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Case Results
College and University Discipline and Title IX
I represented a graduate student at a world-renown university in Cambridge, MA accused of sexually assaulting a member of his program. The complainant alleged that, while my client was visiting her apartment to discuss academic work, that he forcibly kissed her and touched private areas of her body. During the Title IX investigation, we proved that the complainant and my client had a prior sexual relationship, the complainant misled investigators concerning key details of the allegation, and the complainant’s text messages failed to corroborate her story. After a thorough investigation, the Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR) at the university found no policy violation.
I represented a college senior at a well-known research university in the suburbs of Boston. The complainant, the client’s ex-girlfriend, claimed that the client committed a non-consensual act during otherwise consensual sex. During the investigation, we presented extensive evidence that the complainant was happy in the relationship following the alleged event, and that the complainant accused the client only after he broke up with her. At the hearing, our cross-examination revealed the complainant’s habit of fabricating allegations. Meanwhile, my client was prepared to answer any questions expertly and defend himself. The Hearing Board unanimously concluded that my client was not responsible of sexual assault and cleared him of all allegations.
I represented a college senior accused of sexually assaulting a female student three years earlier when both parties were freshman. The complainant alleged she became so drunk at a bar in Boston that she was incapacitated when she later had sex with the client. She even asserted that she had no memory of having sex with my client, and only learned about the sex later from my client. My client forcefully denied the allegations and maintained that he had no reason to believe the complainant was incapacitated. At the hearing, we questioned the complainant’s witnesses to reveal facts that aided our case, and we called our own witnesses to corroborate my client’s defense. We also used text messages, social medial posts, videos, and university records to support my client’s account. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Determination Panel unanimously found my client not responsible.
I represented an undergraduate student at a well-known university in Boston accused of sexually assaulting another student in the client’s bedroom at a house party. During the university’s investigation, we vigorously denied the allegations and established that the complainant’s claims were implausible and unsubstantiated. The university found my client not responsible of all charges.
I represented an undergraduate student accused of sexual assault at a large university in the Boston area. Several students alleged that their friend became intoxicated while at a party with my client and was incapacitated during sexual intercourse. The complainant, however, did not corroborate those allegations. After an investigation, the university dismissed all charges.
I was hired to represent an undergraduate student accused of sexual assault at a highly regarded college in the Boston area. The complainant alleged that, while visiting my client in his dorm room, he violently raped her. This accusation was completely false. During the Title IX investigation, we proved that the complainant’s story was inconsistent, uncorroborated, and implausible in key respects. Moreover, we produced evidence that the complainant visited my client’s room with the deliberate intent of having sex with him. After an extensive investigation, the college found my client not responsible and later affirmed that decision on appeal. My client was cleared of all allegations.
A student from a major university in Boston hired my office after a professor accused her of academic misconduct. After a hearing with university officials, the school issued a written decision rejecting the professor’s accusation and cleared my client of all wrongdoing. My client’s rightful grade was restored.
I was hired to appeal a finding by a dean at a major university in Boston that my client, an undergraduate student living on campus, had assaulted his roommate. The dean had imposed a deferred suspension on my client, a sanction that would appear on his transcript forever. We challenged the dean’s decision on three grounds: first, that the school presented insufficient evidence to support its findings; second, that we discovered new evidence that should change the outcome; third, that the sanction imposed by the school was disproportionate to the violation. We drafted the appeal to the University’s Board on Student Conduct, and appeared before the board members at a formal hearing. After considering all the evidence and arguments, the Board of Student Conduct agreed with our position, reversed the dean’s finding, and found that the client did not violate the school’s Code of Student Responsibilities. As a result, the University removed the deferred suspension from my client’s record, thereby restoring his bright academic and professional future.
In one disciplinary matter, I successfully represented a client under investigation for drug distribution at a large university in Boston; the university police even utilized confidential informants and cooperators in an effort to prove their suspicions against my client. After the student hired my office, the university ultimately dropped the investigation and my client suffered no adverse consequences. We also avoided a criminal charge by local police.
In a Title IX matter, I represented a student accused of sexual misconduct against another student at a major university in Cambridge. After an extensive investigation and a hearing at the university, which included testimony by my client and reports by expert witnesses, the university found my client not responsible of the sexual misconduct accusation.
I represented a student at an elite college in the suburbs of Boston. The client’s former girlfriend alleged that he sexually assaulted her during the course of their relationship together. My client was innocent but preferred to avoid a full-blown investigation. We also believed that some modifications to his life on campus would resolve the matter. Before the Title IX interviews began, we obtained an Informal Resolution with the complainant that resulted in no conduct violation and preserved my client’s clean record. The matter was successfully resolved quickly and without a hearing.
I represented a student at a major university in Boston who was accused of a violent incident while studying abroad in London. The client was also charged with a crime in a British court. I worked closely with the client, his family, and a British attorney to resolve the matters successfully. The client ultimately elected to enroll in a new college. We avoided a criminal conviction as well as a disciplinary finding at the university.
Violent Offenses
My client was charged in Cambridge District Court with Assault and Battery on a Person over 60 Years of Age. The complainant alleged that the client, also over 60 years-old, pushed him during a private dispute. After collecting evidence of my client’s impressive personal and work history, and after uncovering the complainant’s poor judgment in instigating the matter, the Commonwealth agreed to a term Pretrial Probation, after which the case would be dismissed. By winning dismissal of the case, my client preserved his clean record.
In a case in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston, I represented a woman accused of attacking a man while her boyfriend stabbed the same individual, killing him. My client was charged with assault and battery and her boyfriend was charged with murder. During a multi-week trial, we showed that the alleged victim and his friends had actually been aggressors and greatly outnumbered the defendants. After trial, the jury convicted the boyfriend of manslaughter, a lesser-included offense of murder. As to my client, the jury was unable to reach a verdict, resulting in a hung jury and a mistrial. The prosecution wanted to try my client again, and the judge initially indicated she thought my client should go to jail if convicted. Through negotiation, however, we were able to secure a Continuance without a Finding (CWOF) for my client, resulting in probation followed by a dismissal if she stayed out of legal trouble. At the end of the case, the Court dismissed the charge against my client. She was never convicted of a crime.
In a case in Chelsea District Court, my client was charged in a road rage incident with Assault and Battery, Malicious Destruction of Property over $250, and Disturbing the Peace. During a private investigation, we learned that there was more to the case than the complainant had claimed to police. On the trial date, the complainant, despite his trumped-up allegations, failed to appear. The Court dismissed all the charges.
In a jury trial in Suffolk Superior Court, I represented a client accused of violently assaulting four different people, including stabbing several people during an armed robbery. One of the stabbing victims was significantly injured and required emergency surgery. Prior to trial, I worked with a defense investigator who uncovered crucial information that the prosecution never developed. At trial, I called several witnesses who testified in my client’s favor. We even subpoenaed a police officer to testify about an occasion he witnessed aggressive behavior by an important prosecution witness. The jury found my client NOT GUILTY of all charges, including armed assault with intent to murder, armed robbery, and mayhem.
In a jury trial in Suffolk Superior Court, I represented a man accused of assaulting a family member with a firearm. The particular firearm charge at issue meant that the client faced a significant mandatory minimum sentence if convicted. At trial, the prosecution played a 911 call by the family member that the prosecution believed would prove its case. The police also found a gun in the house. Despite this evidence, I challenged the credibility of the alleged victim and revealed a pattern of manipulative behavior and false accusations. The jury found my client NOT GUILTY of all assault and firearm charges.
In a jury trial in Cambridge District Court, I was hired to represent a client accused of hitting a pedestrian with her car during an alleged “road rage” incident. My client was charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. One of the prosecution witnesses to the incident was a priest who even testified in his religious clothing. Nonetheless, I vigorously cross-examined all of the Commonwealth’s witnesses and exposed the flaws in the prosecution’s case. The jury found my client NOT GUILTY.
In a case out of Brighton District Court, I represented a client charged with assault and battery on a woman he was dating. Through defense investigation, I located a surveillance video of the alleged victim maliciously damaging a car belonging to my client’s female friend. It turned out that the alleged victim fabricated her accusations against my client after she suspected he was romantically involved with his female friend. After I produced the surveillance video, the alleged victim refused to testify by taking her 5th Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and the case was DISMISSED.
In a case out of Lynn District Court, I represented a client accused of bank robbery. A surveillance video depicted a man resembling my client committing the robbery, and a bank teller identified my client as the robbery from a photographic array assembled by the police. Upon investigation, I was able to establish a conclusive alibi for my client and all charges were DISMISSED.
Sexual Offenses
In Taunton District Court, I represented a man charged with raping a woman that he previously dated. The charge of rape was reduced to indecent assault and battery after we revealed evidence, including private messages on social media, suggesting that the sex was consensual. At trial, I cross-examined the complainant, a police officer, and multiple detectives to establish that the complainant had fabricated her allegations, using recorded witness statements and cell phone records to support our case. My client was found not guilty and cleared of all charges.
In Suffolk Superior Court, I represented a man charged with rape of a child and similar offenses. We had my client evaluated by multiple qualified professionals over a period of time who determined that my client was not competent to stand trial. Based on these professional opinions, I drafted a motion to dismiss arguing that my client would never be restored to competency. After a contested hearing, the Court agreed with our position and granted the motion. All charges against my client were dismissed.
In a case in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston, I represented a man accused of two counts of Rape of a Child and one count of Open and Gross Lewdness. The alleged victim was a five year-old boy and his parents were friends of my client. My client completely denied the allegations and we prepared an extensive private investigation into the boy’s claims. Rather than go to trial, the Commonwealth agreed to dismiss the charges after a period of pretrial probation. As a term of the deal, my client was never found guilty or forced to admit to anything; instead, he just needed to stay out of legal trouble for a period of time and the case would be dismissed. My client, a law-abiding citizen with a very supportive family, successfully completed pretrial probation. The Court dismissed all charges.
In a jury trial in Suffolk Superior Court, my client was charged with participating in an alleged “gang rape” of a fifteen year-old girl. He faced numerous counts of rape of a child, assault with intent to rape a child, and even witness intimidation. At trial, I dismantled the prosecution’s case by challenging the credibility of their witnesses and undermining their supposedly conclusive DNA evidence. My client was found NOT GUILTY of all charges.
In another jury trial in Suffolk Superior Court, my client was charged with raping and indecently assaulting a very young child, as well as showing her pornography. At trial, I patiently and methodically took apart the prosecution’s case by revealing that the child had made contradictory claims in the past, and that even the child’s own siblings failed to witness what she claimed happened. I also challenged the prosecution’s “expert” medical doctor and child psychologist who were hired in an attempt to bolster the prosecution’s case. The client was found NOT GUILTY of numerous charges, and the prosecution was forced to DISMISS all of the remaining charges.
In another jury trial in Salem Superior Court, my client was charged with violently raping a woman who he had known for several years. At trial, I successfully cross-examined the accuser and showed that her accusations grew more severe after she realized she might obtain immigration benefits if her claims were sufficiently serious. I also introduced medical records and other documentation concerning the accuser that undermined her accusations. The client was found NOT GUILTY of rape.
In a matter out of Boston, a woman accused my client of raping her after they met on a popular dating phone app. Prior to the client retaining me, the woman even obtained an emergency restraining order against the client. After the client retained me, we successfully prevented the client from facing criminal charges by producing text messages suggesting that the woman fabricated her accusation because she suspected my client of dating other women. After we produced this evidence, the accuser, who obtained her own lawyer, agreed to vacate the restraining order. The client was never charged with a crime.
In a case out of Woburn District Court, I was hired to represent a man accused of statutory Rape of a Child (Aggravated), Assault with Intent to Rape, Indecent Assault and Battery on a Person over 14 years old, and other charges. The complainant alleged that she met my client randomly while using her phone and that, after they met in person, my client forced himself on her. However, the investigation revealed that the complainant had misled the police about many claims, including how she met my client, how old she claimed she was, and the events of the in-person meeting. Ultimately, the District Attorney’s Office filed a Nolle Prosequi that ended the case. My client preserved his clean record.
Homicide
Along with the Boston College Innocence Program, I won a new trial for a man wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder and arson in 1987. In the court’s written decision vacating the convictions, the Judge wrote that new arson science developed after the client’s trial “undermines the Commonwealth’s entire theory of the case” and “casts real doubt on the integrity of his 1987 conviction.” The Judge agreed that the modern standard of care in arson science differs significantly from the evidence introduced at the client’s 1987 trial, and that this change in arson science “would have been a real factor in the jury’s deliberation, because it calls into question whether the fire was intentionally set at all.” After the client’s convictions were vacated, the District Attorney’s Office elected not to prosecute the case again (View Article). After spending 35 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, my client was finally exonerated (View Entry in National Registry of Exonerations).
In a murder trial in Suffolk Superior Court, my client was accused of killing a fellow patient in a psychiatric hospital. Our defense was that my client suffered from mental illness at the time of the incident and was not responsible for the patient’s death. In support of our defense, we obtained significant treatment records concerning the client, interviewed numerous witnesses, and hired a neuropsychological expert who evaluated the client and wrote a compelling report documenting his findings. At trial, we successfully presented our defense, and the expert witness provided persuasive courtroom testimony. At the conclusion of the case, the client was found not guilty and completely cleared of the charge.
In a jury trial in Brockton Superior Court, I was hired to defend a client charged with motor vehicle homicide while intoxicated. In defending my client, I prepared a defense that, rather than the client, the person who died was the actual cause of the accident resulting in death. At trial we demonstrated that the deceased was drunk, speeding, swerving on the road, and ultimately responsible for the accident with the client. I subpoenaed numerous witnesses who testified about the deceased’s intoxication and impaired driving. Indeed, we made history in the case by securing immunity for defense witnesses, the first time a defense lawyer ever achieved immunity for defense witnesses in Massachusetts. (View Article) At trial, I also called a video technology expert to testify about a surveillance video depicting the vehicles just before the crash. His testimony conclusively proved that the deceased’s car was traveling faster and more dangerously than the client’s car before the accident. The jury returned a verdict of NOT GUILTY on the charge of motor vehicle homicide.
In a first-degree murder case in Middlesex Superior Court, I filed a motion to suppress (or throw out) the only identification of my client by an eyewitness. At the hearing, the eyewitness testified over several days, and numerous police officers took the stand for the prosecution. During the hearing, we showed that the eyewitness identification was faulty and unreliable. The judge ultimately agreed and SUPPRESSED the identification.
In a first-degree murder case in Bristol Superior Court, I filed a motion to suppress my client’s recorded statement to police following his arrest. In almost every case, a client should never speak to the police when under investigation; even if the client professes his innocence, the police can often use something in your statement against you. In this case, I successfully argued that the police violated my client’s constitutional rights when they continued to question him after stated he no longer wished to speak. The judge SUPPRESSED the recorded statement.
Firearm Offenses
At a jury trial in Dorchester District Court, my client was found not guilty of all firearm and assault charges in connection with an alleged shooting. At trial, we showed that the prosecution’s main witness could not accurately see the event as she claimed, failed to inform responding police officers about crucial details, and posted false statements about my client on social media. The police detective testified that he had never seen the malicious social media post until I showed it to him on cross-examination. The jury acquitted my client of all charges after approximately twenty minutes of deliberation.
At a jury trial in Suffolk Superior Court, I won a verdict of Not Guilty for my client indicted for possession of a firearm without an FID card, possession of ammunition without an FID card, carrying a loaded firearm, and assault with a dangerous weapon. At trial, I successfully challenged the credibility of both civilian and police witnesses and won my client an acquittal.
In a case in Suffolk Superior Court, I successfully moved to suppress a sawed-off shotgun after proving that the Boston Police violated my client’s rights by searching the area around his home without a warrant. The prosecution appealed the judge’s order; however, in a unanimous decision, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the motion judge was correct and affirmed suppression of the firearm evidence. By winning the motion, my client avoided a significant mandatory minimum sentence and the case was dismissed.
In a case in Salem Superior Court, I successfully moved to suppress a large capacity ammunition clip (the kind used in an AK-47) by challenging claims by police that they possessed “probable cause” to obtain a search warrant for my client’s home. After a hearing, the Court agreed with my argument that the police lacked sufficient information to justify the search warrant and ruled that the warrant should never have been granted. The Court dismissed all charges against my client.
In a case in Chelsea District Court, I successfully moved to suppress a firearm seized by the police during a so-called stop-and-frisk of my client near his home. At a hearing where numerous police officers testified, I convinced the motion judge that the police illegally searched my client without sufficient justification. By winning the motion to suppress, all charges were dismissed.
In a shooting and firearms case in Suffolk Superior Court, I successfully moved to suppress my client’s statements to police. The courtroom win led the prosecution to dramatically reduce the charges against my client.
In a case in Boston Municipal Court, I successfully won dismissal of firearm and ammunition charges, including an Armed Career Criminal (ACC) sentencing enhancement. After I filed my motion, the prosecution conceded to my argument and the judge dismissed all charges.
Federal Offenses
I represented a teenage bank teller accused of assisting others conducting fraudulent bank transactions involving hundreds of thousands of dollars. In court, we successfully avoided a two-year mandatory minimum sentence for aggravated identity theft. Moreover, despite the government’s request for a prison sentence, the Court agreed with us and sentenced my client to time served (the day of arrest) and supervised release. By avoiding prison, my client found an opportunity for a second chance.
In a federal case in Boston, I represented a man who was accused of lying to federal officials about his past when he applied to become a naturalized citizen. By prosecuting this charge, the government was seeking to imprison the client, strip him of his citizenship, and deport him to a country where he had not lived in 20 years. We took the case to trial in federal court and persuasively argued that the client never lied to officials and had no intent to mislead them. The jury agreed with us and the client was found not guilty of the charge. By winning this acquittal, we saved the client’s citizenship and successfully prevented his incarceration and deportation.
In one federal case, I successfully prevented a client who was under investigation from being charged with drug trafficking. This crucial victory, which occurred before anybody was charged, spared the client significant stress, resources, and even his freedom.
In another federal case in which DEA agents used wiretaps, search warrants, and informants to build a drug distribution case against my client, I successfully secured probation for my client despite the probation department’s written request to the judge that my client serve federal prison time. With my assistance, the client remained free and walked out of the courthouse.
In another federal case involving over a dozen defendants, I won a client’s admission into a rare Court-supervised drug treatment program that dramatically reduced the client’s chances of imprisonment.
Drug Offenses
In a case in Salem Superior Court, I successfully moved to suppress a large amount of heroin by proving that the police violated my client’s rights during a warrantless stop and search of a car in which he was a passenger. After winning the motion, the Court dismissed an indictment for Trafficking in Heroin.
In a case in Chelsea District Court, I successfully moved to suppress cocaine and marijuana by showing how the police illegally stopped and frisked my client. After winning the motion, the Court dismissed charges of possession with intent to distribute and drug violation in a school zone.
In another case in Chelsea District Court, I successfully moved to suppress cocaine by convincing the Court that the police illegally strip-searched my client. The Court then dismissed all charges.
In a case in Brockton District Court, I successfully moved to suppress cocaine by proving that a State Police Trooper illegally ordered my client out of his car. After winning the motion, the Court dismissed charges of possession with intent to distribute.
In another case in Brockton District Court, I successfully moved to suppress cocaine by convincing the judge that a State Police Trooper’s testimony about his stop and search of my client’s car was not credible. After winning the motion, the Court dismissed the cocaine charges.
In a well-publicized victory [ Article ] in Salem Superior Court, I successfully moved to suppress evidence illegally seized from my client’s phone without permission. The Court’s ruling dramatically improved my client’s case.
In another case in Salem Superior Court, I successfully moved to suppress a police officer’s identification of my client as the man he said distributed cocaine.
In another Salem Superior Court case, I successfully moved to suppress my client’s statement at the police station by proving that the police violated his Miranda rights.
In a case in Suffolk Superior Court, I successfully moved to dismiss charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana by challenging the prosecution’s refusal to produce the identity of a so-called confidential informant. My client, who was indicted as a subsequent offender, avoided a mandatory minimum prison sentence.
In a case in Salem Superior Court, I successfully moved to dismiss charges of trafficking in Oxycontin by proving prosecutorial misconduct to the grand jury. As a result, my client was spared a lengthy mandatory minimum prison sentence.
In a case in Lynn District Court, I showed that prosecutors lacked “probable cause” for cocaine charges when they failed to produce evidence that my client knew the drugs were present in the apartment. The Court allowed my motion to dismiss all charges.
I represented a client accused of Possession of a Class B Substance, cocaine, and motor vehicle infractions in Holyoke District Court. At the arraignment, I negotiated a resolution in which the criminal drug charge was converted into a civil infraction. The case was quickly resolved, and my client avoided a criminal conviction.
Domestic Offenses & Restraining Orders
A client hired me to represent him in two domestic assault and battery cases involving the same alleged victim. The first case was a Clerk-Magistrate’s Hearing out of Cambridge District Court. In that case, we presented evidence to show that the alleged victim’s claim was implausible and could not have happened. The Clerk-Magistrate agreed to continue the case for six months, after which the case was dismissed. The second case was for a complaint out of Marlborough District Court. In that matter, the judge dismissed the case on the trial date. It was a remarkable turnaround. When my client first hired me, he was understandably concerned about separate cases in two courts. By the end of my representation, the client had won both cases.
I was hired to represent a man charged in Newburyport District Court with Assault and Battery on a Household or Family Member in violation of Massachusetts General Laws chapter 265 Section 13M. My client, a health care professional, was accused of assaulting his girlfriend in his home. Based on multiple inconsistent statements the complainant gave to police, as well her stated desire to drop the charges against my client, the prosecutor agreed to dismiss the charge after a period of pretrial probation. My client successfully completed pretrial probation without any complications. As a result, the Court dismissed the charge.
In a case in Suffolk Superior Court, my client was found Not Guilty of various assault and firearm accusations made by his sister. At the jury trial, the prosecution played a recorded 911 call in which the sister repeatedly screamed that my client was threatening her with a gun. At trial, I challenged the sister’s credibility and demonstrated the many inconsistencies in her story. The jury’s acquittal of my client saved him from years in prison.
In a case in Brockton District Court, my client was found Not Guilty after his girlfriend accused him of a violent assault. At trial, we showed that the alleged victim fabricated her accusation after my client told her that he no longer wanted to date her. The acquittal preserved my client’s clean record.
In a case out of Boston Municipal Court, Dorchester Division, a woman accused my client of violently assaulting her during an argument. However, my investigation revealed that the alleged victim was actually jealous over my client’s interest in another woman. With the assistance of a private investigator, I secured a surveillance video from a local business showing that, on the night of my client’s arrest, the alleged victim maliciously damaged the car of the “other woman” by dragging a sharp object over the car body and flattening the tires. After we produced this video in court, the alleged victim “took the 5th” and the case was dismissed.
I was hired to represent a client falsely accused of abuse by his ex-girlfriend, a doctor at a prestigious Boston hospital, in a restraining order matter in Malden District Court. At the hearing in which both parties appeared, we succeeded in showing through testimony, financial records, emails, and text messages that the ex-girlfriend’s accusations lacked credibility and the judge terminated the restraining order.
Computer and Internet Crimes
In a case in Essex Superior Court in Salem, I represented a man charged with three counts of Possession of Child Pornography. In a search warrant affidavit, law enforcement indicated they had received a “CyberTip” from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”) that an IP Address associated with the residence had allegedly downloaded child pornography. After reviewing the Affidavit, I prepared a motion to suppress evidence and argued that the affidavit lacked probable cause for the search warrant. On the day of the hearing, the Commonwealth conceded our motion to suppress and filed a Nolle Prosequi to dismiss the case.
In a case in Salem Superior Court, I represented a client accused of child pornography and related offenses. As part of our defense, I hired a computer forensics expert who proved that the messages allegedly sent by my client were not contained on my client’s computer. In the same case, I successfully moved to suppress (or throw out) evidence seized from my client’s social networking account. Upon producing a conclusive report of our computer forensic findings, the Court dismissed the charges.
In a case in Suffolk Superior Court, I represented a client accused of child pornography offenses. At a motion to dismiss hearing, I argued that the particular images at issue were not criminal in nature. Over the objection of the prosecution, the Court dismissed the charges.
In a case alleging possession with intent to distribute narcotics, I filed a motion to suppress (or throw out) evidence that the police illegally obtained after searching my client’s cell phone without a warrant. After a hearing in which the police officers who searched the phone were subpoenaed to testify, the Court allowed our motion and suppressed the evidence.
Clerk-Magistrate Hearings
I represented a client at a Clerk-Magistrate Hearing in Waltham District Court where the police alleged that my client committed Malicious Destruction of Property under $1200. During a dispute with another driver, my client was accused of “keying” the driver’s door. At the hearing, I presented evidence that my client, who had no prior criminal record, was undergoing IVF treatment that profoundly impacted her behavior at the time of the incident. After apologizing for her role in the event and paying the driver’s out-of-pocket expenses, the Clerk-Magistrate agreed to dismiss the application for criminal complaint.
I represented a college senior accused of assaulting a police officer during a concert at Fenway Park. At the hearing in the Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court, we presented evidence that my client had no prior record, was intoxicated at the time of the incident, profoundly regretted the event, had a history of community service, and had already sought therapy concerning his conduct. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Clerk-Magistrate dismissed the application for complaint. My client was never charged with a crime.
In a case in Cambridge District Court, I represented a client accused of assault and battery by his girlfriend. The girlfriend claimed that, during an argument, my client pushed her back as she was walking out of my client’s apartment, causing her to stumble forward. During the hearing, I showed that the girlfriend could not be sure of what happened, as she was facing the opposite direction, and provided a credible innocent explanation for why she allegedly stumbled. The Clerk-Magistrate agreed not to issue a complaint against my client, and after a six month continuance the application for complaint was ordered to be dismissed.
In a case in Concord District Court, I represented a client accused of Operating Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor and Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle. The application for complaint alleged that my client drove head-on into a local Public Works vehicle, and that my client’s breath smelled like alcohol when the police arrived. My client was severely injured in the accident. At the hearing, I presented my client’s medical records, which conclusively showed that he was not intoxicated at the time of the accident. I also challenged the witnesses’ account of the accident. After the hearing, the Clerk-Magistrate found no probable cause for the drunk driving accusation and agreed to dismiss the remaining charge after six months. My client was never charged with a crime and preserved his clean record.
In a matter in Cambridge District Court, I represented a person accused of assault and battery and leaving the scene of an accident. After the hearing, the Clerk-Magistrate found no probable cause and dismissed the application for complaint. No charges issued and my client has a completely clean record.
In a matter in Newburyport District Court, I represented a client accused of leaving the scene of property damage. At the hearing, the Clerk-Magistrate found no probable cause and dismissed the charges. The accusation does not appear on my client’s record.
In a matter in Somerville District Court, I represented a man accused of shoplifting at an expensive retail shop in Somerville. Despite the presence of surveillance video, I convinced the Clerk-Magistrate to defer making a decision for six months while the client attended to personal matters. Six months later the charges were dismissed. Again, my client has a completely clean record.
In a matter in the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court, I represented a man accused of various motor vehicle offenses. Prior to the hearing, I assisted the client in clearing up his outstanding matters with the registry of motor vehicles. At the Clerk-Magistrate’s Hearing, the application for complaint was dismissed. My client preserved his clean criminal record.
In a matter in Cambridge District Court, I represented a person accused of assault and battery after an alleged “road rage” incident. With the Clerk-Magistrate’s consent, I negotiated a settlement with the other party leading to the immediate dismissal of the charges. Again, my client retained a completely clean record.
I represented accused of Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle and motor vehicle infractions in Concord District Court. The Lexington Police alleged that my client was speeding and committed a passing violation prior to an accident with another driver. At the hearing, we presented evidence concerning the circumstances of the accident, my client’s clean driving history, and his compelling personal background. The Clerk-Magistrate agreed with our argument and declined to issue a criminal complaint.
OUI and Driving Offenses
In a case in Cambridge District Court, a client hired me to represent him on charges of Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended Registration and Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle. At the arraignment date, we convinced the prosecution to dismiss the case prior to arraignment in exchange for payment of modest court costs. The Court agreed to dismiss the case prior to arraignment. The case never appeared on my client’s record.
In a case in Waltham District Court, my client was accused of Operating Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor by the Weston Police Department. The police officer claimed that he saw my client, a construction worker driving a company truck, driving erratically on a busy road, and that my client nearly hit the police car prior to being pulled over. When the officer approached the driver’s side window of the truck, he claimed there was an “overwhelming” smell of alcohol, that my client’s eyes were red and glassy, and that my client struggled to provide his driver’s license upon request. The police also claimed that, after stepping out of the truck, my client was unsteady on his feet and that empty bottles of beer were found in the back of the truck. At trial, I methodically dismantled the prosecutor’s case piece-by-piece. I showed that that my client never committed a motor vehicle infraction, that my client was not at fault for the near-accident, that a responding police officer failed to corroborate the first officer’s observations, and that several workers used the company truck where the beer bottles were found. After trial, the jury found my client Not Guilty of all charges.
One significant example of my success in OUI cases is a case where I defended a man charged with motor vehicle homicide by OUI in Brockton Superior Court. Needless to say, this was an extremely serious matter where the stakes were very high. Nonetheless, I worked bit-by-bit to improve my client’s chances of success. We won a motion to suppress (i.e. throw out) his statement to police after the accident, an important step toward victory. I also hired a media company to review and enhance surveillance video that helped prove several important facts in the case. At trial, I became the first lawyer in Massachusetts history to obtain judicial immunity for defense witnesses ( View Article ), a substantial development in criminal law for which I am very proud. In the end, the jury found my client Not Guilty of the homicide.
In a matter in Cambridge District Court, I presented a person accused of assault and battery after an alleged “road rage” incident. With the Clerk-Magistrate’s consent, I negotiated a settlement with the other party leading to the immediate dismissal of the charges. Again, my client retained a completely clean record.
A client hired my office after he was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Cambridge in which a pedestrian was killed. We performed an independent investigation of the accident and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office ultimately agreed that there was insufficient evidence that my client caused the accident. My client was cleared of all allegations.