Report: Schnitt vs. Bubba Trial A ‘Circus’

Jurors Sent Home Early Friday

Personius w/attorney

The defamation jury trial of Todd "MJ" Schnitt vs. Bubba "The Love Sponge" Clem has taken more of a turn into the circus tent Friday according to swflorida.blogspot.com, as plaintiff's attorney ask for a mistrial, jurors were sent home Friday early, and testimony proceeded from witnesses to the events surrounding Schnitt's attorney Charles Philip Campbell's arrest Wednesday night for driving under the influence and his missing briefcase.

Attorney Steven Diaco had been subpoenaed for an appearance, but an objection was placed by his attorney who had advised Diaco to plead his 5th Amendment rights to not answer certain questions.

Melissa Personius, a paralegal for Bubba Clem's lawyer Joseph Diaco's firm for five years was part of the drama Wednesday night, allegedly with Phil Campbell in a bit of drinking. She invoked her 5th Amendment right against self incrimination and chose to not answer questions about that evening.

She would not answer any questions about her cell phone which she said she did not bring to court.

Campbell's team is trying to accuse Clem's lawyers of setting Campbell up for the Wednesday DUI arrest.

Bubba Attorney Steve Diaco said, under oath, he didn't recall whether he had instructed anyone to call the Tampa Police Department regarding Campbell's drinking and driving Wednesday night, for which Campbell was put in jail.

ALSO READ: Todd Schnitt's Wife Testifies She Felt 'Unsafe' In Own Home, Click Here.

Sgt. Raymond Fernandez, Tampa Police Officer testified he received a call at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday from an attorney with Diaco's office with a description of Campbell and his car and later made the traffic stop on Campbell about 10 p.m..

Allegedly he was asked to "move" Personius' vehicle which led to his arrest. Personious "plead the 5th" regarding whether she went to the bar to get Campbell to drink and to be arrested driving. It was argued further that one of Diaco's attorneys called a friend at the police department to "stalk" Campbell for the DUI arrest.

Defense, for Bubba Clem argued that the trial has not been affected as the jury doesn't know anything about the missing briefcase and DUI arrest and said there's nothing wrong with a citizen notifying the police of a possible impaired driver, and denied anyone was "set up."

Court will resume at 9 a.m. Monday.

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