On July 14, 2011, a Hillsborough County Sheriff Deputy observed a white Nissan eastbound on Adamo Dr. traveling at 68 mph in a 50 mph zone. The vehicle was also swerving in and out of traffic. The Deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver and sole occupant, the Defendant. The Defendant identified himself verbally because he did not have a DL on him. The Deputy observed the Defendant have red, watery eyes, slurred speech, and odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath. In the passenger seat were a bottle of wine and a six pack of beer. There was an additional half full bottle spilling onto the floor. The defendant was observed to be unsteady on his feet when exiting the vehicle. The Deputy requested field sobriety exercises, which the Defendant did not consent to do, instead repeatedly asking what he did wrong. The Defendant was arrested and transported to central breath testing. The Defendant refused to submit to a breath test after being explained the implied consent law. The Defendant has also issued citations for speeding, open container, and no proof of DL. Results: The firm convinced the State to drop the DUI charge based on lack of evidence.
The Defendant was stopped for allegedly failing to stop at a steady red light and running a stop sign. Upon being stopped, the Officer observed what he believed to be signs of impairment coming from the driver. After being asked to exit the vehicle, he was asked to submit to roadside tasks. According to the Officer, the Defendant performed poorly and could not recite the alphabet correctly as well. The Defendant was arrested and was asked to submit a sample of his breath which was refused. The Firm aggressively worked on the case from the beginning and listed more than 20 witnesses including seven expert witnesses. After retrieving video surveillance from previous establishments that the Defendant visited prior to being arrested, an in person meeting was set up with the Office of the State Attorney. The State of Florida reviewed all witness statements and the pre-filing packet provided by the firm and declined to file the charges for Driving Under the Influence.
The defendant was charged with Reckless Driving for crashing into several vehicles around her at the parking lot and causing lots of damage. The State refused to drop the charges against the defendant and was asking that she be put on probation and pay all costs of restitution. The Firm obtained witnesses that were able to state that cause of the accident was related to the vehicle’s malfunctioning transmission and set the case for trial. The State dismissed the criminal charges in the case.
The Defendant was charged with DUI after wrecking her car into a ditch. She performed Field sobriety exercises and was then given a breath sample, to which she blew over the limit. At the first pre-trial hearing The Firm set her case for trial. At the day of trial, the firm was able to get the State Attorney to dismiss all charges against the defendant.
The Defendant was pulled over after a police officer observed him swerve over the line multiple times and enter into the bike path. The officer indicated that if anyone had been in the bike lane, they would have been hit. When the officer came into contact with the defendant, he smelled alcohol on his breath and noticed that his eyes were bloodshot and watery. The officer requested that the defendant performs roadside exercises. The defendant performed very poorly on each of the exercises. The defendant also admitted to drinking several beers prior to driving. The attorney for the firm filed and argued a motion to suppress the stop of the vehicle. The judge granted the motion to suppress, and the State dropped the DUI case against the defendant.
The Defendant was pulled over after a police officer observed him swerve over the line multiple times and enter into the bike path. The officer indicated that if anyone had been in the bike lane, they would have been hit. When the officer came into contact with the defendant, he smelled alcohol on his breath and noticed that his eyes were bloodshot and watery. The officer requested that the defendant performs roadside exercises. The defendant performed very poorly on each of the exercises. The defendant also admitted to drinking several beers prior to driving. The attorney for the firm filed and argued a motion to suppress the stop of the vehicle. The judge granted the motion to suppress, and the State dropped the DUI case against the defendant.
On June 10, 2011, the Defendant was stopped on I-75 for speeding. Upon making contact with the driver, the Deputy learned that the Defendant did not have a valid license. The Defendant had been convicted of driving on an expired license in 2007, 2008 and in April of 2011. The Deputy arrested the Defendant for driving while license suspended, canceled or revoked. Results: The case was set for trial and on the day the trial was set to begin, the state dismissed the charge.
On April 11, 2011, a Tampa Police Officer was sitting at the red traffic signal on E. Busch Blvd and N. 30th St in the inside left turn lane. The officer observed a green 4-door Lincoln Navigator traveling west on Busch BLvd. The driver was not wearing a seat belt. The driver of the vehicle produced a FL driver’s license which was suspended. The officer cited the driver with Driving while license suspended with knowledge and failure to wear the seat belt. Results: The case was set for trial and on the day of trial, the officer was shown a picture of the listed Defendant and his brother. The officer was unable to positively identify which of the individuals was driving the vehicle back in April. Based on that, the State dismissed the case before the trial began.
On June 18th at approximately 2:56 am, a Hillsborough County Sheriff Deputy observed a tan pick-up truck driving westbound on Fletcher Ave. He observed the vehicle swerve to the right side of its lane, then immediately back to the left and then immediately swerve back to the right side of its lane. Then both passenger side tires completely crossed the outside line. The Deputy next observed the vehicle entering the right turn lane, then swerved back into the westbound lane and increase its speed. The Deputy then initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, the Defendant. The Deputy observed the Defendant's eyes be watery, his speech was slurred, and there was a distinct odor of alcohol on his breath. The Deputy requested the Defendant perform field sobriety exercises, which he did poorly. On the walk and turn exercise, the Defendant was unable to remain in the start position, used his arms for balance, had to stop to steady himself and took the incorrect number of steps. On the Rhomberg alphabet exercise, the Defendant swayed back and forth as well as side to side. The Defendant did not recite the alphabet correctly. The Defendant was then arrested for DUI. He refused to submit to a breath test. Result: The firm filed a motion to suppress and on the day the motion was set to be heard, the State dropped the DUI charge.
The Defendant was found to be in Royal Palm Beach after the Joint PBSO Task force was tipped off that he was there with outstanding warrants from Tampa for Armed Robbery. When the Officers got to the business, the Defendant was seen walking out of one of the car bays and walked into a different one. One of the Officers witnessed the Defendant take a firearm out of his pants and place it in a fridge. After leaving that car bay, the Officers ordered the Defendant to the ground. After he refused, he was taken to the ground by one of the officers. The Defendant resisted and at one point punched one of the officers in the leg. Eventually, the K-9 on scene was released and helped get the Defendant under control by biting the Defendant. After being arrested, the Defendant’s keys were found in his pocket to a Van. The Officers secured a search warrant for the van where 84 grams of marijuana was found on the passenger floorboard. The Defendant was arrested for the outstanding warrants and charged with Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Sell, Carrying a Concealed Firearm and Resisting Arrest With Violence. The Firm was able to convince the State of Florida that the Van was not the Defendant's and he therefore could not have known about the marijuana. The State agreed and declined to file those charges. The Firm pointed out discrepancies in the police reports regarding the Resisting charge. Finally, after lengthy negotiations with the State of Florida, all of the State criminal charges were dismissed against the Defendant.
The defendant was stopped by police because the officer believed that the vehicle looked suspicious. The car was in an area that had recently had a number of burglaries. The vehicle was stopped in the middle of an apartment parking lot, not in a legal parking space. The officer approached and determined that the defendant was driving on a suspended license. Because this was his third offense within five years, the defendant was looking at possibly having his license revoked for a period of five years. The firm prepared his case and filed a motion to suppress the stop of his vehicle. The Judge granted the defense motion. The State dismissed the case with no negative consequences for the defendant.
The Defendant was driving on a 2 lane road. He came upon 2 police cars in the right lane with their flashing lights on. As the defendant reached the police cars, an officer stepped out of the vehicle a motioned for him to stop. The officer also stated that he looked directly at the defendant and yelled stop. The defendant proceeded to drive and about 3 mph and kept on going. The officer claimed to hold up his hand and yell stop a second time. The defendant continued driving. He was pulled over a few miles down the road and arrested for failure to obey a lawful command. At trial, the officer's testimony was inconsistent with his report and our client was found NOT GUILTY.
