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Recent blog posts

3 Ways to Defeat a Domestic Violence Charge

Posted on in Criminal Defense

Joliet criminal defense attorney Domestic violence is one of the most serious misdemeanor criminal offenses. As does society, courts look down on those who assault and batter a current or past romantic partner, a family member, or a household member. There are stereotypes attached to a domestic violence conviction that may close off educational or career opportunities. You may suffer severe collateral consequences far beyond any judicial sentencing imposed.

Those who are convicted of offenses related to domestic violence may be incarcerated for up to a year - or more, if domestic violence is charged as a felony - in addition to being fined and placed under the close supervision of a probation officer. The consequences can be severe and life-altering considering the circumstances under which many are arrested. Police officers may respond to a chaotic scene and errantly arrest someone who was not the aggressor. If you are facing domestic violence charges, the importance of reaching out to a qualified attorney as soon as possible cannot be understated. 

Multiple Paths to Dismissal or Acquittal

A variety of legal strategies may be employed in the defense of a domestic violence defendant. Defense strategies that may result in dismissal or acquittal can include: 

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Top 4 Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents in Will County

Posted on in Personal Injury

Joliet truck crash injury lawyerIf you have been involved in a commercial truck accident, you know just how bad these crashes can be. Semi-trucks are enormous vehicles capable of causing extreme destruction in an instant. The responsibility truck drivers have to drive safely is extremely important. Truck driving is a job that requires careful attention at all times, because a single mistake can cause serious harm to others or even lead to fatalities.

Often, commercial truck accidents because a driver has either broken a law that was meant to prevent trucking accidents or driven in a careless manner. On other occasions, it was the trucking company that is to blame for failing to maintain its fleet in a safe condition. One of the things your attorney will need to do is try to get to the bottom of what caused your accident through careful investigation. 

Most Common Reasons for Truck Crashes

There are a few very common mistakes drivers and trucking agencies make that put everyone on the roads in danger. These common mistakes include: 

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What Kind of Medical Evidence Is Used in Personal Injury Cases?

Posted on in Personal Injury

Joliet personal injury lawyerNo one signs up for a personal injury case. Rather, people become plaintiffs in a personal injury lawsuit because something out of their control has happened to them - due to another party’s negligence. Dealing with your injuries is likely already painful and difficult. Fighting to force the party who injured you to compensate you can also be challenging in many ways. It is necessary to introduce substantial evidence to prove the extent and nature of the physical harm that was done to you.

If your case goes to court rather than settling, this may mean that you necessarily will lose some privacy in your medical information. If you are naturally a private person, this may be difficult for you. Understanding the ways that medical evidence may be used in your trial is important so that you are well-prepared. Our attorneys do, of course, always make an effort to secure a settlement you are happy with first. 

Types of Medical Evidence Used in Personal Injury Cases

People are often apprehensive about giving up medical privacy. One of the first things you should know is that the defendant does not have free reign to go diving into your entire medical history. The medical evidence that can be introduced to court is limited in scope and must be relevant to the case at hand. Some types of medical evidence your attorney may want to use include: 

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How Much Trouble Will I Get in for Stealing Makeup From a Drugstore?

Posted on in Criminal Defense

Joliet criminal defense attorneyIn recent years, news headlines in many states have announced that minor shoplifting is not being seriously prosecuted and defendants charged with stealing items valued under a certain amount are only being charged with a misdemeanor offense. Certain cities in Illinois have taken a similarly lenient approach. In 2016, Kim Foxx told Cook County prosecutors that the vast majority of retail theft under $1,000 would only be prosecuted as a misdemeanor rather than a felony. 

While news like this may make it seem like stealing products of little value from retail stores is not a big deal, many drugstores have closed because of an inability to prevent theft and previously lenient prosecutors are now taking a firmer stance against minor theft. Theft laws in Illinois still remain strict and, in Will County, prosecutors are still going after retail thieves aggressively. 

Many Actions Can Be Considered Retail Theft

Everyone knows that putting an item in your pocket or your purse and leaving the store without paying for it is stealing. But several other behaviors can be prosecuted as shoplifting as well, including: 

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Robbing Someone at an ATM in Illinois Carries Serious Consequences

Posted on in Criminal Defense

Joliet bank robbery defense attorneyFor criminals unschooled in federal case law, robbing someone at an ATM might seem like the perfect opportunity to get easy cash without having to commit the more serious crime of holding up a teller at a bank. If you can catch someone at an ATM with their debit card, you may think you can access account funds without risking more than charges of basic robbery. 

This turns out to be a huge mistake. While most personal robberies do indeed fall under state law, robbing someone at an ATM will likely be treated the same as robbing someone at a bank. While courts are still somewhat divided over this issue, rulings exist that have allowed ATM robberies to fall under federal law and jurisdiction, bringing much harsher penalties. If you have been charged with robbing someone at an ATM in Illinois, make sure you have an excellent criminal defense attorney. 

Not All ATM Robberies Are Bank Robberies

There is some division among federal circuit courts that have heard appeals from people who have been charged with robbing someone at an ATM but who dispute that the robbery was a federal crime. In most of these cases, the circuit courts agreed that the ATM money was in the possession and control of the bank and that forcing a customer to withdraw cash from an ATM was also robbing the bank. 

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