DWI Victim's Family Outraged at Wall Street Exec's Plea Deal

The family of a drunk driving victim is crying foul after it was revealed earlier this week that the driver was able to cop a plea that will only land him in jail for eight consecutive weekends. George Anderson was able to land such a light sentence after the DA's office relied on "comparative negligence" reasoning because victim Florence Cioffi was also intoxicated and stepped out from between two parked cars when she was struck by the Wall Street executive's SUV. Cioffi's companion of 18 years says, "I'm not saying that man has to go to jail for life, or 10 years or 11, but 16 days and on weekends? That's ludicrous. It's a rich man's sentence." The family disputes the DA's claim that they were consulted before the plea was struck and plan to attend the sentencing in hopes that they can get the case pushed to a trial. An attorney for the family tells WCBS, "It seems to me [the DA's office] were trying to fly this one under the radar. They didn't want to make a stink about it. They didn't want everyone to know what was going on." The News says that the Cioffis are planning to sue Anderson.

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By Billy Parker in News on January 10, 2009 5:42 PM

Comments [rss]

tblake

Wasn't he going an estimated 60 mph? Didn't he then flee the scene? This is outrageous.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

the family should force it to trial, looks like there was so back door dealings here. He was drunk and endangers all of us. He deserved some jail.

camarilla

If he hadn't been going double the speed limit (he was), and hadn't been drunk, that girl would have been alive today. Perhaps injured, but alive.

I hope they lock him away for life, then take all his assets. No leniency for drunk drivers.

mocanlagunas

Well, if she "stepped out from between two parked cars", maybe the fact that both of them were intoxicated is moot. Was he driving erratically, speeding? I don't know. I ran over a guy in the same circumstances (expect the alcohol part on my side), and I didn't even see him. Suddenly a shadow right in front of the car, a loud bang and the guy smashing over the windshield...

ANGRYGOD11

However, George Anderson's pleading guilty for DWI. That should sent George Anderson to jail, and not mess up some weekends, even if he didn't hit anyone or anything.

Splicer

I really despise rich people. Privileged assholes who think laws are inconvenient. I'm not saying this accident was all his fault but getting behind the wheel of a monster truck while intoxicated was.