Police must have reasonable suspicion to utilize a drug dog at a routine traffic stop–the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today in Rodriguez v. U.S.
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Read my latest legal advice
FBI admits they cheated for the prosecution
Here’s why you need a lawyer who understands the use of expert witness testimony defending you when you are facing criminal charges–because the government often cannot be trusted to present unbiased scientific findings. You need your own experts to challenge the government’s “scientists” and hold their feet to the fire when they skew their findings in favor of the prosecution.
Click here to read about how FBI “scientists” skewed their conclusions in favor of the prosecution.
If you are facing serious criminal charges, call me today. I know how to use expert testimony to challenge the government’s so-called experts, and to present evidence of innocence or reasonable doubt to the jury. YOUR DEFENSE STARTS TODAY. CALL ME.
Comparative negligence
Reporting Child Abuse
How do you report suspected child abuse in Iowa?
Anyone who suspects that children are being abused should contact the Iowa Department of Human Services. If you believe the child is in imminent danger, CALL 911 immediately. Otherwise, you can call the Abuse Hotline at 1-800-362-2178, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can remain anonymous, but the more details you provide about the suspected abuse, the more likely DHS will intervene.
Criminal law attorney-court appointed or private?
Will your court appointed lawyer give you quality legal representation?
Iowa has one of the most effective indigent defense program in the nation, despite the low pay provided to the many attorneys who represent indigent clients as part of their practice. Many experienced, well qualified attorneys work under contract with the State Public Defender, and provide quality legal services at a low price to the criminally accused. However, some contract attorneys are early in their legal careers and have not previously handled many serious felony cases. More importantly, many court appointed attorneys lack experience representing clients charged with serious sex offenses. Sex crimes are different than almost any other category of offenses because of the negative public sentiment and the minefield of collateral consequences that go along with conviction of most sex offenses in Iowa. Sex crimes are punished very severely in Iowa. On top of lengthy prison terms, many sex crimes carry lifetime supervision and registration requirements, as well as exclusion zones, and work and residency restrictions. If your court appointed attorney lacks a record of success in handling sex crime offenses, you should gather your financial resources and hire the best criminal defense attorney you can afford. Sex crimes are serious, with lifetime consequences to you and your family. Now is not the time to get by with less than the best legal representation you can afford.
Insurance company won’t pay?
What should you do if your car is damaged by the negligence of another driver, but their insurance company won’t pay the full amount of your damages?
This question illustrates two basic truths about auto insurance. First, insurance companies are interested in their own profit. So they never want to pay more than they have to. Second, insurance companies protect their own insured from financial liability. The other guy’s insurance company is not there to help you. They want to get your case closed for the least amount of money. When another driver is at fault but his insurance company won’t pay, you need a lawyer to fight for you. Your lawyer can even the playing field by making it clear to the insurance company that you will sue if they don’t pay the true value of the claim. When the insurance company realizes you are ready to sue, suddenly your request for fair compensation doesn’t sound so bad. It’s all about the money for them.
Call me today if you need help recovering for injuries you received in an auto accident. I will determine the responsibility of the other party and get you the money you deserve.
What if your auto insurance expired?
Can you sue for injuries you receive in an auto accident even if your own insurance policy has expired?
Those who cause damage to others are responsible, under the law, to pay the injured person a sufficient sum of money to “make them whole.” The primary purpose of the insurance you buy for your own vehicle is to protect you from having to pay others for the damages and injuries you cause to them by your negligent actions–with limited exceptions, your insurance doesn’t pay you for your injuries, it protects you from the financial risk of having to pay someone you have injured. So, if the other party caused the accident, you can recover from them the reasonable value of your damages and injuries, regardless of whether you had insurance on your vehicle, or were driving on an expired license or expired tags. Keep in mind that the law of contributory negligence may apply to restrict all or a portion of your recovery if you shared in the responsibility for causing the accident. In Iowa, as long as the other party was more at fault than you, your injuries are still compensable, even if you were partly to blame for the accident. The bottom line is that whether you had insurance or not, you may be able to recover for your injuries, even if you think you were partly at fault in causing the accident. This depends on the law of your state and the facts of your case, so always consult an experienced personal injury lawyer after any accident in which you or a loved one is injured.
Call me today if you need help recovering for injuries you received in an auto accident. I will determine the responsibility of the other party and get you the money you deserve.
Don’t “just pay” that traffic ticket!
Never plead guilty to a traffic ticket issued in connection with an auto accident.
Many people just pay their traffic tickets without giving a second thought to the consequences. In Iowa, if you get a ticket in connection with a car wreck or other accident you should NEVER just plead guilty and pay the ticket. Why? Iowa Code Section 321.489 provides that the record of a CONVICTION of a violation of Chapter 321 (Iowa’s traffic code) is inadmissible in any subsequent civil action. However, the record of a guilty plea is admissible. So if you just pay the ticket, and later you get sued for causing the accident, your own negligence (due to speeding, running a stop sign, or other traffic violation) will be simple for the opposing party to prove. They can use your conviction record to prove you actually did what the ticket charged. But, if you go to trial and the judge finds you guilty, the record of conviction from the case becomes inadmissible at the later civil trial. So next time you get a ticket, EVEN IF YOU ARE GUILTY, enter a not guilty plea and show up for the trial. Often there are multiple causes of an accident, and by pleading guilty to a traffic offense, you may limit your ability to recover for your own injuries by giving the insurance company lawyers easy proof that you were at fault.
Accepting new car wreck cases.
If you or a family member has been injured in a car wreck, call me. I have an excellent litigation support team. We provide first-rate personal injury representation, thoroughly preparing each case to maximize financial recovery–and you don’t pay until we win! Call me first for all of your legal needs, and suggest me to your family and friends when they need any kind of legal services.