Don's Lawyer and Publicist Letters to SF Columnists Matier and Ross Posted on Don Johnson Web Site (February 25, 2001)

Don Johnson's lawyer Ronald A. Litz, and his publicist Elliot Mintz, have vigorously defended Don Johnson in their posted letters on the Don Johnson web site. Litz and Mintz respond to the newspaper articles written by columnists Philip Matier and Andrew Ross. Matier and Ross reported on an incident that happened in a SF restaurant, resulting in a woman filing a police report of sexual battery on Don Johnson.

The incident happened on January 20th, the Matier and Ross article detailing the incident was reported on February 7th, and the local CBS affiliate KPIX reported that Don Johnson was to be questioned by SF police on February 9th. Mintz went to ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, which ran a story presenting Don's side of story on February 20th.

Additional information from the Litz and Mintz letters is that the police report was filed one week after the alleged incident happened. The police report was leaked, the woman's name was deleted. Litz sums it up in this way:

...Don Johnson is a gentleman. For now, the only victim is Don. He is the only person who has been identified and villified in the public arena. He is the only one whose name and reputation is being held up to public ridicule...At the end of the day, the truth will emerge."

 

'Cuda Blown Up in Episode #113 (February 18, 2001)

In "Something Borrowed", episode #113, Tamara van Zant buys Nash a second 'Cuda, but it turns out to be a kit car. The kit car is mistaken for Nash's 'Cuda and blown up. A fan asks about this:

Did those guys really blow up one of the 'Cudas that are used for the show? Do you have any information on that? It was said it was a "kit car" but as a frequent visitor to your sites I know that they're all "kit cars". And as far as I know there's no company selling a replica. I didn't see the show myself 'cause I live in Europe and we just finished watching the 5th season and it will take months 'till the new episodes will be voiced over and we'll get to see it. But if they blew up a vin car again ("Cuda Grace", "Hard Cell") this would really break my and many other Mopar fans heart.

regards, Tom

Gordon's Response

Local CBS Affiliate KPIX 11 O'Clock News Highlights Woman's Incident in Restaurant with Don Johnson (February 11, 2001)

Immediately after the Friday NASH BRIDGES episode of February 9th, the KPIX Eyewitness News, in a voice-over promo on the end credits of NASH BRIDGES announced: "...he plays San Francisco's cop on TV, but tomorrow actor Don Johnson will be questioned by the real police - the news starts NOW."

The 30-second news item did not appear until the very last minute of the February 9th news cast. The incident in question was reported on previously by SF columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross in the Chronicle newspaper of February 7th. The incident happened on January 20th.

The incident involved a thirtyish woman on her way to the restroom of the Mas Sake Restaurant on Lombard Street, near Fillmore. Matier and Ross report, in great detail, that the woman claims a drunken Don grabbed her breasts, made sexually explicit comments, and propositioned her. She backed away, and fell, skinning her elbow and knee. She told her friends, they went back to confront Don, but he had slipped out the backdoor. The woman has filed a sexual battery complaint against Don Johnson.

The brief KPIX story varies from the Matier and Ross story. The report says that two other women also "describe sexual advances by Johnson, but did not file complaints." The newspaper story only describes the two women as witnesses. Police have interviewed other witnesses (a bartender). Don Johnson's lawyer denies the charges.

(Thanks to Dr. Michael Rouan for sending us info.)