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Ballack fires 'I'm too poor for fine' lawyer
Published: 2 Nov 12 11:38 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20121102-45935.html
Former national football team captain Michael Ballack has fired his lawyer for an embarrassing plea that the soccer star should be let off a Spanish speeding fine - or at least pay a drastically reduced amount because he has no job.
- Ballack: I'm too poor to pay speeding fine - Sport (1 Nov 12)
- Captain Ballack yearns for swan song - Sport (15 Oct 12)
- Ballack ends a career 'beyond his dreams' - Sport (2 Oct 12)
The German former star was caught in a speed trap two weeks ago driving 211 kmh near the small town of Trujillo - where the speed limit was 120 kmh.
Prosecutors had called for him to lose his driving license for two-and-a-half years and to pay a fine of nearly €10,000.
Ballack was not at the hearing where attorney Jesus Gallego Rol spoke on his behalf. He argued that because his client usually drove in Germany where there were no speed limits on motorways, he should not be punished for breaking the Spanish speed limit.
Further, he said that because Ballack was unemployed, should he be fined, he should only pay the minimum, which would work out to around €1,000.
The footballer was furious at his representation, and on Thursday night sacked Rol.
"The Spanish defence lawyer who I only allowed to go to court because he was assigned to me on the morning before the first hearing, had no instruction from me to argue in such a nonsensical fashion as he obviously did," he said in a statement.
"I have therefore released him from representing me with immediate effect. Of course, I respect Spanish law, the Spanish court and its verdict."
DPA/The Local/hc
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Your comments about this article:
bwjijsdtd - would you please read the full article again? It was Ballack's lawyer who uttered such nonsense, not Ballack himself. On the contrary. If the sentence in the last paragraph is true, Ballack has taken the full liability - which is more than I would have expected...
A little harsh there don't you think. Were you there to really know what went on between him and the lawyer? I think not. Do you know beyond a doubt he told the lawyer to use the poor guy defense? I'd say no you haven't the slightest idea what went on. Or maybe you just weren't a fan of him or the FC's that he was with.
He did "fire" the lawyer for "misrepresenting" him. Maybe he should have killed the lawyer just to show YOU he was serious about his court appointed lawyers stupid statement. He was speeding (A nonviolent civil offense). He did not attempt murder nor try to rape anyone.
Yet again you seem incapable of actually reading facts or at least the words infront of your nose.
Come on guys, use your heads ... maybe my choice of verbage was a little harsh, but I wrote it and I stand behind it ...
Zeddriver, simply put, I am not a fan of European football at all and I have never heard the name Ballack until this article. Landlad, I though I was done with you in our last "debate."
Enough said ... from me anyway ... now we just sit back and see how this all plays out ...
"If Ballack respects the law, the courts and the verdict as he claims, why hire an attorney?" - Maybe because he does not speak the language and is not familiar with the Spanish court procedures? Maybe because he had better things to do at that moment of time?
"Another little tid-bit is if an attorney acts against your instructions" - Mr. Ballack did not say the attorney acted against his instructions. He said: "(the attorney) had no instruction from me to argue in such a nonsensical fashion". Do you see the difference between acting without instructions and acting against instructions?
You have the right to have your doubts regarding Mr. Ballack. "Convicting" him based on guesses ("My best guess at this point") is something different. Or you do not believe in the concept of "innocent until proven guilty"?
Nope you are not "done with" me (I made a further comment). BTW it speaks volumes to me that you put the word "debate" in quotes as though you find it an expletive.
It doesnt matter who you are or where you live if you drive in another country,YOU must abide by their rules and YOU also accept that YOU know them otherwise why would YOU drive there.
This said everyone knows that speed kills,Formula1 racing drivers dont behave in this way although I expect maybe they do but dont get caught very often.
THIS is my point you get punished for getting caught not doing the crime,And a fitting punishment is when you get fined enough to hurt you so if you have alot of money as Ballack certainly does or had 1000€ is not enough.
I hope he gets to lose his license for all countries and the highest fine that can be imposed.
I'm sure you must love the new regime in France based on the sentiment you express here. lol.
Personally I can't see meting out 2 1/2 year license suspensions and €10,000 fines for speeding.
Second hand smoke kills as well, do you think Ballack should pay €10,000 for a pack of cigarettes as well?
1. He is only reacting to the public outcry at his lawyers tactics.
2. The fact that he fired his lawyer. His lawyer was only doing his job, pure and simple. If I had been caught speeding and I was paying a lawyer, of course I would want him to get me off the hook. Who wouldn't.
I think everyone should pay €10,000 for a pack of cigarettes maybe we smokers could give up then, and the government would be able to find something else to tax...
plus ALCOHOL is much to cheap and should be banned completly by drivers, yes I mean 0.0 in the blood when you drive