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Wednesday, August 27, 2014
When is the Federal Government Involved in a Criminal Case?
When we think of "the government," we tend to
think of the federal government in Washington, D.C.: the White House, Congress,
etc. However, the reality is that on criminal matters, most cases involve local
and state issues. Still, the federal government is obviously a major player in
the criminal justice game, and when facing federal charges, you will need an
experienced federal
criminal lawyer on your side.
As noted, most criminal cases are handled by state and local
authorities. Federal authorities are empowered to intervene only when a
specific federal statute is violated. In very specific circumstances the
federal government will pursue charges against a defendant acquitted in a state
court, but Justice Department policy makes that a rare event.
Federal criminal charges are often leveled when an alleged
crime involves the crossing of state lines. Common examples of these cases
include:
- Terrorist
threats (which are often made using communication lines that cross
state borders)
- Drug-related
crimes
- Fraud
It's too simplistic to say that federal charges are more
"serious" than state charges, but federal cases do present unique
challenges to defendants and their representation. Federal investigative and
prosecutorial entities have greater resources than their state and local
counterparts.
The Cochran Firm's federal criminal lawyers have experience
representing clients in federal court. We know how to defend your rights during
a federal prosecution.
If you've been accused of a crime and need an experienced
federal criminal lawyer, please contact The Cochran
Firm today for a free consultation.
posted by Admin at 6:46 AM
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Are White Collar Criminal Offenses Minor?
At The Cochran Firm, our criminal
defense lawyers understand the seriousness of any criminal charge. We don't
take our clients' freedom lightly. And we know that a white collar charge is a
serious matter.
The term "white collar
crime" evokes images of well-heeled defendants receiving light
sentences from sympathetic judges, assuming the state even deigns to pursue a
charge. The reality, however, is that prosecutors are taking these charges more
seriously than ever.
After the global financial crisis and resulting recession,
those accused of white collar crimes are more loathed than ever. Prosecutors
are not reluctant about pursuing cases against men and women they feel
committed white collar crimes.
The Cochran Firm's criminal defense lawyers recognize this
dynamic, and we fight accordingly. We will not let anyone violate your rights.
And we will battle to protect your freedom, because we know that's what is at
stake.
White collar crimes include such serious charges as:
- Fraud
- Racketeering
- Embezzlement
This charges can carry jail sentences that can run for
decades.
If you've been accused of a white collar crime and need an
experienced criminal defense lawyer, please contact The Cochran
Firm today for a free consultation.
posted by Admin at 6:45 AM
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
NHTSA Bike Safety Tips
At The Cochran Firm, our accident lawyers
want everyone to share the roads responsibly and reach their destinations
safely. We've long believed that a few
simple actions can go a long way toward achieving these goals.
Accidents between bicycles and automobiles are tragically
common. Fortunately, The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
has released some tips to both bicyclists and those who drive automobiles. The
full press release can be found here,
but the advice includes:
- Drivers should signal
their turns and drive predictably
- Drivers should always
treat bicycles as other vehicles and give them enough room
- Both drivers and
bicyclists should turn off cell phones
- Bicyclists should not use
headphones to listen to music while riding
- Bicyclists should always
drive on the right side of the road
- Bicyclists should make an
extra effort to be visible by wearing bright colors and reflective devices
As you can see, most of these tips are quite simple. It's
unfortunate that so many people fail to take these steps. It is fortunate,
however, that safety can so easily be achieved.
If you've been hurt and need an experienced accident lawyer,
please contact
The Cochran Firm today for a free consultation.
posted by Admin at 6:43 AM
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Is a Bad Result Automatically Medical Malpractice?
Medicine is an exceptionally complicated field, and even the
best physician will handle cases that come to a tragic result. The law
recognizes this. As such, an unfortunate outcome, no matter how tragic, does
not automatically qualify as medical malpractice.
At The Cochran Firm, a key part of our medical malpractice
lawyers' role is to distinguish between actual medical malpractice cases and
those where a tragic result does not rise to legal standards.
We've talked before on this blog about the concept of
"standards of care," which are how the law defines medical
malpractice. Basically, a medical malpractice lawyer has to show that the
medical professional failed to live up to a standard of care accepted by the
wider medical community.
Of course, medical mistakes, especially surgical
errors, are rarely cut and dry. Evaluating the viability of a claim
requires a medical malpractice lawyer with extensive, specialized experience.
The Cochran Firm offers this experience. We are always up front
and honest with any potential clients about the viability of a claim.
If you need an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to
evaluate your case, please contact The Cochran
Firm today for a free consultation.
Labels: Medical Malpractice
posted by Admin at 6:42 AM