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It's a great place to live if you are a slice of plain white bread.
On June 3, 2010, my sister Anne Bremner, an attorney from Seattle, WA, who is a frequent commenter on legal matters on FOX, CNN, and other channels, was side swiped by a car, driven off the road, crashed, and hit her head and suffered a concussion. She was coming from a party where she’d had a couple of glasses of wine, but was observed to be functioning normally when she left the party.
She later admitted that she was bipolar and was on medications for the same, and that low levels of her medications caused her to have a manic reaction after the crash. She has pled guilty to Driving Under the Influence (DUI), and has stated that one drink before driving is one too many. During the manic episode she said some crazy things and acted in an erractic way, for which she is sorry.
She initially did not want to reveal her bipolar disorder as she thought it would affect her career.
OK, now, whoever thinks that revealing the fact that you are bipolar won’t affect your law practice, stand up and wave your arms.
[no takers? Oh, OK]
The fact is that Anne has never lost a case, as prosecutor or defender, from what I understand. Which means that she is a pretty good attorney.
The other thing Anne doesn’t talk about is our troubled chilhood, how our mother died suddenly when she was 7 and I was 4. How many people who had that happen to them do you know who are leading attorneys? I have been in therapy for several years related to this and I haved urged my sister to do the same, and take this “moment” as a wakeup call, as I took my own “wakeup call” of a few years ago.
Now let’s go back to seattletimes.com or seattlepi.com and see how many commenters heaped scorn on her late admission that she suffered from bipolar disorder to explain what happened. Most of them said it was an excuse, which shows that they don’t know anything about bipolar, or mental illness. The Seattle community can be quite provincial. In know, I grew up in the area. They call themselves “God’s Country” and think that anyone from outside the area is a mutant. The only challenge I ever got to this blog was when I wrote a (joke) letter to the landlord of Seattle journalist Philip Dawdy, stating that he needed to smoke because he had bipolar disorder (they were threatening to kick him out because he, gasp, smoked in his private residence). That triggered an official complaint to my university. Score one for the eco-fascists. As for the multiple people on truejustice.org or Perugia Murder File who have spent countless hours comparing my sister’s picture on her web site to random pictures on the web, and commenting on botox, hair pieces and other issues, don’t you see this for the sexism that it is? Trying to label a successful woman as “blonde” or focused on appearance is shameful when she is a successful attorney. Also spinning conspiracy theories about how she got help from local lawyers or psychiatrists is complete nonsense. If you need a support or social network, maybe you should look elsewhere than your True Crime blogs or local Seattle newspaper forums.
Maybe we should just take all people with the tag “mental illness” out behind the barn and shoot them. Which I guess includes my sister, who from whatever I can tell, is by any measureable standard one of the best attorneys in her city of Seattle.
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Doug,
I’m so sorry to hear about this. Any ape with a keyboard and a connection can comment and, quite often, commenters enthusiastically participate in virtual lynchings of complete strangers.
I do wish your sister the best.
“Now let’s go back to seattletimes.com or seattlepi.com and see how many commentaters heaped scorn on her late admission that she suffered from bipolar disorder to explain what happened. Most of them said it was an excuse, which shows that they don’t know anything about bipolar, or mental illness.”
Not having watched any of the actual reports, I am just imagining what they may have said via this posting, but the way I interpret their remarks is that they can’t believe that your sister could be bipolar because she looked so normal to them for so long. The news media has been trained to think that people with bipolar are crazed people who run naked down the street, shoot their wife and 5 kids or hijack a plane. Somebody who looks NORMAL could not possibly be bipolar and hence their disbelief. It is this prejudice which causes people who have any sort of mental health history to try and hide it. I heard a teacher in a lunchroom discussing another teacher who had a “breakdown”. The one in the lunchroom said the teacher should be barred from the profession for life. There is a view that every bipolar person looks “crazy” all the time.
I’m glad you have taken the time to address this here, before those with other less desirable intentions pushed you to address it in some other form Doug.
With this situation being a very personal and family issue, it’s quite difficult to take a detached position without a history and the emotions involved somewhat clouding or skewing personal perceptions.
I wasn’t going to really comment on this here at all, because these things tends to be a unfortunate circus when someone of stature or celebrity status is at the center of a public legal issue.
I would tend to only comment in the reality that we all make mistakes in life and pay the price what ever it maybe. I happen to think if we are willing and open to self examination, we can take a often times painful situation and turn it into something positive that we can grow and become better a person from.
I’m not going to play doc internet here, Though I would question how “manic” and “TBI” is being defined in this particular situation.
The facts appear to speak of a drunk driving arrest and admitted guilt. This happens thousand upon thousands of times monthly across all social and economic measure in America. As you said, welcome to America…
There is little doubt that this has sparked public interest do to Anne’s notoriety from the Amanda Knox case and other television appearances.
If i were to give any advise; that being made with a grain of salt. It might be wise to slip on the thickened skin for the short term, and to just let the wolves have their day of feeding frenzy. As with all things good and bad, this will also pass in time and become but distant memory.
I hope the best for you, Anne, and your family Doug.
Sometimes facing the demons of our past comes as a needed surprise knock at the door in are living present. Just maybe this time the door shall be answered, and the lurking shadow will welcomed in with a temped embrace so this arduous journey of transformational healing will truly begin anew.
There’s going to be a lot of speculation about her case and I send you and your family support.
Doug, this must be a raw and painful time, for your sister, yourself and other members of your family. I wonder what Steve’s reaction is.
It is sad that in todays world when we have so many advantages, when something like this happens the lowest common denominator drags us down. I’ve had my share of mental health problems, ostensibly without anything really traumatic happening in my childhood (I have no excuse?!). But I have been at the hands of people who just do not seem to have the capacity for empathy or understanding, and have received harsh treatment from same.
I can only say that I hope that with the support of people who do have some appreciation and understanding, that your sister and family are able to hold their heads up and know that they are more aware than the poor unfortunate idiots who presume so much.
God bless.
Helen
I’m surprised we don’t hear more about DUI arrests involving minimal amounts of alcohol that are turned into lethal amounts when mixed with psych drugs.
And nowadays, patients are seldom on just one psych drug, most often they are prescribed a cocktail of several.
Unfortunately, people are still not being adequately warned about what happens when psych drugs and alcohol are combined and our streets are full of impaired people driving around thinking they are fine just because they only had a couple drinks.
Of course the drug companies don’t want patients to be properly warned because they want people to take their drugs for life and how many people would if they realized that even a couple drinks could cause them to have car wrecks or get DUIs?
It’s ridiculous to attack Doug’s sister simply because she’s an attorney. With the amount of people on psych drugs these days, I have no doubt that that exact same thing is happening to thousands of people all over the US in every conceivable profession and we just don’t hear about it.
Excuse me? You are supposedly a respected psychiatrist and this is what you say in your blog?
Your sister sounds like she knows a good defence when she sees one. I myself am appalled that mental illness is being trotted out to excuse all kinds of behavior. It only reinforces mental illness stereotypes. This is of no service to the law abiding people who are struggling daily with these labels.
According to Anne’s statement to the judge she did not use bipolar or TBI as an excuse for her actions, and she asked to be treated like anyone else as she plead guilty in court on Sept 1, 2010.
@Stephany You are right, however I wanted to respond to those who accused her of lying about the episode. I just added some links that support her statements and that are being released to the press today.
[...] Welcome to America, Where We Have Criminalized Mental Illness: The … [...]
Doug – This article makes the most sense out of anything written thus far. Please be sure to send it to the editorial section of the Seattle Time. The irresponsible investigating and inaccurate reporting sickens me. Rose
Rosa, as various blogs and boards know, I am definitely not an apologist for psychiatry. I also deplore people making excuses
But in this care, you are completely wrong about Doug and his sister.
By the way, I never drank and now realize I was a menace on the road when I took psychiatric medications. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize it until I started tapering off of the meds how much they affected me.
So if that was happening to me, I can definitely see why Doug’s sister ran into problems combining meds and alcohol. She wasn’t making excuses as she simply wanted to warn people about being careful.
I also send support.
AA
I think these documents help sort it all out, are there any others you can add here (eventually when they become public viewing)?
I watched her interview and am glad to see her take a public platform re drinking and driving.
What I appreciated in her speech to the Judge, was that she did not use bipolar or the meds and alcohol combo as an excuse, because of the very fact she (I assume) and most ppl w that label do want to carry on in their work lives and every day life not labeled, condemned for being labeled bipolar.
This of course is a complex situation that will lead to many comments from many angles, for that reason.
I am impressed with Anne that she left out the bipolar blame to the judge, admitted guilt and is going to have her consequence as anyone else as she requested.
After reading many of the articles leading up to her Sept 1 court date, I have a question of timeline and when she went to the ER? and when she went to Dr. Lindsay for his letter about TBI mimicing the alcohol behaviors?
I think those things clarified will answer many other ppl’s questions they have, more so does SHE blame bipolar on this event? that’s what I’d like to see in a statement or televised interview.
It’s a label hard to live down, if everyone remembers Philip Dawdy’s print article in the SW about police officer Angela Holland was fired from SPD for being bipolar without any incident based on the disorder, it was full on discrimination, of which she later won a lawsuit, but lost her career as a police officer as a result.
I also know someone who suffered a TBI on the job and was fired when the place of employment used the bipolar dx against the person, which resulted in loss of job, income, and workman’s comp, due to the bipolar dx the TBI injury was ignored so the workman comp did not happen and the injured person was left untreated.
This is just one example, as is Angela Holland’s as to why bipolar discrimination (mental health dx’s in general)can be used against ppl, and most ppl don’t want to play that card, for all of these reasons.
My own daughter was discriminated against twice–severely–once in 07 as a medical patient in sea Swedish hosp–when they found out she was on psych meds at age 19 they “dumped” her and sent her out at 11pm in a wheelchair, to my car without hydration treatment she was admitted for.
Last summer—while non verbal and appearing autistic as she is–she was missing and cops found her and handcuffed her, roughed her up, bruised her arm up, shoved her in the back of the squad car–all because the person (not me)who called police labeled her as a schizophrenic off meds. She is not schizophrenic and even if she was, why the police brutality over a label?
These are many examples of points of this case that can be hot topics here.
I do hope Anne makes a public statement about the bipolar part of this, to set things straight.
She doesn’t remember getting hit which is consistent with a concussion (retrograde amnesia)
She feels she was clearly manic in the aftermath
She got evaluated by the dr 4 days later as she was having residual tbi like symptoms which I think have gone away now.
I don’t think she ever went to the er.
She spent several hours in jail and went home in a cab.
btw I tried to comment on http://www.truejustice.org the anti-Amanda Knox site where they are carrying on an ongoing rant about my sister but they blocked my registration, so if anyone has access to that site let them know about the documents posted here.
I’ve read that the Judge agreed that the documents she requested at the beginning remain private are now going to be released to the public today, and these are the police docs that I am assuming may shed light on where she also stated about bipolar and meds to the police?
Also, I’ve noticed the re-write and edit of the post to include links and remove some cussing–which I then noticed Rossa’s original comment referencing that to be edited…?
@rossa @stephany I edited out some cussing from the original post after taking time for reflection and I editded rossa’s comment to remove her quote of my comment
The police report was supposed to be released today I don’t know what happened. The documents from my sister where alo released today. I don’t know why they haven’t written about them
Sorry Doug. But your sister seems to be having a bout with alcoholism. Even though she may have other issues they do not preclude her succumbing to it. Her initial denial and continued proclaimed innocence is typical of every alcoholic. The only reason she ‘came out’ about her bi-polar is to further distance herself from admitting her alcoholism. Alcoholism cuts cross all segments of society and is not a respector of person. I feel sorry for every drunk that has to hit bottom, been there m’self. But it’s pain we obey. When it hurts bad enough we do something about it. I do not mean to imply that Anne is indeed an alcoholic, only she knows, I do not know her. But I am an alcoholic in recovery for 8 years now and have dealt with alky’s from all professions. Doctors who performed surgery while loaded & judges who adjuicated while drunk. I’m just saying it takes one to know one. If you love and care for your sister please check out Al-anon in your area.
I believe the newly released police report and video footage back-up my argument. Ask yourself as you watch the video. Is this the sister that I know? If not then it’s time to seek help from AA.org
There are new articles in the Sea times and the PI that include parts of the police report delivered to the news agencies by a Bremner rep, also included in the articles is a video and 911 audio. The article does state Anne’s attorney brings up bipolar and bipolar meds, though the court transcripts are not part of the article.
The articles state she repeatedly hit her head on the partition in the police car while being transported to jail.
Doug – If I was you, I wouldn’t allow any comments like Neuroscience left above unless the attacker attaches a real first and last name.
This is one of my pet peeves with the internet. Anybody can wage a drive-by attack – anonymously.
If I felt so strongly about an issue that I would leave that kind of accusatory comment, I’d certainly have the guts to reveal my name and I wouldn’t expect anybody to post it if I didn’t.
Since the Seattle newspapers have not disclosed it in the articles they have written, I will disclose on their behalf that they were involved in litigation with a grass roots groups called “Committee for a Two Paper Town” whose goal was to keep both the Seattle Times and Seattle PI open, that was co-chaired by my sister.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002992697_ctnt14.html
You know something?.. I’m a real arsehole. And I’m a real arsehole, because I’m going to stick to the facts. And there aren’t many.
1) Your sister had a drink;
2) Your sister had a car accident;
3) Your sister has been charged with DUI, which she isn’t contesting;
4) Er;
5) That’s it.
Not fucking much, is it? Welcome to the Law.
Matt
Sorry, let me clarify that last comment… Any third party allegations/accusations/speculation about Anne’s diagnosis, or alcoholism (where did that come from, incidentally – anything to back it up?), are utterly irrelevant in what is a strict liability offence (ie, intention plays no part – if one is over the legal limit, then one is guilty; end of story). That is, Anne is not suddenly more culpable, as a result of having a mental health diagnosis.
So, let’s return to that third party slapstick. Does anybody actually know what BPD is (please, spare me the DSM definition)? Can you explain it in your own words? Do you have firsthand experience of somebody who has BPD? I really do wonder how many people who do this moral outrage thing have any knowledge of the thing they’re pretending to be be outraged by.
And so, we come to the issue of whether “good,” “decent,” “civilized” citizens should have to share their planet with the criminally insane. I regret that there is no argument, there: yes, you fucking should, and one only betrays one’s own prejudice by seeking to argue otherwise.
Schadenfreude*: it’s an ugly thing.
Matt
* Do you think that Germany has a particular issue with this, given that they have a word specially to describe the concept?
Anne released a few documents to the 2 print papers in SEA on friday Sept 3, where the articles are now at the PI and the Times, where they state her attorney referenced the bipolar dx/meds and she allegedly said the word “nazi” to the cop(s).
The fact is, I think to remain focused on how she admitted guilt and now has 1/3 of the law “3 strikes your out” on her record for DUI, asked to be treated like anyone else, will have a probation officer, a interlock device on her vehicle, and a police record of DUI. As for using the bipolar meds blame as a reason, I prefer that would not happen, as it would be a disservice to her and others labeled w the dx. She apparently has not been hindered by the dx or meds to have been successfully working all of these years, and as far as not drinking and taking psych meds….I would assume as an adult with such knowledge in a high powered career, she would know effects of the meds she takes and alcohol. This, then in my opinion leaves responsbility to the patient, and ultimately what this is about is a person screwing up, and she is paying the price, like all people do.
court records, arrest records, police records, medical records and newspaper/website accounts….sort them all out…. as for “mental illness” is this like a “fever” measureable with a thermometer? Should the world really trust an “expert” psychologist or psychiatrist or research observer? I’d like to see some way newspapers can be compelled to retract and publish regret over false or misleading reports and be compelled to publish true or omitted facts….. but our highest law remains the First Amendment, as no “prohibiting” freedom of the press or this lawyer’s speech….why did people present allow this lawyer two glasses of wine? Were none not aware that a single drink while a “bi-polar” medication patient could lead to impaired driving? Was this lawyer not aware of her possible and now evident impairment? I support justice but looking back over the case and all the posted comments, an answer to that one question seems lacking: “was this lawyer advised by her doctors who gave her these medications to swear off alcohol forever?”
@”Harry Rag” I registered to comment at the truejustice.org site a week ago but my request was ignored. That fact makes me think that it is not an open web site, unlike this one, where you have been free to comment as you please about the Amanda Knox case.
Pleading guilty in a legal action and taking responsability for actions are not the same thing. When a person is faced with the overwhelming evidence that the did indeed commit the crime? Has to plead guilty, however.
As you listen to her comments immediately after her court appearance she is still blaming others for her getting caught red handed.
She still claims that;
#1 she was not drunk, was the victim of a (never found) hit and run driver. (by the way no evidence has ever been presented to back-up this statement (ie; paint from another car on hers)
#2 suffered a Tramatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a result. Her appearant head “injuries” wre caused by her intentionally banging her head repeatedly against the partition in the police car.
#3 is bi-polar and had a bad reaction to mixing alcohol with her meds ( on my meds there are warnings specifically stating NO ALCOHOL) I assume an attorney can read the instructions on a prescription bottle?
All of these FACTS together tell me that there is more going on than Anne would care to admit (even to her-self) Denial is the practicing alcoholic is so strong that we (in recovery) use it as an acronym, Don’t Even kNow I Am Lying. This is absolutely true with every alcoholic.
Anne needs help to overcome this. I give her alot of credit for what she has accomplished in her life. But this is one she is going to need help with and I hope she seeks it.
Takes one to know one.
IMO, you are not helping your sister at all. Where was Anne, by the way for at least three hours after leaving the dinner?
Hi Doug:
I want to thank you for being such a nice brother to your sister in her time of need. She is very lucky to have a wonderful, loyal and kind brother like you.
I have long been a fan on Anne on t.v.. I am an attorney also and greatly admire her work and her informative t.v. presentations.
What happened to Anne is a common occurrence–a minor DUI not involving injury to another person–and really shouldn’t have reached the level of publicity that it did. Lots of lawyers, judges, doctors, teachers and other respected members of society have made similar mistakes. For the most part they learn their lessons, vow never to let it happen again, and move on, relatively unscathed.
I think in Anne’s case the incident received such coverage because it was used as a weapon against her by a hate group involved in agitating against anyone who supports the innocence of Amanda Knox in a murder case in Perugia, Italy. These people post all over the Internet attacking anyone who speaks out to support Amanda Knox’s innocence. After reviewing the recent posts on the DUI incident closely, it appeared to me that these same people were behind many of the vicious comments that were made against Anne in the reader comments sections of the various Seattle local newspapers. I don’t know their motivation in engaging in this campaign against all Knox supporters, but it is obvious that this is a well organized effort. My own hunch is that this group is connected with the Italian government somehow, but it is only a hunch.
The man who runs the website you spoke of above, Peter Quennell, is a Brit formerly associated with the United Nations. He seems hell bent on defending the Italian justice system. The postings against your sister on his website were so vicious and cruel that they were on the level of being sick, in my opinion. Really sick.
Anne should be thanked for her courage, her integrity and her compassion in speaking up for an American whom she feels has been unjustly accused by the Italian government in Perugia, Italy. Anne is a hero to many. This recent DUI incident will have no long term effect on her career, on tv or otherwise.
While I do feel badly that Anne has been so viciously attacked on the Internet, truth and justice have a way of coming out in the end. Anne will be vindicated, on so many levels, in the long run. It is always darkest before the dawn. God bless.
@undeceived and where do you get this “missing three hours” fact? From the Seattle newspapers? What is your source.
Go back and read the documents in the links to this post to see the timeline. She probably left the party after 10 or 10:30. The first 911 call was at 11:12 pm.
In the future is people post mis information it will simply be deleted. I don’t have time for this.
@lawyer thanks for your comments. Quennell blocked my commenting on his site, and the cruel and malignant manner of their postings makes me wonder who these people are and what their motivations are. Italy’s leader owns all the media outlets, so they are not used to freedom of speech. The threats to prosecute anyone who criticizes the legal system are telling. The multiple pictures of Meridith Kercher is creepy to say the least.
I recommend reading “The Monster of Florence” by Douglas Preston to get a better idea of how flawed the Italian justice system really is.
Mignini who was the prosecutor in that case was CONVICTED of abuse of office related to that case because he wire tapped police officers who were trying to do an investigation. I thought Amanda Knox was guilty after reading Barbie Nadeau’s book but after reading FBI agent Steve Moore’s articles about the flaws in the investigation I have major doubts.
Nope. She left the party at 9,30. One can only thank god, that Anne Bremner hit a median, and not a human being. Her behaviour , her cussing at the police, and her comments are shocking. And her ” I’m famous”, should now be changed to ” I’m notorious”. Anne needs help, not you condoning such dangerous behaviour.
I care not a whit about Amanda Knox. I care even less about the ST and the Blethen family or any other thing floated out there.
The only thing I care about is getting another drunk the help they need and carrying the message of Hope and recovery.
Well, Doug. When I read your version of events, I believed you. Now that I have read the police report, and seen the videos, I like you, am bowing to law enforcements expertise. Btw, it’s ex FBI. And, was’t he involved with terrorism? I saw him on TV, and he couldn’t even pronounce that poor murdered girl’s name. I believe he’s in PR. Strange.
@Doug,
Steve Moore’s credibility has been completely shot to pieces. When he was interviewed by Frank Shiers on Kiro FM, he got countless basic facts wrong. A long list of his factual errors was posted on PMF:
http://www.perugiamurderfile.org/viewtopic.php?p=45800#p45800
His claim that evidence against Knox was manipulated makes him sound like a paranoid and hysterical conspiracy nut. As with all conspiracy theorists, he wasn’t able to provide any proof to support his wild-eyed claims.
@undeceived when you asked what happened before to the “three missing hours” before I asked you to read all of the links on this post and then make informed comments, sighting your sources. Follow the link to the statements of the persons at the party, where it is stated that the husband of the host came home at 9:30 pm, watched part of a baseball game, went downstairs, carried on a conversation with my sister about religion, and then she left, which would have been after 10 or later, with the first 911 call at 11:12. Again, if you are spreading misinformation I am not going to waste time countering.
Anne lost a female employee or friend recently who she was very close to. She’s also jealous of Nancy Grace, who has twins, who is burning up the airwaves w/ her face & mouth (big mouth and bad bad attitude, rude as heck, it ain’t good for Anne, who seems timid and kind basically, but she wants to be a big power playah like Nancy, ain’t gonna happen) Age is the issue, drinking’s the issue, Anne needs serious help. yep, she lied, she was terrified, but she’s very very sharp & cunning under the craziness, she’ll recover.
Now wait just a minute! Mr. Quennell posts pictures of Meredith Kercher because she is the victim in all this. She did not NEED a shrink, she was beautiful, kind, loving, well-adjusted and very very intelligent. Her heart was very good, she loved her mother and continued to support her during illness, she had friends, she wasn’t a predator like Amanda Knox. We will post all the photos of this lovely young woman we can, she deserves our respect. We love Meredith. We do not love Amanda who destroyed her. Whose side are you on? Your sister has dragged you into a nightmare, she’s wrong about Amanda and you as a psychiatrist should see what’s going on, Anne is exhausted with the pretense of supporting this cursed girl, and is effectively bowing out by getting herself embroiled in fresh difficulties. She’s jealous of Nancy Grace’s new book, “Death on the D-List” with its proceeds going to help the mentally ill through some Methodist Church. Anne can write a book, but start with a biography.
Meredith Kercher is beautiful, talented, sweet, and respectable. Amanda Knox is a sad victim of a dysfunctional family, yet you bleed for her because she has blue eyes? They will kill you the fastest.
Leave Meredith out of this!
Driving while medicated is an under reported health hazard.
http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2010/07/24/driving-while-medicated/
It’s a giant and difficult problem that is not being addressed at all. There are 100s of thousands of medicated people on the road everyday.
I’m sorry your sister and family are being crucified for a societal wide issue.
Anyone that takes medication for Bipolar disorder knows they CANNOT drink while taking the medication. She knew that, she blew it.
Also, to your point about her never losing a case, she just recently lost the Mark Jones trial