Even Lawyers Go to Prison for Stealing
The Case of Michael J. Avenatti Lawyer Michael J. Avenatti represents a case of serious attorney misconduct. Currently, the Santa Ana lawyer is in the midst of serving five years at Terminal Island Federal Correctional Institution in Los Angeles. He was previously convicted in New York for the attempted extortion of Nike and for swindling former pornographic actress Stormy Daniels of her payment for a book deal. More recently, the…
Read MoreLack of Substantial Evidence Can Lead to Dismissal of Your Dependency Petition
In re G.Z.: Lack of Substantial Evidence Can Lead to Dismissal of Your Dependency Petition In the case of G.Z., who was the minor child of mother Kimberly, the juvenile court found that G.Z.’s injuries were the result of his mother’s neglectful acts. Kimberly appealed to the California Court of Appeal, which reversed the juvenile court’s finding based on a lack of substantial evidence and directed the juvenile court upon…
Read MoreThe Cost of a Lawyer in California
How much is a lawyer in Southern California? The cost of a lawyer can vary greatly depending on the type of case, the lawyer's experience, and the location of the practice. In general, however, lawyers in Southern California charge anywhere from $100 to $700 per hour. However, you can consult with our experienced defense attorneys right now to find out how much it will cost to defend your case. Call…
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District Attorney’s Dirty Trick Violates the Constitution, Says U.S. Department of Justice
District Attorney’s Dirty Trick Violates the Constitution, Says U.S. Department of Justice Recently, the Orange County District Attorney’s (DA) Office and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department were found to have violated the constitutional rights of inmates in the Orange County jail due to their use of a custodial informant program. The Department of Justice (DOJ) conducted an investigation and released a report on its findings, including many suggested reforms for…
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Is Intoxication a Defense in California Criminal Cases?
What Is the Intoxication Defense? In criminal law, intoxication is a defense that allows defendants to reduce their liability for a crime due to substance intoxication in limited circumstances. Sometimes, crimes require the defendant to have a certain mental state called the mens rea in order for the defendant to be guilty. This means that if the defendant was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the commission of…
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What Is the Entrapment Defense?
What Is the Entrapment Defense? What Is Entrapment? Police entrapment is a legal defense to criminal accusations based on specific encounters between a law enforcement officer and a defendant before any alleged prohibited conduct has happened. Entrapment occurs when the police officer pressures or convinces a defendant to commit a crime in their presence. In some situations, a person can be entrapped if an officer engages in conduct that would…
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Fireworks Laws to Know for Your July 4th Celebration
Fireworks Laws to Know for Your July 4th Celebration Types of Fireworks: Which Are Legal? With the Fourth of July coming up, you may be thinking about putting on a celebration. If so, you will need to know California’s laws regarding fireworks, as not all of them are legal in the state. According to California Health and Safety Code Section 12511, “fireworks” is defined as any device containing chemical elements…
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Penalties for Illegal Abortions in California
Penalties for Illegal Abortions in California California’s Abortion Law Abortion refers to the deliberate termination of a pregnancy, generally using medicine or surgery to remove an embryo or fetus from the uterus. In California, abortion has been legal since 1967, and the state retains stronger reproductive health rights than much of the rest of the nation. Despite this, California does impose certain restrictions on these procedures. The right to an…
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People v. Reynoza: Dissuading A Witness
People v. Reynoza: Dissuading A Witness Many people find themselves charged with improper crimes due to the prosecutor misconstruing or attempting to broaden the definition of certain legal language to convict someone of something when they are grasping at straws to find a sufficient charge. The case of People v. Reynoza is such a case where a defendant in a firearms possession case who had already been charged was…
Read MoreThree Very Important Things to Remember for Your Restraining Order Hearing
Three Very Important Things to Remember for Your Restraining Order Hearing 1. A respondent must be served with the restraining order documents. The first thing that a petitioner must do after filing the appropriate paperwork with the courthouse is arrange to have the respondent served. Service means that the respondent has been provided a copy of all the documents that have been filed with the court. The reason a respondent…
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