The appeals court overturned the conviction, as it appeared it was the first time in Michigan someone was convicted of a high felony for driving a substandard vehicle.
The state Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision last Thursday overturned the conviction because it was based not on Otto's driving but the unsafe condition of the trailer-pulling dump truck Otto was driving that crashed into a vehicle at an intersection, causing a backhoe and the trailer tip onto a car in which Giana Giannini was the passenger.
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Fans walk through security at the Wells Fargo Center before the Flyers-Capitals game on Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Close to 3,100 fans returned to the Wells Fargo Center Sunday evening to watch the Philadelphia Flyers face the Washington Capitals the first time they took to the stands since March 2020.
While the arena wasn’t seating the 20,000 spectators it can accommodate and seats were spread apart, for Terry Haas, being able to step into the arena in her orange and black Flyers jersey gave her a taste of normalcy after what she described as a difficult year.
Johnny Rittenberry, 40, of Warren, recently entered the plea in front of Judge Mark Fratarcangelli in 40
th District Court. He had been scheduled for a Jan. 13 pretrial but that has been adjourned in lieu of a presentence interview, according to court records. No sentenced date was given in court records.
The charge is punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $500 fine.
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On Dec. 22, 2019, Rittenberry threw his drink on Shawn Kubic, who laid unconscious of Kapones Sports Tavern on Harper Avenue. Kubic seconds before was punched in the face while he wasnât looking by Hatum Akrawi after some type of argument inside the bar. Kubic, 47, of St. Clair Shores, died five days later from striking his head on the floor.