Blog

Costs & Financial Considerations Of Going To Trial It is taken into account whenever the client first engages our services, if they can afford to go to trial, because what we typically do is we charge a flat fee. That takes care of the case all the way through resolution. If the client agrees to pay, this takes care of the case all the way through to jury trial if that is the best way to handle it. Therefore, it is not that the jury trial costs you more. The consideration is what is likely to happen at a jury [...]

Key Facts To Know Before A Jury Trial The first and most important thing they should know is the exact level of offense they are charged with, and what the possible punishment range is going to be. For example, a Class a misdemeanor, the possible punishment is up to a year in jail, and up to a $4000 fine. Therefore, the first thing the client needs to understand is the name of the offense, the level of the offense, and the possible punishment range. Then the next thing they need to understand is what the likelihood of conviction is. Do [...]

Exploring Self-Defense & Other Legal Defense Strategies Self-defense is a defense to any assault type charge. If a person is defending themselves or even a third person, then they can be entitled to self-defense or defense of a third person. If a person uses force against another, even though they caused bodily injury, but they believed that force is immediately necessary to protect themselves or someone else from the other person’s immediate use or threatened use of force, then it can be justified under the self-defense or defense of the third person concept. They can also be justified in using [...]

We handle a lot of drug cases from possession of marijuana to more serious cases involving possession or even delivery of controlled substances such as meth, heroin or cocaine. We also handle a great deal of assault cases from just minor assaults, assaults on family members all the way up to aggravated assaults with deadly weapons. We have even handled a few murder cases over the last few years. We handle a great deal of theft cases from just minor shoplifting all the way up to major theft of cars and embezzlement. We also handle weapons cases and there are [...]

Common misconceptions would include thinking that they have to go to jail, that there is no way to get the case dismissed, or that there is some magical way to get the case dismissed. Sometimes people believe that because they were not read their rights that that must be a get-out-of-jail free card or an automatic dismissal, and that may or may not be the case. It is not quite like TV, where the police officer might want to get the case thrown out so he purposely does not read the person their rights. If the person has been arrested [...]

No, absolutely not! No one is obligated to meet with the detective who calls them saying they want to ask them some questions or they want to clear something up. In fact, it is almost always the best advice for that person to not meet with the detectives and not answer any questions. It is always my advice that the right thing to do to exercise their right to remain silent. All of my clients have the right to remain silent but a lot of them do not have the ability. It is always the right thing to do because [...]

Once you’re arrested, you’ll be taken into custody and usually within 24 hours would be taken before a magistrate, and bond would be set. Once the bond is set, then you’re able to get out of jail. So one option at that point is posting a cash bond; if the bond is set at $1,000, then you’d deposit $1,000, and that $1,000 is returned to you after the case is over, minus a small administrative fee, usually around $35 or so. Another option, rather than coming up with the full amount of the bond, is to hire a bondsman or [...]

The first and most important mistake often happens before they’re even arrested, and that’s when the person starts answering questions. Sometimes when they’re first pulled over by the officer and the officer asks them if they’ve had something to drink, right there, most people make a mistake by answering. People at that point should go ahead and say, “I invoke my right to remain silent. I refuse to answer any questions.” But after they’ve been arrested and after they’ve been released, the first and the biggest mistake they make is not hiring an experienced attorney, as soon as possible, because [...]

There is not much more paperwork than what you’re charged with and how you’ve secured release as far as any bond. So if you post a cash bond, you should have a receipt for the cash bond; if you hire a bondsperson, you should have a copy of the bond paperwork. This paperwork should show you what the magistrate said you were charged with, the offense and the amount of the bond. And that may be all you’re given. That may be all you know at that point. You may later hear of your court date through the bondsperson or [...]

The Impact Of Attorney Experience & Approach In Trial Our reputation is extremely important, and plays into the process greatly. In fact, because of our reputation, and the attorneys at our firm we have over fifty years of experience, because we fight cases frequently, and because we go to trial often. We win cases frequently, the prosecution, and the judges know our reputation. Our reputation is excellent, and they know that when we fight cases we will fight and likely win. This reputation alone causes us to get many cases dismissed, or get great offers that other attorneys do not [...]