When a jury for a criminal trial cannot agree to a verdict, a mistrial is declared. Mistrials can be advantageous for a criminal defendant because the State may decide not to retry the case and the charge will be dismissed.…
When I am representing a nurse who is under investigation by the nursing board, I choose the defense strategy based on the facts of the case. There are two different ways to proceed, and which type of defense we use…
One of the first questions my personal injury clients ask is usually -- what is the value of my case? The appropriate legal appraisal is based on the type of injury and the losses you have suffered. I have tried…
When someone is severely injured or a family loses a loved one, there will be mental and emotional damages in addition to economic losses. A jury that is considering an award for a personal injury or a wrongful death lawsuit…
Many of my criminal defense clients and their families ask similar questions -- What diversion programs are available? Am I eligible? What about work release, GPS monitoring, and day reporting programs? Could I enter a drug diversion program? Where do…
In criminal cases where there are multiple defendants for a single crime, the district attorney or prosecuting attorney can bill the charge under one docket number. This means that all defendants will be tried at the same time in front…
I recently had someone come to see me about a family member who had been charged as a “principal” to first degree murder. He did not understand why his relative had been charged since the person had not actually participated…
If you are ever charged with a serious crime and you are looking at possible jail time, the most important phrase you will hear and learn about is “beyond a reasonable doubt.” What this means is that in a criminal…
While people may know that the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution protects them against “unreasonable search and seizure,” they may not know the practical aspects of this right. This is a real life example that shows how the…
As a Louisiana criminal defense attorney, I frequently have clients who are trying to decide if they should accept a plea agreement or go to trial. A key element of the decision making process is the possible sentence exposure –…