Make Sure Your Bus Riders Stay Safe

Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio State troopers recently joined forces to enforce “Red Lights Mean STOP” an initiative to ensure all drivers follow required stops behind buses.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, “From 2017 to 2019, there were 3,967 crashes involving school buses reported in Ohio. During that time, five people were killed in five crashes and troopers cited 1,999 drivers who passed a school bus when they were required to stop.”

With so many new students now going back to school, it is even more important for drivers to remember they are required to stop 10 feet from the bus to ensure the children safely enter and exit the bus.

“Ohio drivers need to watch for school buses — especially when they stop to drop off or pick up our students,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said. “Working together, we can ensure that school buses remain the safest mode of transportation for students to and from school,” reported by NBC4.com.

We advise anyone facing negligent driving charges to contact our office immediately.

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Be Thankful for No DUI Arrest

No matter where you are celebrating your Thanksgiving this year, make sure you make it to the dinner table by avoiding an arrest the night before.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving has long been known as one of the biggest party nights of the year, and while bars and house parties may look different this year, police will still be out patrolling the roads.

We always advise sober driving, and for those college kids who are now home and able to see friends again, we suggest talking with them about the dangers of both underage drinking and driving while intoxicated.

With statistics showing “a 64 percent increase in accident alerts and a 38 percent increase in police alerts on the Wednesday of Thanksgiving Eve,” it is vital to avoid drinking under the influence at all costs.

If you do find yourself (or your teen), facing charges, we are available even on holidays and encourage you to contact us immediately.

Zoom Court Hearings Continue

We are set to complete two full evidentiary hearings on Zoom with two different courts.

One was a motion to suppress, where the Judge was in one place, the police were in another, our client was at home, Michael O’Shea was at home, and the court reporter was somewhere else.

The other hearing involves the pursuit of a private civil protection order. That hearing has also been done entirely with Zoom, with the magistrate at one location, our client at her home, the respondent at his home, the respondent’s lawyer at her office, and the court reporter at another location.

All exhibits were exchanged electronically. This is a large part of our new litigation world.

Don't Let an Orange Jumpsuit be Your Halloween Costume

It’s the month to dress up and celebrate but make sure you do it safely to avoid jail time.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, “during the Halloween nights from 2013-2017, there were 158 people killed in drunk-driving crashes.”

Don’t allow yourself, or your younger drivers become a harrowing statistic. Talk to everyone in your household about the dangers of drinking and driving, underage drinking and supplying alcohol to minors.

And be careful that no one leaves your house intoxicated if you are hosting a party, as you can be found liable and charged as well.

If you find yourself under arrest, contact us right away. Our offices are open 24/7 to help you when you need it most.

Not Feeling so Sweet this Sweetest Day?

October celebrates Sweetest Day but if you considered giving divorce papers instead of roses, we can help.

It’s been a whirlwind season for all married couples and living together with all of the current stresses may have taken its toll. Before you do anything, it’s important to make sure your assets remain protected.

We have dedicated our practice to fighting in some of the most challenging divorce situations. Whether it was full-custody for the father, or financial security for the wife, we are ready to represent you and uphold your bests interests.

Don’t let another romantic holiday go by without securing your future. Contact us today.

State Highway Patrol Cracking Down on Distracted Drivers

The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported 2019 was the second-deadliest year of the past decade with at least 1,157 people killed in Ohio traffic crashes.

There have been 75,411 crashes in Ohio during the past five years which involved one or more drivers who were distracted by something inside their vehicle.

“Distracted driving must become as culturally unacceptable as drunk driving is today. They’re equally preventable and equally dangerous,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Protect yourself, your family, and others on the road by eliminating all distractions while you drive.”

Two years ago this October 29th, Ohio passed House Bill 95, a law which broadened what is considered distracted driving and also increased the fine.

The Hands Free Ohio bill is also supported by Governor DeWine and, “in cases where a driver using a device causes serious injury or death, the penalties will mirror those of drunken driving.”

As a reminder, Ohio law bans all electronic wireless communication device usage for drivers under 18. Texting while driving is illegal for all drivers and is a secondary offense for adults 18 and above.

If you find yourself facing charges or if you’ve been in an accident, contact us immediately.

Successful Zoom Court Hearings

We are proud to have represented clients in both a divorce and criminal matter and we continue to work tirelessly for our clients, even virtually.

Recently we were able to conduct an entire divorce hearing by Zoom, which included swearing in the witnesses and the execution of documents to finalize the divorce decree.

We also had a full four hour Zoom evidentiary hearing in Summit County in a criminal matter which involved swearing in witnesses, taking testimony, showing witnesses digital exhibits and showing witnesses videos – the Judge was in her office, I was at my home, my client was at his home, the police officers were at their police station and the court reporter was at her home.

A few bumps in the road, but it all worked out in the end and we continue to help fight for all of our clients.

New Season, New Divorce?

You survived summer with your spouse but are ready to start the fall season with a divorce.

We say goodbye to summer on September 22 and if you are also saying goodbye to your spouse, you need our help to protect your assets and interests.

These current stressful times would add extra pressure to any marriage, and we are here to navigate these new unchartered waters with you to make your divorce as stress-free as possible.

Whether you have already filed or are just in the beginning stages, we are here 24/7 to advise and help you every step of the way.

Custody Battles Increase Amidst Pandemic

Co-parenting is never easy and when you add working from home, unemployment and now homeschooling, things just got even more stressful.

Our current restrictions have many Cuyahoga County residents scrambling as children begin virtual learning. This can start an entirely new conversation in terms of which parent should retain sole custody.

If the children still require adult supervision, the parent who is able to work from home may receive custody based on their ability to help homeschool.

An article in Healthychildren.org posed many issues that have arisen during COVID-19 that every parent should take into consideration.

We strongly advise anyone seeking additional custody or financial support to contact us.

Is Underage Drinking on the Rise?

Alcohol sales are dramatically increasing and The Wall Street Journal reported alcohol sales at liquor and grocery stores are up 22%.

We have stopped counting how many days, weeks, and months we have been inside our homes and with Governor Dewine’s mandate that all bars end alcohol service by 10pm, more people are bringing the party into their house.

What does this mean as your children return to college campuses? If you have underage teenagers that are heading back to school, it is important to explain these new legal mandates as well as social distancing orders in place.

Police now look for underage drinking as well as large parties that violate the ban on large social gatherings.

If you or your teen are facing charges, we are here to fight for you to give you and your family the best possible outcome.

Our offices are open 24/7 so contact us immediately.

Personal Injury Cases Continue Amidst Pandemic

We are still receiving and settling a fair amount of personal injury cases during the COVID crisis.

We are processing claims very effectively through social distancing methods, including electronic case intake (where the client does not even have to come to the office), to e-filing lawsuits in cases we cannot settle.

Zoom-based mediations and pretrials, Zoom depositions, and electronic exchange of discovery materials are also increasing.

Even after the COVID crisis is behind us, we see much of this process remaining because of how effective the time management has become.

Insurance Settlement Reached

We just partially resolved a long-pending piece of litigation involving a homeowner family who had a house-slipping-down-a-hill scenario and an insurance company that thought they did not have to pay for the loss.

Lots of motion practice and last minute settlement negotiations, but in the end the insurance company did what they should have done before the lawsuit was filed – write our clients a big check.

We were very pleased to secure this outcome for our clients.

New Custody Cases

We are currently litigating two family law cases where one of the bigger questions is what impact a medical marijuana card (and medical use of marijuana) has on the custody/parenting issues.

Stated simply, not all magistrates and/or Judges have the same opinion about the use of medical marijuana.

Stay tuned to see where this goes.

Successful DUI Reductions

We were once again able get two unrelated DUI cases in Cleveland Municipal Court reduced to what is called “physical control.”

In each case, we were able to convince the prosecution that there were a number of issues related to the administering of what are called “field sobriety tests,” which are tests police officers use to determine whether there is probable cause for arrest.

Our clients were very pleased with the outcome.

Is Your Employer Following New Covid-19 Regulations to Protect You?

Labor Day is coming up on September 7 and we have always worked hard to protect the rights of every worker.

With new Ohio mandates in place by the Department of Health, now more than ever it is vital that every employee feels that their health is the highest priority.

Whether you work in a manufacturing industry, retail, or an office, it is your employer’s responsibility to create safe working environments for you.

If you feel your health and rights are not being protected, and that your employer is not adhering to these new business guidelines, we advise you to contact us immediately.

Is Getting a Divorce Harder Now?

You’ve spent way too much time being quarantined together and are now ready to part ways, but you may be surprised the new challenges couples are facing.

USA Today reported, “the coronavirus pandemic has the potential to send America's divorce rate – already embarrassing at nearly 50% – even higher once divorce courts are fully open again.”

We have always dedicated ourselves to helping our clients and during a pandemic is no exception. We remain available 24/7 and are ready to make sure your assets, your children, and your properties remain protected as you consider your divorce.

We advise contacting us before filing any paperwork, as we have the experience and resources to ensure a smoother, successful divorce process.

Don’t wait another day and let us help you every step of the way by contacting us today.

Celebrate Labor Day Without a DUI

There may be less cars traveling but the police presence remains strong.

If you are attending a Labor Day party, it is imperative to drive sober. Your young drivers may also be excited to finally be able to leave the house to see friends again, and having an honest conversation about the damages DUI charges can hold is vital.

Even a short drive down the street can lead to an arrest with probable cause, so avoid any risks and tell everyone in your household to avoid all drugs and alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

If you or your of-age (or under-age) child is facing charges, contact us immediately to work to give you the best possible outcome.

Federal Criminal Plea via Zoom

We recently did a first for our practice. We did an entire federal criminal plea by Zoom.

There were 7 people on the Zoom meeting to do this. Michael O’Shea (attorney for the defendant) from his home, the Defendant (an illegal alien in a federal holding facility), the Judge (in the Courtroom), the Judge’s bailiff (from her home), the probation officer (from the probation department), the interpreter (from her home) and the court reporter (from her home.

We even had a defendant who did not speak English (thus the need for the interpreter). Nevertheless, we were able to complete the plea almost as easily as if we were in the Courtroom.

This could very well be the norm in the future – even after the end of COVID.

Can You Get Arrested for Not Wearing a Mask?

New Ohio legislation would make it mandatory to wear a face covering in public places.

As reported by News 5 Cleveland, “Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish introduced legislation that would require face coverings in public spaces to limit the spread of COVID-19. The proposed ordinance states that any person found without a face mask would be subject to a written warning on the first violation and a civil penalty of $50 for a second and each subsequent violation.”

As with any new legislation, many discussions will arise as to the legality of requiring someone to wear a mask, and already some have criticized the vagueness of Cleveland’s recent face mask order.

Wherever our clients find themselves in this issue, we have always strived to work diligently for each and every one of our clients and continue to do so even in the midst of these new unchartered waters.

If you believe your employer or workplace is not following legal protocols to protect you, let us help you and contact us today.

Drugged Driving Arrests Increasing

Drinking and driving is a known offense but the Ohio State Highway Patrol is also cracking down on drugged driving.

According to The Ohio State Highway Patrol, “there were 3,915 drugged driving crashes in Ohio during 2019. Of the 1,041 fatal crashes, 35 percent had at least one driver or pedestrian test positive for an illegal or prescription drugs.”

Whether you have had a few drinks or used prescription drugs that can impair your driving and reflexes, it is vital to avoid driving at all costs.

One arrest or worse, a fatal accident, can be life-changing and troopers are out and ready to make arrests.

Stay safe and stay home but if you do find yourself facing charges, contact us immediately.