Practice Areas

Criminal Defense | Personal Injury

Criminal Defense

Criminal Defense includes felonies and misdemeanors such as domestic violence, DUI’s, narcotic defense, assault, kidnapping, and rape.

If you’ve been arrested:

As a criminal defendant you have the constitutional right to be represented by a lawyer at all stages of the criminal proceeding. In certain cases your lawyer can appear for you in court without your presence under Penal Code Section 977. You should understand the constitutional rights that you’ll have during these criminal proceedings.

  1. You have the right to a speedy and public trial.
  2. You have the right to confront and cross examine all witnesses against you.
  3. You have the right to remain silent.
  4. You have the right to present evidence on your behalf and to subpoena all witnesses at no cost to you.

The criminal process begins with the investigation and an arrest by a law enforcement agency. The arresting officers forward any reports, statements and evidence to the district attorney for prosecution. Once you’ve been arrested you will have the following court dates:

  1. Arraignment - The first court hearing is the arraignment. At the arraignment you will be presented with a formal complaint detailing any charges and special allegations against you. It is important to have your attorney at this stage of the proceedings to advise you of your constitutional rights, enter a not guilty plea, and request a reduction of bail or release on your own recognizance.
  2. Pre-Trial Readiness Conference - This is a conference where the Judge, Deputy District Attorney and your Defense Attorney will meet to discuss and negotiate a settlement of the case. Each and every case is different in circumstances and facts; as such a variety of scenarios may take place during this conference. For example: the Deputy District Attorney may give an offer to settle; your Defense Attorney may give an offer to settle; a continuance may be requested to conduct further investigation and discovery in the matter. If a settlement is not reached at this time the case goes on to a preliminary hearing.
  3. Preliminary Hearing - The preliminary hearing is an opportunity to listen to the prosecution's witnesses and hear the evidence in the case. A judge must determine if there are sufficient facts to indicate that the defendant is guilty of the alleged crime. The defendant has the right to a preliminary hearing within ten days after the arraignment. If sufficient facts are not found, the case is dismissed. If sufficient facts are found, the case is said to be bound over and the defendant is once again arraigned on the charges. The complaint is now formally called an information.
  4. Trial Readiness Conference - This is another opportunity for the defense counsel to negotiate a favorable outcome for the defendant. The judge, Deputy District Attorney and defense counsel meet to discuss the case.

Personal Injury

Personal Injury includes automobile accidents, civil torts causing injuries, slip and fall, etc.

If you’ve been in an auto collision:

  1. Exchange name, insurance and driver’s license information at the scene of the collision.
  2. Take photographs of property damage and physical damage as soon as possible following the accident.
  3. Contact your insurance provider and file an accident report (Form SR-1) form with your local DMV office. This form is available here.
  4. Advise your insurance adjuster that you have legal representation and provide your attorney’s name and phone number.
  5. DO NOT give statements pertaining to your case to your insurance provider or to the person that was driving the other automobile involved in the accident.
  6. Follow the medical protocol as established by your treating doctor.
  7. Keep your attorney’s office updated with your current address and telephone number.

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