LAS VEGAS — Nevada Judge has ruled that prosecutors may obtain medical records regarding injuries sustained in the past. Las Vegas RaidersHenry Ruggs was wide receiver. His girlfriend was in a high-speed accident that resulted in the death of a woman last November.
Attorney Peter Christiansen didn’t immediately respond to Friday’s messages asking if he would appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court. The judge made the ruling April 27 on Kiara Jenai Kilgo Washington’s medical files.
The case against Ruggs was delayed due to postponements and legal actions by Christiansen’s attorneys, Richard Schonfeld and David Chesnoff.
On Wednesday, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman rescheduled the event for June 16.
Christiansen argued in court that Kilgo Washington is not charged with any crime and that her health information is protected under federal and state confidentiality laws for doctor-patients.
Tara Clark Newberry, Clark County District Court Judge, ruled that disclosure is permissible under state law exceptions regarding protected health information.
Prosecutors claim that records will reveal that Kilgo-Washington sustained serious injuries in the fiery accident early last November. Ruggs is accused for causing the collision at 156 mph (251 KPH) while Ruggs had a blood-alcohol concentration twice the Nevada legal limit.
Tina Tintor (23 years old) died in her car after it caught fire. Witness accounts and coroner records show that she was not able to be freed from the wreckage by others.
Ruggs (23), a former first round NFL draft pick was released by Raiders within hours of the wreck. He is still under house arrest and has been fitted with alcohol monitors and electronic GPS.
Ruggs will spend a minimum of two years in prison, and perhaps more than 50 years if found guilty of driving under the influence. After police found a loaded handgun inside his Chevrolet Corvette, Ruggs was also charged with misdemeanor firearm possession.
After the accident, both Ruggs as well as Kilgo-Washington had to be admitted to hospital. Clark County District attorney Steve Wolfson reported that Ruggs suffered a leg injury while Kilgo Washington had arm surgery.
Ruggs and Kilgo Washington have a young daughter.