Recent Posts in Ethics & Professionalism Category
Posted on Apr 27, 2012 By Brad Koffel
There is an escalation of shake and bake cooks, mobile meth labs, and suburban operations. Current law enforcement investigative techniques require identifying a suspect, building probable cause, ...
Continue reading "Why We Need Parents to Turn in Their Meth Lab Kids" »
Posted on Mar 22, 2012 By Brad Koffel
When 95% of criminal cases are resolved in conference rooms, over the phone, and via email between prosecutors and defense lawyers, it is vital that the lawyer be competent and effective. For the ...
Continue reading "U.S. Supreme Court: Plea Bargains & Poor Lawyers" »
Posted on Dec 20, 2011 By Brad Koffel
We are a nation of criminals. We lock up more of our own citizens than any other country in the world except China. A recent study in Pediatrics reports that 1/3 of our kids will be arrested before ...
Continue reading "We Are a Nation of Criminals" »
Posted on Nov 8, 2011 By Brad Koffel
What is "consent" between two college kids about to engage in sexual activity? Well, in criminal law, at least for now, "consent" may be manifested in any way that it actually ...
Continue reading "Sex on Campus: "Verbal Consent" Part 1" »
Posted on Oct 31, 2011 By Brad Koffel
Only 6% of criminal prosecutions wind up leading to a trial. 94% of the cases are settled between the prosecution, defense, and judge. That process, plea negotiations, is where the experience, wisdom ...
Continue reading "The Critical Wisdom of an Effective Lawyer" »
Posted on Sep 10, 2011 By Brad Koffel
On September 30, 2011, HB 86 becomes law. In addition to many other major improvements to Ohio's criminal sentencing provisions, HB 86 expands the eligibility for this deferred prosecution ...
Continue reading "HB 86: Intervention in Lieu of Conviction:" »
Posted on Sep 9, 2011 By Brad Koffel
We communicate frequently with clients via email. The majority of our clients use a work email address. The American Bar Association issued Formal Opinion 11-459 last month, "Duty to Protect ...
Continue reading "Emailing Your Lawyer from Your Work Computer: Bad Idea" »
Posted on Sep 3, 2011 By Brad Koffel
America is starting its second journey into the oligopoly of private run prisons. Nobody seems to be aware of the lessons learned from 150 years ago when cash starved states sold the rights to operate ...
Continue reading "Private Prisons--Profiting on Crime" »
Posted on Feb 1, 2011 By Brad Koffel
by Brad Koffel Grand theft is found in Ohio Revised Code 2913.02. If it is business-related, we refer to it as embezzlement . Employees stealing from employers is very common. When I am contacted by a ...
Continue reading "Defending Theft / Embezzlement Cases" »
Posted on Dec 13, 2010 By Brad Koffel
Last week, the Franklin County Court of Appeals in Columbus, Ohio issued a decision that highlights how far some prosecutors will go to get a prison term on a person who needs mental health treatment. ...
Continue reading "How Far Prosecutors Will Go to Get a Prison Term" »
Posted on Dec 7, 2010 By Brad Koffel
For our clients struggling with the disease of addiction, we will intervene and introduce them to the best of the best treatment providers in the world. Depending upon a client's budget, we can ...
Continue reading "Treatment: The Role of the Defense Lawyer" »
Posted on Nov 9, 2010 By Brad Koffel
by Brad Koffel False sex abuse allegations are difficult and time consuming to defend. However, if the defense attorney is willing and able to be aggressive, these cases can be turned on their heads ...
Continue reading "Defending Sex Abuse Allegations" »
Posted on Nov 9, 2010 By Brad Koffel
by Brad Koffel Last week I attended a two day national conference of Criminal Defense lawyers who met in Savannah, GA to hear some of the nation's leading experts on the dangers of ...
Continue reading "Alleged Child Victims & "Suggested Evidence" of Abuse" »
Posted on Oct 30, 2010 By Brad Koffel
By Brad Koffel When we are hired by a person after a felony arrest, we will immediately interview them. Sometimes we will have them interviewed up to 3 different times by 3 different members of our ...
Continue reading "Cooperating with Detectives After an Arrest" »
Posted on Oct 29, 2010 By Brad Koffel
By Brad Koffel Many times each year we are hired by concerned, scared, and confused parents of addicted kids. It usually starts with the parents being referred to our law firm because of our vast ...
Continue reading "Treatment Options After a Drug Addict's Arrest" »