Our client was allegedly at fault in a hit and run accident. The other vehicle involved took a picture of our client's license plate as he left the scene and called police. A Trooper from the Florida Highway Patrol responded and tracked our client back to his home using the plate provided by the other driver. Our client's vehicle was parked in the driveway and had noticeable damage to it consistent with the accident the witness described.The Trooper subsequently charged our client with a criminal offense for Leaving the Scene of an Accident. The State's initial offer to our client was an adjudication of guilt, and a $400 fine which would have led to 6 points being added to our client's license. We began working on the case trying to exclude any evidence we believed was improperly obtained and arguing that a photo of a license plate could not prove who the actual driver of the vehicle was. We also brought in evidence that insurance had already repaired the damage to the other car completely and that driver was not out of pocket any money. Based on all of these reasons, the State dropped the criminal charge against our client.
Our client is under the age of 18, having only had a driver's license for about a year. She was involved in a car accident and after briefly speaking with the driver of the other vehicle, she panicked at hearing the police were on their way and left the scene. After police tracked her down to her home, she was given a criminal violation for Leaving the Scene of an Accident without Giving Information. Our client's insurance company settled the claim with the driver of the other vehicle. Additionally our client agreed to take a 4 hour basic driver's improvement class and in exchange, the State agreed to drop the criminal charge.
Our client was accused of cutting off another driver, causing an accident and then leaving the scene of that accident. On the day of trial the Assistant State Attorney indicated that all their witnesses were present and stated they were ready to go forward with the trial. Our client felt awful about the situation and asked our attorneys to quickly resolve the case. Our attorneys, however, immediately began interviewing the state witnesses and it became clear that none of them were able to identify our client. As it turns out, the Assistant State Attorney had subpoenaed the wrong witnesses. Upon realizing their mistake they requested a continuance and the Judge denied their request. The State was forced to dismiss the charges against our client.
Our client was arrested and charged with Racing on a Highway after an Officer with the Apopka Police Department used a Laser speed measuring device to clock him doing 101 mph in a 45 mph zone. The Officer's report did not mention any other vehicles involved in the race or that any other person was suspected of or arrested for competing in this "race" against our client. Furthermore, there was no indication that our client's driving pattern could be considered as reckless driving. After presenting our arguments in court to the Judge, the State agreed to dismiss the case against our client.
Police respond to a single car accident with serious injuries and speak with our client who allegedly described the accident. During this exchange, the police claim to have detected the odor of alcohol on our clients breath. The police completed their accident investigation and immediately began a DUI investigation. Our client refused to perform the field sobriety exercises and refused to give a breath sample. Our client was arrested and charged with felony DUI due to the serious injuries sustained by his passengers who were taken to the hospital. Within a month of the accident our attorneys managed to get the felony case dismissed and the case was refiled as a misdemeanor DUI. Our attorneys immediately set the misdemeanor DUI for trial and that case was also dismissed for insufficient evidence.
Our client is alleged to have been driving over 50MPH in Tamiami Park while people were walking and conducting other outdoor activities. As the police officer began to follow our client, it was alleged that he increased his speed and began tailgating the car in front of him. Our client is then alleged to have changed lanes aggressively, without a turn signal and somehow wound up on the wrong side of the road. The police further stated that this action caused other cars to drive off the road in an effort to avoid a head on collision. Our attorneys immediately set the case for trial and during our interview of the police officer were able to show a number of inconsistencies in his memory, including a poor recollection of what our client looked like. As a result, the assistant state attorney was forced to dismiss the case.
Our client was arrested for allegations of stealing from a big box store. According to law enforcement our client failed to pay for a few items when she used the self checkout lane. Store employees made contact with our client just as she was leaving the store and contacted police. Upon arriving at the store law enforcement spoke with the store employees and reviewed the video surveillance. Then law enforcement attempted to ask our client questions about the unpaid items. Eventually law enforcement arrested our client even though she had paid for most of the items in her possession. After bonding out of jail our client contacted our office to begin working on her case. We thoroughly reviewed all of the State's evidence, Law Enforcement's reports, and the witness statements. Together with our client our office then prepared a defense strategy. Finally, we reviewed each detail of the case with the State pointing out several flaws between the reports and witness statements. Soon after the State dismissed the charge.
The police responded to an accident scene on I-95 involving a flipped over tractor trailer and three other vehicles. The driver of the tractor trailer was taken to the hospital as a result of the accident and the other drivers complained of minor injuries. Our client was charged with driving without a valid drivers license and being the cause of the accident. Our attorneys interviewed all 5 of the state witnesses (which included a police officer and the 4 other drivers) who gave varying accounts of what happened. As a result, our attorneys were able to show that no one could actually prove our client was the cause of the accident much less that he was driving without a valid license. Notwithstanding that all 4 of the accident "victims" were demanding financial compensation for their medical bills, our attorneys were able to convince the state attorney to dismiss the charges.
Link to the news article regarding this case:
http://wsvn.com/news/tractor-trailer-flips-spilling-plywood-onto-i-95/
Sheriff's Deputies were called to the scene of a car facing westbound in the eastbound lane with two flat tires. When deputies approached the car our client was asleep, when asked if everything was okay our client told them that he blew out a tire and was waiting for AAA for roadside assistance. The deputies noticed the smell of alcohol on our client's breath, that he had bloodshot glassy eyes, and slurred speech. The deputies asked our client to perform field sobriety exercises which he voluntarily did. Our client allegedly performed badly on the exercises, and was arrested for DUI. There was no video taken by the deputies in this case to confirm or deny these allegations.
Our client admitted to the officers that he had two drinks with dinner, but asserted that he performed badly on field sobriety exercises because of the effects of his Type II Diabetes. Our client was asked to take a breathalyzer which he voluntarily did, and blew twice the legal limit at .161.
Our firm prepared for trial. We prepared to challenge the reliability of Breathalyzers on subjects with Type II Diabetes, and assert that any signs of impairment indicated were from the effects of Type II Diabetes.
Charged with violation of community control for burglary of a dwelling and dealing in stolen property. Client scored for 34 months in prison & faced a maximum of 30 years. The probation officer was recommending 24 months in prison. Our attorney convinced the judge that the violations were not substantial, and that the client was not a threat to the community. Judge agreed and reinstated the client's community control with no jail or prison time.
Originally arrested on charges of aggravated assault after an incident at a convenience store where he was accused of brandishing a knife at the cashier. Our attorney convinced the state that assault charges were inappropriate because the cashier was behind the counter, and therefore there was no threat of imminent violence. Aggravated assault charges were dropped.
On January 17, 2016, a Pinellas County Deputy observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the parking lot of Countryside Mall. The white Jeep was stopped halfway in the parking space and halfway in the bushes. The vehicle was not parked normally so the Deputy positioned his car behind the vehicle. The Driver was asleep in the driver seat of the vehicle with the keys in the ignition. The ignition was off and lights on. The Deputy attempted to wake the driver by banging several times on the front window. When the driver did not respond, the Deputy attempted to yell through a crack in the window as he continued to bang on the window threatening to break it. The driver then woke up and the Deputy instructed him to exit the vehicle.
A DUI investigator was called to the scene. He observed the driver to have bloodshot eyes, and a distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath. The DUI investigator requested the driver to complete field sobriety exercises to which the driver agreed. The driver performed poorly on the exercises was arrested for DUI. The driver then provided a breath sample of .160 and .159.
Results: The firm provided an information packet to the prosecutors dealing with the initial contact by the Deputy and the breath test results. Based on the review of these documents and information, the State dropped the DUI charge.
