The Florida legislature has adopted a new standard for the admission of expert witness testimony in Florida criminal and civil cases. In the past, Florida courts have used the Frye standard which allowed an expert to testify if the expert opinion was based on a scientific technique that is generally accepted as reliable in the...
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Lakeland DUI Attorney Thomas C. Grajek in the news
After my Lakeland DUI trial on Tuesday, the Ledger and Channel 8 news started taking a closer look at the procedures used by Lakeland Police Department. Read the Ledger article here: http://www.theledger.com/article/20130620/NEWS/130629985?tc=cr&tc=ar Documents and police reports play a critical role in a DUI and criminal case. DUI reports are also the evidence used to uphold...
Read MoreTeacher Sexting Student Results In Arrest And Conviction
Technology in schools has introduced potentially new disturbing behavior, such as a teacher allegedly sexting students. This Florida case appear unseemly, but we need to remember that not everything may be the way it looks. And, according to the Constitution, everyone is considered to be innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around. In...
Read MoreAggressive Polk County DUI lawyer argues DUI motions to suppress in court
Yesterday, I was in court all day before arguing various motions to suppress in my client's DUI case. Many people arrested for DUI or a criminal offense do not know what a criminal defense attorney does for them in court. Many people charged with DUI also do not know what it means to mount an...
Read MoreCan a convicted felon be a bail bond agent in Florida?
This week a spoke to a great group of students studying and training to become bail bond agents in Florida. Eventually, after a 120 hour course and training under a licensed bondsman, they too will receive their bail agent license. Many people ask me though if they can be a bondsman if they have a...
Read MoreBartow criminal lawyer teaches future bail bond agents
On Thursday, it was again my pleasure to teach future bondsmen and women about the criminal court system. If you would like to be a bail bond agent and help assist people to get out of jail, you can more information at http://bailbondedu.com/, Florida's leading bail bond educator. In order to become a bondsman there are...
Read MorePolk Criminal Lawyer Thomas C. Grajek attends NACDL Forensics Evidence seminar on DNA evidence
In April, I attended the NACDL legal seminar "Making sense of Science." This continuing legal education seminar focused on how science plays a role in criminal cases. A main topic was DNA evidence in criminal cases. This evidence is found in rape or capital sexual battery and there is DNA evidence on the body. Or,...
Read More2nd District Court of Appeals rules police holding driver's license is a seizure
Last week, the Second District Court of Appeals overturned a Defendant's conviction for possession of a controlled substance (carisoprodol). The rulings by the 2nd District Court of Appeal are binding on the county and circuit court's of Polk County. That means the felony or misdemeanor judge in Polk County must follow the appellate court's rulings...
Read MorePolk County Criminal Defense Attorney Jury Trial for Improper Exhibition of a Firearm
My client was charged with Improper Exhibition of a Firearm. We demanded speedy trial in this case and the charge was dismissed by the court at trial. My client was accused of waving a fireman at an elderly lady arising out of an alleged road rage incident. This incident was allegedly witnessed by an off-duty...
Read MoreProstitution trial results in guilty verdict
Today, the jury reached a guilty verdict in the Zumba prostitution case that made headlines across the country. The prosecutor accused him of managing the prostitution business allegedly run by the Zumba instructor, Alexis Wright. Wright’s case is still pending trial. She faces 100 counts of prostitution and tax evasion charges. The prostitution scandal in...
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