Frequently Asked Questions

I don't know. Nobody knows. There are no odds to calculate. This is your life, not a bet, and the decision to go to trial needs to be made based on more than a numerical probability.

This is the ultimate question asked by many clients facing serious charges.  It is a natural, common question. My initial answer is almost always unsatisfying, and is usually met with frustration or persistence ("Yeah, but if you had to put a number on it...") 

But then this question often leads to a fuller discussion of the trial process and an examination of the expected evidence. We can read the charges together, we can read the standard Jury Instructions together (the rules of the trial the jury will use), and we can talk through the stages of trial. We will look at the evidence, discuss the witnesses, and discuss the strategy for arguments.

That process is a whole lot more informative and meaningful than a number.

There are some court dates where you do not have to appear and some where your appearance is required. 

For each court date, you will receive a text or email (or both), letting you know what the court date is and if you need to be there.  Also, I can show you how to check the docket yourself for extra peace of mind. See the "Helpful Links" page of this website to access court dockets for the county of your case.

For dates where you have to be in court: arrive early (at least thirty minutes) and dress as professionally as you are able--even for quick matters. I have seen countless judges express gratitude to clients for dressing respectfully for court. Avoid shorts, flip-flops, or tank tops. Hats and sunglasses are not allowed to be worn in court and your phone must be off or silent. (No phones or electronics allowed in Federal Court.)

Do NOT drive yourself to court if your license is suspended. Make arrangements ahead of time.

The Florida HSMV has a public website where you can check the status of your Florida driver license free of charge: 

https://services.flhsmv.gov/dlcheck/

Maybe, it depends on what they lied about and what you mean by "thrown out."

If you hire me to be your lawyer, I will examine your case and the evidence thoroughly. You and I will discuss it together. If there is troublesome evidence (statements, guns, drugs, DNA, toxicology reports, etc.) we will look at whether the evidence was discovered legally, obtained legally, handled properly, and analyzed correctly. There are many possible challenges to evidence, some will apply to your case and others will not. 

Not every case will have grounds for a Motion to Suppress. But a successful Motion to Suppress can result in dropped or reduced charges. In 2024, suppression motions I argued led to the State dropping charges in cases concerning burglary, armed burglary, and possession of cocaine. In another case, the State reduced drug trafficking charges to a lessor charge (avoiding the minimum mandatory) prior to hearing. One DUI case was dropped after the motion was filed but before the hearing was held. In another DUI, the motion to suppress was denied, but preserved the issue for appeal.

The examples here are to show my recent track record in identifying and arguing suppression issues. Frivolous motions can hurt the case and our credibility with the court and prosecutors, and should not be filed. Every case is different. Your case may or may not have grounds for a motion to suppress. Not every motion to suppress will result in charges being dropped. What you can expect from me is an honest, direct and well-researched assessment of your case.

Some lies by witnesses, including law enforcement, are not grounds for a motion but need to be considered by a jury at trial. There are instructions for jurors on how to weigh the credibility of witnesses, including law enforcement.  Case strategy will be unique to each case, but depositions, internal affairs records, scene and evidence viewings and more can be useful tools to preparing a solid defense.

And for what it's worth, an undercover cop does not have to answer "are you a cop" questions honestly. 

The consultation is free. The legal fee for your case will be determined by several factors including the nature of the charges, the expected complexity of the legal issues to litigate, the amount of pre-trial discovery and investigation expected.

Payments can be made by cash (in person), check (mail or in person), or credit card or debit card (securely online). Our platform uses LawPay which offers a "pay later" option through Affirm (subject to approval by the lender, see https://www.lawpay.com/affirm/ for more information). 

You may also be asked to provide additional money for case expenses to be held in a Trust account. This money goes towards paying for things like deposition court reporters, transcripts, records, experts, and more. Having your money held in Trust can help avoid delays for services needed to handle your case. Trust money that is unspent is returned to you at the conclusion of the representation. It is separate from the legal fee for attorney services.

I focus my legal practice on felony charges for adults and juveniles in State court. This includes drug possession, drug trafficking, offenses involving firearms, child abuse (including shaken baby syndrome), domestic violence, sex offenses, burglary, theft, fraud, and more. I also represent clients on allegations of violation of probation or community control. While I focus on felony cases, I also handle most misdemeanor charges for adults and juveniles in State court. 

I represent clients in connection with Federal charges in the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. These cases can be exceedingly complex with severe potential punishments. Please call for a consultation. If I am not the right fit for your case, I can recommend other exceptional attorneys to assist you.

I do not handle Death Penalty cases alone, but will assist qualified counsel on such cases. 

I work primarily in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. In the last year, I have also represented clients in Citrus, Hillsborough, Polk, Sumter, Volusia, Brevard, Highlands, and Marion counties.

Currently, I am operating virtually in Osceola, FL. Our initial conversation will be conducted over the phone or through virtual video link.  In-person meetings are available by appointment only. 

Jail visits to incarcerated clients are conducted in person at the jail.