Big yikes. Romy Lauer, the 20-year-old daughter of former Today co-host Matt Lauer, reportedly found herself in a bit of legal trouble after crashing her Jeep Wrangler into a fence and a sign in the Hamptons. According to Page Six, Romy left the scene before authorities arrived, but her license plate, which had fallen off during the incident, led the police right to her.
The crash occurred in the early hours of July 5 on North Sea Mecox Road. A concerned citizen, alarmed by the loud noise, called 911, fearing someone might be injured. When police arrived, they discovered a damaged fence and sign but found no driver at the scene. Thanks to the license plate left behind, authorities identified Romy as the driver and issued her a summons for leaving the scene of an accident.
Attorney Edward Burke Jr., who is currently handling Romy’s case, has a history of representing high-profile clients, including her father, Matt Lauer. Burke has stepped in to resolve the situation on Romy’s behalf.
This isn’t the first time Burke has represented the Lauer family. Back in 2015, Matt Lauer found himself in a legal dispute with his neighbors in Water Mill, New York, over his horses. Lauer wanted to plant trees around his property to prevent his horses from getting frightened by his neighbors’ activities, but the neighbors argued that doing so would violate the terms of an easement, according to 27 East. At a public hearing, Burke spoke on Lauer’s behalf, emphasizing that the issue was not about celebrity status but about protecting the horses.
Burke has also represented other celebrities, including Justin Timberlake. Earlier this summer, Timberlake, 43, was arrested on DWI-related charges while driving in Sag Harbor. On June 17, Timberlake was pulled over after running a stop sign and failing to stay on the right side of the road. The arresting officer noted that Timberlake exhibited signs of intoxication, including bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and poor performance on sobriety tests.
After being processed and held overnight, Timberlake was arraigned on June 18 and was seen leaving the Sag Harbor Municipal Building with Burke by his side. In a statement released on June 19, Burke said, “[We] look forward to vigorously defending Mr. Timberlake against these allegations. He will have a lot to say at the appropriate time.”
As Romy Lauer’s case unfolds, it remains to be seen how Burke will navigate yet another high-profile situation.