It might not be sending the right message to his client, but Mark Heller did it anyway.
The controversial New York attorney showed up in LA court on behalf of Lindsay Lohan clutching a Louis Vuitton briefcase with a rabbit’s foot for good luck.
Perhaps it worked, because Lindsay — who rushed from New York to LA for the court appearance -- could have been sent to jail — instead a hearing was set for March 1. Wednesday’s hearing lasted a full two minutes.
The attorney went on the defense of his client with the press after the hearing.
Although paparazzi video shows that Lindsay was turned down by two hotels when she arrived in LA Tuesday night, Heller said, “Don’t believe everything you read.”
He also said that Lindsay had a note from her doctor recommending against travel, but “At the very last minute she felt better and wanted to show respect to the judge and the court so she came on her own will.”
Heller, who has been described as “a menace to the public,” also found the need to defend himself against the negative press saying, “I am a lawyer of 44 years with a three generation law firm family.”
The New York counsel alluded to the fact that he may be trying for a plea bargain. “Justice serves all and I am confident that this case will be concluded in a way that will satisfy the defendant, prosecutor and the people of this state,” he told the press after the hearing. “I don’t believe that jail is always the answer.”
Heller, who is a family friend, was picked after Lindsay fired her long-time attorney Shawn Holley, who was masterful at getting the Liz & Dick star out of her messes. Lindsay reportedly owes Shawn $300,000 in legal fees. And, although Heller is not licensed to practice in California, he is being sponsored by an attorney, who just renewed her membership with the California bar association recently after being inactive for 17 years.
