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Friday, August 28, 2015

Criminal Lawyer: Legal Help for Serious Felonies like Armed Robbery


A group of three armed men pulled a daring heist in Raleigh, NC’s Walnut Creek Amphitheater last month in broad daylight. According to an article from The News & Observer, the men made off with half a million dollars in cash moments after they made their way into the business office, pointing guns at the employees as they went. One of the alleged armed robbers, Adjani Jari Bryant, has already been apprehended by the police after an employee of the amphitheater reported the crime. Armed robbery is a serious felony and a person charged with such a crime will surely need legal representation from an experienced criminal lawyer.
http://www.kurtzandblum.com/blog/criminal-lawyer-legal-help-for-serious-felonies-like-armed-robbery

Can You Be Charged with DWI when Alcohol is found in the Car?


Driving while impaired is a serious crime in all fifty states. You may be familiar with the acronym DWI or DUI (in North Carolina it is known as DWI) and the penalties that come with those charges. Getting slapped with a DWI charge is frightening. You will have to pay a hefty fine, it will show up on your records, your driver’s license may be suspended.Overall it will certainly affect your life. Sometimes, however, alcohol-related offenses in vehicles don’t always lead to a DWI charge. A criminal lawyer can help you get out of a sticky situation.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Personal Injury Lawyer: Filing a Wrongful Death Suit against Drag Racers


Drag races can sometimes claim innocent lives. Despite all the risks involved and the danger it poses to bystanders, illegal drag racing is still a common headline in the news. Just last month, an illegal drag race that took place outside of Raleigh in Johnston County resulted in the deaths of four people and severe injury to three others. According to The News & Observer article, John Pearce II, one of the drivers, has been charged with four counts of second-degree murder. However, in cases like these, loved ones of the deceased or the decedent can also file a wrongful death lawsuit against the party that caused the death. Unlike the criminal action, the civil lawsuit is a means by which one can seek to claim monetary compensation.
http://www.kurtzandblum.com/blog/personal-injury-lawyer-filing-a-wrongful-death-suit-against-drag-racers

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

DWI Lawyer Discusses the Consequences of Underage Drinking


Raleigh, NC residents Charles and Kimberly Matthews never expected their daughter’s wedding in the summer of last year to be followed by tragedy. They were simply enjoying the wedding reception at home with their friends and families. Unfortunately, a few underage guests got drunk during the party, and one of them—Jonathon Gregory Taylor, a friend of their teenaged son—crashed his car, ending his life. Investigators found that at the time of his death, Jonathan had a blood alcohol level of 0.20, two and a half times North Carolina’s minimum threshold for impairment of 0.08. The parents were charged with aiding and abetting underage consumption and possession of alcohol, while their son, Thomas, who was also 18, was charged with underage purchase of alcohol and giving alcohol to a minor.
http://www.kurtzandblum.com/blog/dwi-lawyer-discusses-the-consequences-of-underage-drinking

Raleigh Lawyer Ponders the Fate of Offenders After Obama’s Visit to Prison


President Obama headed to the El Reno federal prison on July 16th as part of his two-day visit in Oklahoma—a historical move since it was the first time for any sitting president to visit a federal correctional facility. At the event, the President drew attention to many of the failings of the country’s current federal sentencing guidelines, which often puts non-violent offenders at risk for spending years incarcerated. As a criminal attorney in Raleigh, I am all too familiar with unwarranted sentences that simply do not fit the crime. Overcrowding: A Common Scenario in Prison The overcrowding of correctional facilities is evidence enough that many sentences for nonviolent offenders are excessive. President Obama seemed surprised to see that “three grown men” shared a standard 9-by-10-feet cell with just the bare amenities.
http://www.kurtzandblum.com/blog/raleigh-lawyer-ponders-the-fate-of-offenders-after-obama-s-visit-to-prison

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Nursing Home Neglect and What to Do About It

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated two million people over the age of 65 are currently residents of nursing homes. Of these many become victims of neglect and abuse each year. If you have a loved one living in an assisted living center, you should recognize the early signs of neglect or abuse to put a stop to it and hold those at fault legally responsible.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

What to Do When Asked to Take a Breathalyzer Test


The best defense against a DWI arrest is to never drink and drive in the first place. If you feel you’ve had one too many, be responsible and don’t drive yourself home. Instead, designate a driver if you’re with a group. If you’re alone, call a cab or an Uber car, or call and ask a friend to drive you home.

Monday, August 17, 2015

How Can a Criminal Attorney Help Your Case?


If you’ve been accused of a felony, you’ll need an experienced criminal defense attorney by your side who will fight for your rights--especially if you are already on probation for another conviction. Even if the accusation against you is relatively minor, don’t hesitate to approach a criminal attorney for help. 

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Criminal Lawyer Share Why It’s Always a Bad Idea to Leave Your Car Running Unattended


It’s always a bad idea to leave your car running unattended. If you make this mistake, criminals can take advantage of the situation and try stealing your valuable property. Recently, this happened to a resident of Fayetteville, who just left her car running while buying something in a convenience store. Thankfully, the thief was arrested after the woman called her family members, who blocked the criminal’s path with another vehicle. The criminal, Jermaine Abdul Bean, was also a suspect in several other crimes. According to the news article from WRAL, Bean was charged with “two counts of larceny of a vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, hit-and-run and driving with a revoked license” for this incident and another on June 3, plus “felonious breaking and entering, felonious larceny and possession of stolen goods” for an incident on June 10.
http://www.kurtzandblum.com/blog/criminal-lawyer-share-why-its-always-a-bad-idea-to-leave-your-car-running-unattended

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Personal Injury Lawyer: Can You Sue for Training-Related Heat Stroke?


Even though the school year is over, many high school athletes continue to practice over the summer to stay in condition. Others train for competitions and athletic meets. This is pretty much the norm for many student athletes, but this summer’s weather conditions might be concerning. Recently, North Carolina has been going through a heat wave. While temperatures hitting the upper 90s and low 100s isn’t unheard of during summer, that doesn’t usually happen this early. Owing to this phenomenon, young people who training outdoors are at risk of getting dehydrated or suffering from heat stroke if they aren’t careful.
http://www.kurtzandblum.com/blog/personal-injury-lawyer-can-you-sue-for-training-related-heat-stroke

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

About DWI Arrest Quotas in Raleigh and the Need for a Good DWI Lawyer


Police officers have been accused of having either formal or informal quotas regarding the number of DWI arrests they make. This notion has been widely rejected nationwide, North Carolina included. However, North Carolina does not have an anti-quota statute, and certain evidence suggest that such while DWI quotas may not actually exist in the state, there is still plenty of motivation to for police and defense attorneys to make arrests. A DWI Arrest Quota System in Wake County? In a recent letter sent by Aileen Pearlman to the Letters to the Editor section of the Mountain Xpress in Asheville, Pearlman shares her experience about being arrested (and convicted) for DWI despite any evidence.
http://www.kurtzandblum.com/blog/about-dwi-arrest-quotas-in-raleigh-and-the-need-for-a-good-dwi-lawyer

Monday, August 10, 2015

A Raleigh Criminal Lawyer Speaks Out Again on the Case of Darryl Howard

You may remember the case of Darryl Anthony Howard, a 53-year-old man from Durham County who was sentenced in 1995 of two counts of second-degree murder we highlighted in a blog post last year.

Howard was found guilty for the homicides of Doris and Nishonda Washington, a mother and daughter from Durham, in 1991, based on witness testimonies. Last year, however, new evidence was uncovered through more advanced DNA testing.

http://www.kurtzandblum.com/blog/a-raleigh-criminal-lawyer-speaks-out-again-on-the-case-of-darryl-howard

The Role of a Raleigh Personal Injury Lawyer in Workplace Injury Cases

Workplace injuries would be a lot more common if there weren’t well-thought-out safety regulations in place that are rigorously enforced by the government. However, safety standards aren’t set in stone – in order to be as effective as possible, they need to be reviewed regularly.

The State of North Carolina has a State Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health, composed of representatives from various labor sectors. Longtime NC Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry presides over the body, which is supposed to meet at least twice a year to discuss health and safety standards. This council has not met in at least five years.

http://www.kurtzandblum.com/blog/the-role-of-a-raleigh-personal-injury-lawyer-in-workplace-injury-cases

Raleigh Lawyer Applauds Police Efforts to Enhance Safety on Craigslist


The downsides to using Craigslist are numerous. Any post you put up almost always guarantees a flood of spam emails to your Inbox. Scam listings abound, and criminals and sex traffickers use it to clandestinely promote their business or move stolen goods. Worst of all, people in some parts of the country have been murdered after engaging in a Craigslist transaction. Yet, many still continue to rely on the service, including Raleigh residents and students looking to offload used goods or to quickly acquire furniture and other items for the home. Operation Safe Sale To curb crimes related to the use of Craigslist and similar sites, the Wake Forest Police department launched Operation Safe Sale this past May. The program is part of a nationwide effort by police to ensure safe transactions between buyers and sellers on these sites.
http://www.kurtzandblum.com/blog/raleigh-lawyer-applauds-police-efforts-to-enhance-safety-on-craigslist

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Raleigh Law Firms Welcome Proposal to Require Body Cams for Officers


Coming soon to a theatre near you… Police Body Cams (cameras on the officer’s uniform). Two House Bills have been recently introduced related to the use of body cameras by police officers. The bills would fund law enforcement agencies a total of $10 million for the purchase of body cameras, subsidizing $1 for every $5 spent. If passed, the members of the State Highway Patrol and county police will be the first to be required to comply by January 1, 2016. Especially in light of the recent events in Baltimore, this is welcome news to those of us in pursuit of justice.
http://www.kurtzandblum.com/blog/raleigh-law-firms-welcome-proposal-to-require-body-cams-for-officers

Monday, August 3, 2015

How Much Input Should You Contribute in a Criminal Case?

Defense in a criminal case is not the sole territory of your lawyer. He or she has to work in collaboration with you as the defendant. While your lawyer should have a solid legal foundation as well as more experience handling matters such as questioning potential jurors, cross examining witnesses and presenting evidence, , you also have a say. After all, it is your fate that’s on the line and your lawyer is simply acting as your advocate and representative. Just how much involvement should you have in your defense? Here is some key information to consider.

Strategy Meeting

The law dictates that your criminal lawyer consult with you before making important decisions. Your opinion about who to call as witnesses, how to cross-examine them, what arguments to make, what evidence to present, and which jurors to accept or strike should be considered. Let your lawyer know exactly what you think and listen to /her opinions.