Tampa DJ Todd "M.J. Kelli" Schnitt wants a new trial - WFLA-TV Newschannel 8

Tampa DJ Todd "M.J. Kelli" Schnitt wants a new trial

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Attorney for radio personality, Todd Schnitt, filed a motion for a new trial in his defamation case against rival radio host, Bubba the Love Sponge Clem.

A jury ruled in Clem's favor last month, after a three week trial, in which Schnitt's legal team tried to prove that Clem had defamed Schnitt and his wife, Michelle.

Schnitt's lawyers said in the motion filed this week that actions taken during the trial by lawyers representing Clem kept the Schnitts from getting a fair trial.

The allegations stem from the DUI arrest of Schnitt's attorney, Phil Campbell. Tampa police arrested Campbell during the trial, on the evening of January 23rd. As the details came out, it was discovered that Campbell had been drinking at Tampa restaurant, Malio's, with a paralegal name Melissa Personius. Personius works at Adams and Diaco, the firm representing Clem.

Police arrested Campbell while he was driving Personius's car. His briefcase with all of his trial notes was also in the car. Clem's legal team had possession of the briefcase for hours.

Clem's attorneys have maintained they did not look inside Campbell's briefcase.

Greg Hearing, an attorney for Clem, said he hopes all of the details will come out soon.

"I'm hopeful that the public, while they probably think this is a big circus, that they realize it's important to get to the bottom of these things," Hearing said.

He also said attorney Stephen Diaco had taken a lie detector test, and he is willing to discuss what happened with the brief case.

"It's clear he has nothing to hide and can answer any questions," said Hearing.

The Florida Bar has also opened an investigation into the allegations.

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