Most states define drug trafficking as selling, transporting, or distributing large quantities of illegal drugs. Trafficking is one of the most high-level drug offenses, and what makes it so serious is the large volume of drugs. Trafficking is sometimes referred to as drug distribution. Drug trafficking is typically charged as a felony and is punishable …
In simple terms, a probation violation is when you violate one of the terms and conditions of your probationary sentence. A common example is failing to perform court-ordered community service. Most jurisdictions acknowledge two types of probation. These are: misdemeanor probation (or “summary probation” or “informal probation”) for misdemeanor convictions, and felony probation (or “formal …
If you fail to appear in court for a scheduled court date (sometimes referred to as FTA), the judge in the case can issue a bench warrant for your arrest. The warrant authorizes law enforcement officers to arrest you and bring you directly to court. Bench warrants in these cases are sometimes referred to as …
Yes, often. Most jurisdictions require the police to investigate a reported hit-and-run offense, including cases involving only minor injuries or property damage. But note that the police will typically spend more time and resources investigating serious hit-and-run accidents (for example, those involving death or a serious injury). Most states say that you commit misdemeanor hit and …
After a UPS truck accident, the United Parcel Service (UPS) will likely reach out to you with an initial settlement offer. This offer is designed to seem enticing. However, it may substantially undercompensate you for your damages. By getting the legal advice of a personal injury lawyer, you can learn the value of your case …
You can expect the payout for a motorcycle accident to be anywhere from a few thousand dollars to over $1,000,000. The injuries that you have suffered are a primary factor in what to expect. However, the specific facts of your case can substantially increase or decrease your potential settlement or verdict. What is the average …
Yes. Misdemeanor cases can, and many times do, go to trial either before a jury or a judge. However, the vast majority of misdemeanor cases resolve short of trial because they get plea bargained or dismissed by the court or the prosecutor. An accused can also avoid trial by pleading guilty or no contest to …
Five examples of when a person can be charged with first-degree murder under California law include when the party kills someone by using a weapon of mass destruction; by lying in wait; by inflicting torture; by a willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing; or by committing a felony murder. Penalties for First-Degree Murder First-degree murder is …
The term “speed contest” means for one motor vehicle to race against another while on a public street, or in an area not designated for a car race. It can also refer to the act where you race a car against some type of timing device (such as a stopwatch). Engaging in a speed contest …
An ICE hold refers to a written request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to a local jail or other law enforcement agency that has taken a person into custody after a lawful arrest. The request asks that the jail or agency detain the person for an additional 48 hours after his/her scheduled release date. …
People facing a bench warrant hearing must generally know the following: what it is, what to show a judge, why you should not avoid one, how to know if you are subject to one, and how a criminal defense attorney can help. A bench warrant in most states is a court order that instructs law …
7 tips for how to find a personal injury lawyer are: look for one who handles cases like yours, find one with lots of experience, ask about their case results, get a referral, interview several lawyers, not just one, choose one that you enjoy and trust, and get a fee structure that fits your needs. …
If you fail a drug test while on misdemeanor probation, the most common happenings include: a warning, community service, rehabilitation, counseling, modification of probation conditions or probation revocation, and jail time. In cases involving probation modification or revocation, a judge will likely hold a probation revocation hearing to determine that you did in fact violate …
You can sue a homeowner’s association (HOA) for negligence if it fails to uphold its legal obligations and you suffer losses as a result. This often happens if the HOA does not adequately maintain common areas and you get injured. The written rules and covenants of the HOA determine its specific obligations and legal duties. …
The term “queen for a day” in the legal context refers to a written agreement between federal prosecutors and a person suspected of a crime. Under the agreement, you agree to tell the government about your knowledge of criminal activity, and in turn, the prosecutor agrees not to use your statements against you in any …
After using a settlement formula to calculate your damages, you should generally ask for a settlement that is up to two or three as high as the formula’s results. This request is made in your demand letter. This letter is the beginning of settlement negotiations. By asking for more than what you are likely owed, …
After an 18-wheeler accident, victims can expect the trucking company and its insurer to try to settle the case. These parties will try to downplay the victim’s injuries and exaggerate the victim’s role in causing the crash. As evidence is uncovered, settlement talks will heat up. While most accident cases settle out of court, a …
Medical liens get paid out of a personal injury settlement or judgment. When accident victims are unable to pay for the costs of their care, some healthcare providers may choose to provide that care in exchange for a medical lien. They then recover the costs of that medical care from the defendant if the victim’s …
Wrongful death settlements can be paid out either as a lump sum or in a structured settlement. Lump-sum settlements are paid out all at once. Structured settlements provide regular payments to the deceased’s loved ones over time. The parties to the lawsuit have to agree on how the settlement is paid. With exceptions, the settlement …
You generally cannot appeal a conviction stemming from a plea of guilty or no contest. But you can make a motion to withdraw a guilty plea or no contest plea. If a judge grants the motion, you are then given the chance to withdraw the prior plea and substitute it with a plea of not …
The top 3 legal defenses to arson charges are for you to show that: you did not act with criminal intent, the fire was started by something other than arson, and you were falsely accused. The criminal laws of most states say that you commit the crime of arson if you intentionally and willfully set …
In general, a defendant in a criminal court proceeding should not talk to a witness. This is because: the judge usually orders the defendant not to have contact with any witnesses, and speaking with a witness could lead to charges of intimidating or dissuading a witness, any statements a defendant makes to a third party …
Most states say that a felony charge is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of one year or longer. The most serious felonies, such as murder and rape, can even be punished by life imprisonment or the death penalty in some jurisdictions. Felonies are more serious than misdemeanors, which are punishable by up …
After a car accident, insurance companies use a formula to estimate how much compensation you deserve. This formula is usually your economic damages, plus your economic damages times a multiplier of between 1 and 5. The multiplier is used to estimate your non-economic damages, and is based on the severity of the crash and your …
Waiving extradition in Colorado is when a fugitive who is arrested in Colorado for allegedly committing a crime in another state agrees to be transported to the charging state without putting up a legal fight. Extradition from Colorado is a lengthy legal process where fugitives can fight the government’s right to transport him/her to the …
