Appeared at traffic court for a family member. The fine was $35 plus PA (“penalty assessments”). The clerk informed me that if I wanted to preserve my client’s right to “trial by declaration” I could not do so “OR” (own recognizance) and that I would have to put up bail. (Doesn’t sound right but that’s …
Read more »Happy to report two separate dismissals of criminal charges against two of my clients in two day! Yay! And you know why? Because they’re not criminals. That’s why it’s important not to always believe what the cops allege.
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The Greater Los Angeles area is second in the nation in bankruptcy filings after south Florida. Babachanian discusses this and how people in financial distress may be able to take some of the crushing weight off by using bankruptcy in this KNBC NonStop piece with Colleen Williams.
Read more »The LAPD has a program called “SMART” – Systemwide Mental Assessment Response Team. The teams are billed as “collaborative units dedicated to assist police officers, the mentally ill and their families.” Not all departments have the resources to field such teams. The Fullerton Police Department apparently didn’t. The result is that Kelly Thomas, a schizophrenic …
Read more »It may be stating the obvious, but insurance companies routinely exploit non-catastrophically injured people by making it too expensive to try cases. “Orthopods” (orthopaedic surgeons) charge about $7k daily when serving as expert witnesses. Deep pocketed insurance companies exploit this reality to secure settlements most advantageous to them by trying to force middle class clients …
Read more »Law practice is one of the true professions. To be entitled to practice law, lawyers undergo a rigorous program of doctoral education and training, background checks, monitoring, ethical review and continuing legal education. Being a good lawyer involves a commitment to a way of life that includes keeping current on a vast body of legal …
Read more »By Charlton Heston I remember my son when he was 5, explaining to his kindergarten class what his father did for a living. “My Daddy,” he said, “pretends to be people.” There have been quite a few of them. Prophets from the Old and New Testaments, a couple of Christian saints, generals of various nationalities …
Read more »Penal Code section 834b: (a) Every law enforcement agency in California shall fully cooperate with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service regarding any person who is arrested if he or she is suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. (b) With respect to any such person who …
Read more »I was in Judge Priver’s court at Alhambra Dept. 1 yesterday waiting to confer with the deputy DA before my client’s attempted robbery case would be called for a pretrial hearing. The DA was busy with an in-custody felony arraignment. The guy in the box wearing Jailhouse Orange was making the grave mistake of representing …
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I destroy homes, I tear families apart, take your children, and that’s just the start. I’m more costly than diamonds, more precious than gold, The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold. If you need me, remember! I’m easily found, I live all around you – in schools and in town. I live …
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