The former United States attorney for the middle District of Florida was charged with battery in what became the longest battery trial in the history of the state of Florida. Mr. H was heading home from watching a high school football game with his wife driving and three of their nine children in their family van. His wife needed to get out of a left turn only lane and inadvertently cut off another driver. Angered, the man attempted to force a rear end collision by shooting in front of the van and jamming on his brakes. The van narrowly missed hitting the man's car. As traffic streamed by both sides, the man got out and headed back to the van. Believing that his wife may be assaulted, Mr. H got out to head him off. The man ran back to his car and began reaching underneath the front seat. Believing he was going for a gun, Mr. H pulled him out and punched him in the mouth. Medical treatment was ultimately required. The incident took place directly in front of a police officer who was standing on a corner. She did not see what led up to the punch however saw the assault and arrested Mr. H for the crime of battery. At trial, the defense established that the man who was assaulted had a history of causing rear end collisions for profit. A use of force expert was also called to establish that Mr. H acted in self-defense when he saw the other man reaching under his car seat as it was reasonable to assume that he was going for a gun. The jury found Mr. H “not guilty” and even wrote on the jury verdict that they all believed he was fully justified in what he had done.