What types of cases does this law firm handle? 
Personal Injury, Civil Rights and Criminal Defense.

What are your hours?
We are open Monday through Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm. We are closed on Federal Holidays. If you are a new or existing client and want to speak to an attorney, call the office to schedule an appointment.

What should I do if I have an urgent legal matter outside of office hours?
Leave a message with our answering service.

Is there a consultation fee? 
Free consultations are offered for personal injury and criminal defense cases. There is a $500 fee for investigation and analysis into any Civil Rights case.

What does board certified mean
The Florida Certification Plan was approved by the Supreme Court of Florida to help legal consumers identify layers who have special expertise in particular fields of law practice, as well as character, ethics, and a reputation for professionalism in the practice of law. As part of the evaluation process, Rule 6-3.5(c)(6), Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, provides in pertinent part: Peer review shall be used to solicit information to assess competence in the specialty field and professionalism and ethic in the practice of law. To qualify for board certification, an applicant must be recognized as having achieved a level of competence indicating special knowledge, skills, and proficiency in handling the usual matters in the specialty field. The applicant shall also be evaluated as to character, ethics, and reputation for professionalism.

Can I get my Mugshot Removed from the internet?
Websites that primarily engage in publishing booking photographs of arrestees, must take down any photographs upon written request within 10 days of the request. If the business fails to remove the requested photographs within 10 days of the request, the business can be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 per day of noncompliance as well as reasonable attorney’s fees.

Do police have to notify parents prior to questioning a kid?
No. Police officers can question your child without notifying you. A kid does not have a constitutional right to have a parent present when being questioned by police. Therefore, it is important for kids to know their constitutional right to remain silent and their right to request an attorney.
It is important to inform your child that they don’t have to speak to law enforcement and to respectfully decline to have any conversation with them until a parent or guardian is present.

How long does the State have to file charges?
Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.134, a defendant in custody who has not been formally charged by the State within 30 days after being arrest, the court will put the State on notice. Then on the 33rd day, the defendant shall be ordered released on their own recognizance unless the State files formal charges. This does not mean that the charges are dismissed, but prevents the State from keeping people in jail without formally charging you with a crime.  This is unrelated to Speedy Trial.

How many times can you get your charges sealed or expunged?
Did you know in the State of Florida you are only allowed to expunge or seal one incident of arrest?  With respect to the relief offered by Florida Statutes, a person may only seal or expunge one arrest record in one proceeding. More than one arrest record may be sealed or expunged in a single proceeding if the court, in its sole discretion, finds the arrests in question to be directly related.

Can you sue a police officer for negligent investigation?
No. Under Florida law, negligent conduct in police investigations does not give rise to a cause of action because the duty to protect the public is owed to the public generally. Pritchett v. City of Homestead, 855 So.2d 1164, 1165 (Fla. 3d DCA 2003). There is no legal duty of care to the person who is the subject of a criminal investigation. Id.; Stephen v. State, 659 So.2d 705 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995);  Seguine v. City of Miami, 627 So.2d 14 (Fla. 3d DCA 1993).

Do the cops have to read me my Miranda Rights?
Cops only have to read you your Miranda Rights if you are in custody and you are being questioned by the police officers. Statements made when you are not in custody or that you make on your own free will are not protected by Miranda.

Can I sue a judge?
No, judges have complete immunity from lawsuits for all actions done in the court and scope of their duties as judge.

What is a CJA Attorney?
Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel attorneys are private attorneys appointed by the court to represent indigent defendants in federal criminal cases the Federal Defender’s Office cannot. This is usually due to a conflict. CJA Panel attorneys are experienced in criminal defense and knowledgeable of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Federal Rules of Evidence, and federal policies and procedures.

How do I file an Internal Affairs Complaint?
An Internal Affairs Complaint can be filed by going to the agency where the officer is employed and requesting to file an IA Complaint. The initial step includes filling out paperwork explaining your Complaint. Once the Complaint is filed and reviewed by the agency, they may request a recorded statement or additional information from you. We advise consulting with an attorney prior to giving a recorded statement.

Do you have to file an Internal Affairs Complaint within a specific period of time?
No, there is no time limit to file a Complaint against a police officer. However, the sooner a complaint is filed a more serious the agency is likely to take it. You must make sure that following the internal affairs does not interfere with other claims. Often the agency will want you to give a sworn statement and you must only do so after seeking the advice of counsel but whether that is a prudent move considering your overall goals.

What does “No Information” filed mean?
An information is an accusation or criminal charge similar to an indictment, except that it is brought by the public prosecutor rather than a grand jury. If a notice of no information is filed, it indicates that the prosecutor believes there is insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and is declining to prosecute the case.https://definitions.uslegal.com/n/notice-of-no-information/

What is a contingency fee?
A contingency fee is a percentage of money an attorney gets paid only if they win a case. Winning can either be by settlement or a jury verdict.

Is the state required to offer you a plea deal?
No. While plea offers are made in most cases, the State is not legally obligated to make any offer.

If my criminal case gets dismissed, will my arrest history or mugshot get taken down as a result?
No, your arrest and your mugshot will still be publicly viewable. In order to resolve it, you will have to have your case expunged. If you would like to assistance in getting an expungement, contact us.

If I get a DUI will I have to have an ignition interlock installed in my car to drive?
If you provide a breath sample of .15 or greater, you will be required to have the ignition interlock device installed in your car. The length of time it must remain in your car depends on the charge and/or prior convictions for DUI. These devises can be very expensive. Therefore, it is imperative to contact an attorney to try to avoid this sanction.

If my criminal charges are dropped can I sue the cops for false arrest?
Maybe.
Probable cause is the standard for a lawful arrest in a criminal case. Arguable probable cause is the standard used to determine a lawful arrest in a civil false arrest case.
Arguable probable cause exists if a reasonable officer in the same circumstances and possessing the same knowledge as the officer, could have believed that probable cause existed to arrest the person, even if actual probable cause did not exist. Therefore, if the officer makes a reasonable mistake, he will be exempt from a false arrest claim.
The civil standard is lower than the criminal standard. So just because your charges were dismissed in criminal court because of lack of probable cause, does not necessarily mean you have a valid false arrest claim in the civil court.
If you believe you or someone you know may have been falsely arrested, please contact our office to set up a consultation with one of our civil rights attorneys.

What types of incidents are considered “Personal Injury”?
Personal Injury refers to a type of lawsuit through which a victim or their families can obtain compensation when they get hurt because of the negligent actions of another person.
Some of the ways that a Personal Injury can occur include:
- Car crashes
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites & animal attacks
- Poor road maintenance
- Medical malpractice
- Intentional acts like assault and battery

What does full coverage really mean in Florida?
Full coverage just means you have comprehensive/collision coverage under your automobile insurance coverage.  Does not indicate you are cover by Bodily Injury Coverage which covers third parties if you are at fault for their injuries nor does it mean you are covered by uninsured/underinsured coverage which would cover you for any injuries sustained in an accident wherein the at-fault party has no Bodily Injury coverage which is not a requirement in Florida.  Check your policy and make sure you are properly covered in case your are involved in an automobile accident as full coverage does not really mean you are fully covered. 
If you’re not sure what insurance coverage is beneficial to you, call our office.