Mass Drunk-Driving Trial Nears End

Closing arguments are scheduled to begin this morning in the massive litigation involving hundreds of disputed Ventura County drunk-driving cases.

Defense attorneys are seeking dismissal of more than 600 cases on the grounds that breath-test results supervised by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department crime lab were flawed.

The cases have been consolidated in a single trial before Superior Court Judge Steven Z. Perren, who is expected to issue a written ruling about a week after the summations.

The ruling could upset cases against hundreds of drunk-driving suspects, some of whom already have been convicted and sentenced. Attorneys call it one of the most complex and protracted court battles in recent county history.

Earlier this week, Perren urged prosecutors and defense attorneys to wrap up their presentation of evidence in the case, which began nearly three months ago.

On Monday, defense attorneys told Perren they planned to call the former director of the Orange County crime lab to testify as an expert about standard practices and procedures of forensic testing.

But prosecutors objected, and Perren told the lawyers during a hearing on Tuesday that the expert’s testimony would be cumulative and add nothing to the case. The judge refused to allow the witness to testify.

“Every fact is in the record,” Perren said. “I am satisfied that this is science evidence and that is not an issue before this court.”