Rapid Eye Reality

Home of Brad Willis: writer, traveler, and suburban warrior

John Ludwig: Sometimes it’s too easy

by · November 18, 2009

I’m not one to toot my own horn unless the horn is so tootable that even the most humble of prognosticators couldn’t help but keep his lips off the mouthpiece.

Here’s what I wrote on May 5, just a few days after John Ludwig plowed his car through William Bardsley’s home.

Prediction: a jury never sees this case. It’s too risky for Ludwig to go in front of his “peers” and the case is too poorly-investigated for Ariail to file the appropriate charges. Ludwig will get hit with a pretty damned serious civil suit and probably never do any time. The public will scream for a while and then we’ll never hear about the case again.

You know…justice.

The result:

  • Ariail worked a deal with Ludwig and his attorneys that let him plead to reckless homicide. A jury never saw the case.
  • Ludwig, not confident in his chances in front of a jury but comfortable with a judge’s decision put in his plea
  • Ludwig and his insurance company settled with the Bardsleys for $3 million
  • Ludwig was sentenced to probation and community service
  • The public is screaming. Ariail is asking the judge to reconsider his plea. If the judge changes his mind, I’d be more than surprised.

    • You know…justice.

    Brad Willis

    Brad Willis is a writer based in Greenville, South Carolina. Willis spent a decade as an award-winning broadcast journalist. He has worked as a freelance writer, columnist, and professional blogger since 2005. He has also served as a commentator and guest on a wide variety of television, radio, and internet shows.

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    1 Response

    1. Da Goddess says:
      November 21, 2009 at 6:06 pm

      Justice.

      You called it.

      Perhaps you should start wearing your Karnac hat in public