CJUS230 Lambert v Commonwealth Case Brief
Caption
Lambert v. Commonwealth
, 840 S.E.2d 326 (2020)
Facts
Lambert was driving when he started driving in the opposing lane of traffic, which caused a traffic crash resulting in property damage, personal injury, injury to another, and death to another.
Lambert initially denied any drug or alcohol use, but later admitted to a “treatment of methadone.” Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for a sample of his blood, which was used for analysis that confirmed the presence of methadone, Valium, and Xanax in Lambert’s blood.
Procedural History
Lambert was indicted in the Circuit Court of Russell County which proceeded to a jury trial resulting in a guilty verdict. Lambert appealed his convictions to the Court of Appeals, which granted and considered his assignments of error.
Issue
Whether the Commonwealth presented evidence sufficient to support jury verdicts finding that the defendant had self-administered intoxicants that impaired his ability to drive safely.
Rule of Law
As an element of the crime, , the prosecution must prove that the intoxicating substance was self-
administered.
