Law has already had with DUI cases in Jacksonville.