Don't Let an Orange Jumpsuit Be Your Halloween Costume

Almost half of fatal accidents happen during Halloween weekend as a result of drinking and driving.

While dressing up and celebrating can be a great time, it’s important to remember cops are actively patrolling for drunk drivers. The stakes of a DUI are too high to risk arrest, so we advise designating a sober driver and avoiding getting behind the wheel.

A new campaign, Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving, includes scary stats that from 2013-2017, 158 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween.

Don’t ruin your Halloween party by ending up in jail. Talk with your teens about safe choices and the consequences of underage drinking and a DUI.

If you do find yourself under arrest, our offices are open 24/7 so you can call us right away to fight for you.

Find Out Your Sweetheart Is Not So Sweet After All?

This month celebrates Sweetest Day but for many, a broken marriage is on the horizon.

If you are considering a divorce we can advise you on the best steps to take to ensure your rights, finances, business and property are protected.

When children are involved it is even more imperative that you seek legal counsel before filing. As a father, gaining custody can be a huge hurdle, but we are proud to say we have successfully helped single fathers gain full-time custody.

If you are a mother considering a divorce, we are here to work on your behalf to make sure you and your children are adequately taken care of as the law demands.

Let us walk you through the divorce process with ease and schedule your consultation today.

New Air Patrols Catch Distracted Ohio Drivers

It's not just drunk driving that can get you in trouble.

New air patrols in Ohio are now being used to catch distracted drivers using their cell phones.

Dayton Daily News reported, “Distracted driving, which includes texting, talking on the phone or other behaviors, was a factor in 13,727 crashes in Ohio last year. Fifty-one people died in those accidents and 6,860 people were injured, the patrol statistics show.”

As an effort to keep drivers safe, Ohio Highway Patrol Troopers are now able to monitor from the sky if a car is driving too close, veering into another lane, or identify other signs that a driver is not focused on the road.

“Ohio law prohibits drivers younger than 18 from using electronic wireless communication devices while driving. Texting while driving is illegal for all drivers but it’s a secondary offense, which means police can only pull the driver over for another infraction such as speeding.”

This means all ages need to avoid texting and driving.

We also urge sober and safe driving, but if you or your teenager are facing consequences for distracted driving, contact us immediately.

Personal Injury Against Grill Manufacturers

We just resolved an interesting claim involving an outside grill that exploded in our client’s back yard.

Client was not injured too badly, but we were able to resolve the claim against the grill company.

Client never believed they would pay but we worked tirelessly on his behalf.

Divorce and Custody Case Resolved

We just resolved a very long and complicated divorce case involving people living in other states and other houses – with two young, bright kids.

It took about a week of trial, and many witnesses to get the parties where they needed to be in order to resolve the case.

But it did resolve and our client was pleased with the outcome.

Federal Drug Sentencing Case

We are working on an interesting federal sentencing matter.

Our client (who has an extremely long criminal history) was convicted by a federal jury in January.

He has of a history of drug dealing charges. It is very sad, because this young man has the potential of being sentenced to 30 or more years in federal prison.

Stay tuned for details.

DUI Arrest in Metroparks

Just this week we were able to resolve a slightly serious DUI that happened in one of the area Metroparks.

Although the blood alcohol in the client was very high, we were able to place the many personal family issues in front of the judge in such a way as to get the judge to only order the bare minimum sentence for the client.

This single working mother was (all things considered) very grateful about the outcome.

Registration for Our Lady of the Wayside Run and Walk is Open!

Celebrate the end of summer with a family fun run and walk, or add an extra workout and join the four mile run at Rocky River High School on September 22.

Hosted by Q104, this great run is perfect for all ages and includes a family fun area!

Proceeds support Our Lady of the Wayside, which helps almost 1,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities by providing residential, transportation and day programming services throughout 8 Northeast Ohio counties including: Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Summit, and Trumbull.

Don’t miss a chance to enjoy time with the family, get some exercise and give much-needed resources to so many wonderful children and adults.

Register by September 6th to guarantee your shirt!

Have You Been Injured at Work?

We will soon celebrate Labor Day to honor all of the workers who faced dangerous working conditions centuries ago, but many employees still face illegal risks every day.

Despite legal protections and federal laws in place, many current employees still suffer from unsafe workplaces.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed in 1970 to prevent workers from being injured at work. Every employee, no matter what industry you are in, is entitled to a safe work environment where your long-term health is protected on a daily basis.

In addition to this federal law, Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation defines clearly what each Ohio employee is entitled to and what every Ohio business must provide for their workers.

Whether you are in the construction, manufacturing or trade industry, daily exposures to new threats can cause severe injury.

We are here to protect your legal rights and to also help you get all of the support you need after suffering an injury on the job.

Is September the New Divorce Month?

The most popular month for weddings has now become the second highest month to file for divorce.

As a long summer at home with the kids adds extra stress to the marriage, and family vacations and child care causes more financial pressures, many begin seeking a divorce.

If you have been considering a divorce it is important you consult with an attorney before taking any actions. Understanding what you are entitled to and if children are involved, your legal rights as a parent should always remain protected.

We have experience representing wives and husbands, and are poised to protect you and your children as you take the proper steps to ending your marriage.

Let us help you through this difficult and often challenging process and contact us today.

Ohio Worker's Compensation and Insurance Battle

We are currently working for a husband and father who suffered a difficult work injury which has had him incur a six figure worker’s compensation claim.

Now, his own insurance company has insulted he and his family by offering him compensation that nets out to be almost nothing.

This is because whatever he gets from his own insurance company will be claimed by the Ohio Worker’s Compensation as “reimbursement” for the claim they created for his injury.

In fact, the Ohio Worker’s Compensation system has essentially sued our client to try and get all of this insurance money. The fight for ethical compensation for our clients’ injuries almost never ends.

Major Victory for Father

We just got done last week with getting a young father sole exclusive custody of his toddler son.

Even in 2019, there appears to be a bias against males and parenting with their children.

This was not an easy case and we are happy for this young man who is a great parent.

Jail Time Avoided for Serious DUI Charges

We just had a rather serious case for a client that worked out the best way it could.

After leaving a local tavern, the client was followed by a police officer – and when the officer attempted to pull over the client, the client (in a very impulsive manner which upon reflection the client seriously regrets), fled in his car for a short while and then (successfully) on foot.

The police did not have much difficulty figuring out who he was (video is everywhere).

The client was facing about a year in jail for all of this.

However, we worked hard to professionally negotiate a resolution which required that the client pay a big fine and do only (and we mean only) a weekend in jail.

Most Dangerous Days on the Road

As your family enjoys this last month of summer, make sure to make safe choices.

As college-bound kids savor one more month with their friends, it’s important to explain how much a DUI or underage drinking arrest can affect not only their college acceptance but also their future.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol remain on high alert during the “100 deadliest days,” Memorial Day through Labor Day. More parties and getaways means an increased chance there are less sober drivers.

Make sure every driver in your home always chooses alcohol-free driving and if you get caught behind bars and are facing DUI charges, our office is open 24/7 so call us immediately.

Back to School Custody

The time to fill out back to school forms is here and whether it’s a new student, new address, or new school, every school district will need one legal guardian identified.

If you find yourself losing custody and parental rights, we urge you to let us help. No parent should be without their legal rights when it comes to raising a child.

We have helped father’s gain full custody (not an easy feat) and mother’s maintain sole physical custody.

Whatever your situation, we have the knowledge and experience to protect you and your children. Contact us today.

Is Divorce Increasing or Marriage Decreasing?

39% of Americans said marriage is becoming obsolete in a study by Time magazine.

According to the Census Bureau, more than half of all households have unmarried people rather than married couples.

If you do find yourself considering marriage or a divorce, it’s important you understand the legal repercussions of both.

If you have assets that need protected, we can help ensure you keep your business, property and investments in the event the upcoming marriage fails.

A divorce carries an even greater need for qualified legal counsel, as each spouse often assumes they will keep more than they are legally entitled to.

Whatever course of action you choose, we suggest you schedule a consultation to see how we can protect all of your financial assets.

DUI Reduction for Young Client

We were happy this week to get a well deserved reduction for a young man (just starting out in his professional career) who had been arrested for a DUI in March.

As we have stated before, although there are a number of opinions about what you should do and say when pulled over by the police for a suspected DUI case, it is always best to be polite.

It also helps when you are polite during the legal process. In this case, in addition to the legal issues we were able to identify through a review of the dash cam video, the overall polite and cooperative tone of the arrest and court process aided in convincing the prosecutor and police that the young man was entitled to a reduction.

Good young man who made a mistake. Now he can get on with his life with a great lesson.

Successful Outcome in Automobile Accident

Last week we were able to finally resolve an automobile injury case that had been litigated for a number of years.

We had to spend a large amount of time and expense to prove that our client was not at fault for the accident and that she had legitimate injuries related to the accident.

The insurance adjuster on this case was very difficult and unreasonable in accessing responsibility, and made everyone (including insurance defense counsel) jump through many many hoops to get this case done.

Very happy for the client here.

Safe Summer Employment Tips for Your Teen

Your college kids are home for the summer and it’s time to fill those days and nights with a summer job!

We have represented too many clients who have suffered work-place injuries, and have found the best list of over 25 safety-approved jobs for your teen.

Whether their goal is to work indoors or outdoors, full-time or part-time, the most important thing is keeping them busy (and thus giving them less time to get into trouble).

When looking for new jobs, it’s important for parents to be aware of The Fair Labor Standards Act, which “contains rules concerning the employment of young workers, those under the age of 18, and is administered and intended to protect the health and well-being of youth in America. The FLSA contains minimum age restrictions for employment, restrictions on the times of day youth may work, and the jobs they may perform.'‘

For any concerns about workplace safety or injuries that have occurred, contact our office.

Computer Crime Federal Jury Trial Ends

We just finished a two and a half week long federal jury trial involving computer crime.

This case was extremely technical and voluminous. Over 2,000 exhibits and witnesses from all over the United States and the world were called in.

The charges Involved a 10-year long FBI investigation of computer fraud and an allegation that citizens from Romania were involved in internet fraud of US citizens.