Paparazzo Walks in Lohan Case
A paparazzo who contributed to some of the considerable damage sustained by Lindsay Lohan's car over the past year won't face charges for his role in a May crash.
Shutterbug Galo Cesar Ramirez slammed his minivan into the actress' Mercedes-Benz while pursuing Lohan after she left a Los Angeles restaurant with a friend.
Lohan suffered cuts and bruises in the crash and her car was badly dented. Photographers surrounded the scene of the accident, snapping pictures of the visibly shaken Mean Girls star.
Ramirez was initially booked for assault with a deadly weapon, but officials ultimately determined that there was not enough evidence to prove that he rammed Lohan intentionally, despite the fact he was likely "driving carelessly" at the time of the accident.
"We considered two charges, felony stalking and assault with a deadly weapon, and found there was insufficient evidence on both," William Hodgman, deputy district attorney in charge of the Target Crimes Division, told the Los Angeles Times.
As a result of the crash, authorities launched an investigation into questionable tactics used by the paparazzi in their endless quest for money shots of celebrities in their natural environments.
The collision also motivated Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign a measure into action making it easier for A-listers to collect hefty damages from photo agencies that employ overly aggressive photographers.
Lohan had little to say regarding the outcome of the investigation, except to state through her rep that she was grateful for the DA's careful consideration of the matter.
The district attorney's office's decision not to charge Ramirez marks another victory for the paparazzi in the ongoing battle with their celebrity subjects.
In August, prosecutors decided not to file charges against several photographers who swarmed Reese Witherspoon as she left her gym, citing that there was insufficient evidence to support the actress' claim of false imprisonment.
Witherspoon has an ongoing case against another paparazzo who was charged with child endangerment and several counts of battery after he became aggressive while attempting to photograph the Legally Blonde star and her children at Disney's California Adventure in September.





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