In Defense of Those Charged With State and Federal Crimes

Those charged with criminal offenses in Florida face some potentially harsh penalties. The role of the criminal defense attorney is to protect the rights of criminal defendants and to find the best possible outcome of each case.

I Am Under Investigation, What Do I Do?

Anyone that finds out they are under investigation must start taking steps to protect themselves and their future. While some investigations fizzle out on their own, others will lead to a criminal trial with the potential for lifelong penalties. Read ahead for a look at some tips that will help you get through a criminal investigation as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Why Its Important to Take White Collar Cases Seriously

If you have been charged with a white collar crime, you could be sent to jail for many years and required to pay a large fine. In addition, you may be forced to pay restitution to your victims and lose some or all of your professional licenses. Therefore, you need to hire an attorney who may be able to help you fight your case in a competent manner.

Local Lawyers Can Help Deal with Robbery Charges

Robbery is a serious crime. If you’re facing robbery charges, a little know-how can help a lot. Federal robbery charges may range from serious incidents like bank robberies to something less severe but no less a misdemeanor, such as a college student threatening another to give him his or her money. Two factors distinguish robbery from two other similar felonies─ theft and burglary─ and a prosecutor will have to prove them against a criminal defense attorney in Fort Lauderdale.

First is that the victim who owns or handles the property needs to have been nearby during the incident. This includes stealing a wallet from a stranger walking down the street or locking a store clerk outside to steal money from the cash register.

Distinguishing the Crime of Robbery from Theft

Various movie and television scenes produce an impression that professional robbers have a thrilling, lavish life. Unfortunately, being charged with this criminal offense in reality is something no one ever really aspires to experience.

Raising Doubts against Breathalyzer Results

In every Florida driver’s license is the statement, “Operator of a motor vehicle constitutes consent to any sobriety test required by law.” This means that if an officer stops you because he or she has reasonable cause to suspect you of driving under the influence, you are legally bound to take the breath test, when asked by a traffic officer, to determine your blood alcohol content (BAC). Refusal to take the test would mean the risk of losing your right to drive legally. License suspension for those charged with DUI can last for up to 12 months for first-time offenders, and 18 months for the second and third.

Get Legal Help with Internet Copyright Problems

The Internet is a great place to get ideas. The big problem is when you copy those ideas outright. This could land you in hot water.

Fort Lauderdale companies are starting to enforce strict guidelines to ensure originality and avoid infringement issues. Often, the blurred lines of ownership for content published on the Internet does not make anyone safe from copyright issues. It is true that there are people who blatantly ignore copyright laws, but there are also those who are accused of a crime they did not intentionally do. Persons or businesses in such a situations should immediately contact a criminal defense attorney who is experienced in white collar crimes.

All around the country and the world, there has been a rise in cases surrounding intellectual property ownership for content (including photos and videos) posted on the Web. As expert sources have said, while traditionally, damages and injunctions have been the common response to the unlawful use of copyrighted materials, widespread cases have made Internet copyright infringement a growing white collar crime.

There are times when companies would use “free” content on the Internet, thinking that they have covered all legal copyright grounds, but encounter a problem when the original source steps forward. A white collar criminal defense attorney can help resolve the issue before it affects the company’s reputation.

Finding the Right Lawyer to Represent You

Looking for the right criminal defense attorney can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t know what qualities to look for in one. When looking for a reliable lawyer to represent your case, keep the following tips in mind:
Find a lawyer with extensive experience.

There are many lawyers in Fort Lauderdale that have experience in court, but be sure to hire an attorney that has extensive experience in the type of prosecution you are facing. He or she has to have at least a few years of experience in criminal defense and litigation.

Proving Claims of Domestic Violence

The home is often seen as a place of love and caring; however, some differences and certain circumstances become the precursor of things spinning out of control.

In the state of Florida, domestic violence is defined as any criminal offense that resulted in injury or death, committed by one household member against another. The term “household or family member” may refer to persons with blood relations or related by marriage, current or former spouses, people residing together as a family, and couples with a common child. To protect victims from the abuser, temporary injunctions or restraining orders are issued by the judge even without the presence of the liable party.

Common Criminal Case Defenses an Attorney Might Make

In a criminal case, it’s your right to defend yourself especially if you are being falsely charged. Your criminal defense attorney might use one of these common defenses to help you establish your innocence or reduce your sentence. 

            1.       You Have an Ironclad Alibi

If you weren’t anywhere near the scene of the crime when it happened, then you have a very strong defense. Your lawyer will present evidence to prove that you were in fact somewhere else at the time of the crime through a witnesses’ testimony and other information. 

            2.      Under the Influence

If you were responsible for the crime but you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then your attorney can argue that you were not of sound mind when you committed the crime. This does not, however, absolve you of all the blame. You are still held accountable to some degree. 

            3.      It Was Self-Defense

Violence charges like battery, assault and murder might use self-defense as a justified reason for the use of force that led to the crime. It must be proven in court that resorting to a violent means is reasonable and necessary. 

Still, you can only use these defenses when it suits your particular case. Only a criminal defense attorney can help you determine the best defense to use.