Month: June 2023

Healthcare fraud is taken seriously in New Jersey, so you can expect severe penalties if convicted. This is true even for those defendants that have a clean record and no history of wrongdoing. If you are looking at healthcare fraud charges, you need to understand what you are up against and make sure that you are doing your best to fight back. That means hiring a Bergen County, New Jersey theft lawyer and getting ready to form the most effective possible defense. How You Can Be Punished for Healthcare Fraud in New Jersey? Fines are the most common punishment for healthcare fraud in New Jersey. However, unlike in some other criminal cases, we would not consider the fines in the typical healthcare fraud case to be a mere slap on the wrist. In cases like these, defendants could be forced to pay out five times the amount they allegedly earned or sought to earn from the fraud. So if you are accused of stealing or trying to steal $20,000, you could be made to pay out $100,000! If you are a medical professional with a license, you could also face professional consequences. The state licensing board in charge of your […]

For the most part, getting into some kind of fight or altercation can come with criminal charges. However, New Jersey state law does recognize that sometimes someone is just defending themselves. If you acted in self-defense and still ended up facing criminal charges, you need to do everything that you can to prevent a conviction. A Bergen County, New Jersey assault lawyer from our law firm can help you with your defensive strategy. When Can I Say I Acted in Self-Defense? There are many situations in which you can say that you acted in self-defense. It all comes down to having a “reasonable belief” that you needed to act in order to: Defend yourself Defend others The “reasonable” part of reasonable belief is quite important. It means that most people, if put in your situation, would think the same thing. They would see that the aggressor was acting violently towards you and that you had to respond with appropriate force as a result. This can be the key to a claim that you were acting in self-defense. It is also important to note that New Jersey is a state that gives you a “duty to retreat.” What this means is […]

Even if the police suspect you of a crime, you still have the right to privacy. Cops cannot just search your property and hope that they will turn up some sort of evidence against you. If you think that your rights against illegal searches and seizures have been violated, a Bergen County, New Jersey criminal defense lawyer from our firm may be able to assist you. When Can Police Search My Property? Police can search your property if you give them permission. They have to ask for your consent and they cannot do it in a way that appears to trick or confuse you. If they do something sketchy in order to get consent to a search, that is an illegal search. They can also search your property if they have a warrant. This requires them to go to a judge and show that they have probable cause. They need to have a good reason to suspect you of committing a crime and they need to show that a particular property of yours could hold evidence of said crime. What Can They Search When They Have a Warrant? When cops get a warrant, it is usually quite specific. A judge […]

A DUI charge needs to be taken seriously. That means that you need to find the best way to beat this accusation, but what is your most effective strategy? If you are having a hard time figuring that out, you may want to speak to a Bergen County, New Jersey DUI lawyer from our firm. What Are the Punishments for a DUI Charge? The potential punishments for a DUI charge are harsh, even if this is your first time being charged with a DUI or any other offense. A conviction can result in: Fines of up to $400 MVC surcharges that need to be paid to the state Up to 30 days of jail time The mandatory use of an ignition interlock device None of these penalties are pleasant to deal with, but the consequences of additional DUI charges can be even worse. Drivers who continue to get convicted of DUIs can lose their license for up to 10 years and spend six months in jail. Can I Get a DUI Expunged From My Record? Some criminal offenses can get removed, or “expunged,” from a record, giving someone a clean slate. A DUI charge cannot be expunged because it is […]