The client was charged with causing a fatality after she was hit by a motorcycle while turning on a rural road. The victim's riding partner had taped the entire incident on a GoPro camera and this was introduced at trial. The firm argued that the motorcycle driver started to pass the client after the client had already began to make her turn. In addition, the Firm also pointed out that the speedometer on the motorcycle at the time of the crash was about 20 miles an hour over the posted speed limit. As a result the judge found the client not guilty.
After a 3 month joint investigation by the DEA and the Orange County Sheriff's Office, our client was arrested for (1) Conspiracy to Traffic in More than 400 Kilograms of Cocaine, (2) Attempted Trafficking of 400 kilograms of Cocaine or More, (3) Attempted Sale of a Counterfeit Substance, and (4) Possession of Less than 20 Grams of Marijuana. The charges carried a maximum of 50 years in prison plus 1 year in jail and over $250,000 in fines. The highest charge also carried a minimum mandatory sentence of at least 15 years in prison with no early release possible. It was alleged that our client traveled from Miami to Orlando carrying 2 kilograms of cocaine brought in from the Bahamas to sell to an FBI confidential informant at the Florida Mall. Our client was originally booked in on a $500,000 bond and a pre-trial detention hold. Once our client's family hired our firm, our attorney first began by filing a motion to reduce the bond amount and life the pre-trial detention hold. The Judge agreed with our motions and reduced the bond to $25,000 and lifted the hold. Next our attorneys began investigating the DEA's evidence including surveillance video, recorded phone calls, text messages, and confidential informant testimony. Over 15 depositions were conducted in this case leading to evidence that our client's co-defendant and another man were the actual targets of the initial investigation. We filed a motion to dismiss the charges against our client and argued that motion before the Judge a week prior to trial. Prior to the Judge issuing a ruling the State agreed to dismiss all felony charges against our client.
Our client was driving 80/40 mph and ran multiple flashing red lights. As the police officer pursed our client, the client lost control of his car, jumped the curb and blew out his tire. After being asked, the client admitted that he was "coming from a club". During our conversations with the police, we were able to get him to admit that there was very little traffic on the road, and that our client's driving did not effect other drivers. We argued to the State that they would not be able to prove a reckless driving charge at trial. They ultimately agreed, and dismissed the charge.
The client was alleged to have wrecked her vehicle in a drainage ditch. When the officers arrived they saw witnesses and and the client standing near her vehicle with her keys in her purse. The witnesses told the the officers that they had to pull the client from her vehicle, and the client admitted she as driving and crashed into the ditch. The officer smelled alcohol and had the client do roadside sobriety exercises, which she did poorly on. She then gave a breath sample that was nearly three times the legal limit. The client was then charged with a second DUI enhanced crash. The Firm investigated the case thoroughly and found a fatal flaw in the officers investigation, in that he failed to take down the witnesses identification. Based upon this, the Firm filed a motion to exclude the clients admission of driving based upon case law. The state agreed and dismissed the DUI charge.
According to police, the Defendant and a female were parked in a vehicle. They were acting suspicious, so the officer made contact with the individuals. Upon making contact with the female, he saw in plain view a baggie containing pills. Upon further search of the car, more pills were found. The Defendant eventually admitted that some of the pills were his and that he was meeting someone in the parking lot to sell them to. He was arrested and charged with a second degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The attorney for the firm investigated the case and filed a Motion to Suppress the evidence that was obtained. On the day that the motion was set to be heard, the State agreed to reduce the charge to a 3rd degree felony and to allow the Defendant to enter into a program for first time offenders who have minor charges. Upon completion of the program, the attorney for the firm was able to get the prosecutor to drop the case completely.
Witnesses observed the Defendant crash into his neighbor’s parked car. The neighbor saw the Defendant exit the vehicle and go inside his house. Shortly after, the Defendant exited the house with his wife and indicated that she was the one who was driving. When police arrived, they smelled the odor of alcohol on his breath, saw bloodshot eyes and a flushed face. Police arrested the Defendant for DUI and requested a breath sample. The Defendant complied. Because of the Defendant’s multiple priors, it was filed as a felony charge, punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The attorney for the firm prepared the case for trial. The State dismissed the case against the Defendant.
On January 14, 2016 a Hernando County Deputy observed a a vehicle pass him at approximately 50 mph in a 40 mph zone. The vehicle then crossed over the fog line then signaled to change lanes. The vehicle then began to change from the right lane to the left lane but straddled the centerline. The vehicle then began tailgating the vehicle ahead of it.
The Deputy then initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, the Defendant. The Defendant had bloodshot/watery eyes and an odor of alcohol on his breath. The Defendant ignored the question when Deputy asked if he had been drinking. The Defendant then submitted to field sobriety exercises which indicated impairment. The Defendant was then arrested for DUI. The Defendant then provided breath samples of .129 and .129. The Defendant's license was suspended for child support so he was also charged with driving while license suspended with knowledge.
Results: the firm set the case for trial and prior to trial the state dropped both the DUI and Driving while suspended charges.
Our client was charged with Reckless Driving after a police officer allegedly clocked him at 140 mph in a 70 mph zone on I-4 around 3am. In court, the attorney argued the officer failed to show how our client's alleged high speed driving in the early hours of the morning without more rose to the level of reckless driving. The State argued that the level of the speed alone was enough to prove that our client was in fact driving recklessly as a matter of driving twice the speed limit. We presented arguments to the court that there was no indication in any report or citation that our client's driving put any other person at risk or in danger and was insufficient to sustain the charge. The Judge asked the State if there was any evidence any other motorists were at risk, and when the State responded that they did not know, the Judge replied, "Well then the Defense's argument seems to be right, don't ya think?" The State responded by dismissing the case against our client.
According to the police, the Defendant was driving erratically and switching lanes back on forth on the Turnpike. She slammed on her brakes, causing other traffic to slow down, then changed lanes again and accelerating to a high speed. The officer pulled her over and noticed the strong odor of alcohol on her breath, flushed face and slurred speech. The officer conducted a DUI investigation. According to the officer, the Defendant performed very poorly on the roadside exercises. The officer placed the Defendant under arrest and asked her to provide a breath sample. The Defendant refused. The attorney investigated the case and prepared for trial. The State dropped all DUI related charges.
Our client was charged with Reckless Driving and Felony Fleeing and Eluding (2nd Degree Felony, punishable by up to 15 years in Florida State Prison). The video captured by the arresting officer showed our client traveling more than 90 mph in a 35 mph zone. When the officer's lights were activated, out client continued driving causing a van to swerve off of the road. Our investigation revealed that the officers speedometer had not been properly calibrated to legally measure speed. After filing a Motion to Suppress and informing the State Attorney's office about the problems with their evidence, the State agreed to drop all felony charges. The speeding ticket was dismissed as well!
Our Client got stick in the mud while attempting a u-turn on a rural interstate. The client was attempting to free himself from the mud when State Troopers arrived on the scene. The troopers noted a strong smell of alcohol on our clients breath and that he had bloodshot glassy eyes and slurred speech. Our client refused the Breathalyzer. The officers asked our client to do field sobriety exercises which he voluntarily did. The police report indicates a very bad performance on the exercises, and there was no video to contradict this. However, there was audio where our client spoke clearly in a Haitian accent. At a motion to suppress hearing the officers testified badly under cross examination and gave conflicting testimony. While our motion was denied, the poor testimony at the hearing convinced the State Attorney to offer our client a Reckless Driving in lieu of a DUI.
Our client was arrested for allegations of driving a motorcycle at a high rate of speed and cutting in and out of traffic with a second motorcycle. According to law enforcement our client was running stop signs, splitting lanes in between vehicles, and was observed by a law enforcement helicopter. Law enforcement made contact with our client just as he was driving off from his driveway. After bonding out of jail our client contacted our office to begin working on his case. We thoroughly reviewed all of the State's evidence and Law Enforcement's reports. Our office then prepared a defense strategy. Finally, we reviewed each detail of the case with the State pointing out the several flaws in the reports. Soon after the State dropped all charges.
