HOW TO INVESTIGATE A POLICE SHOOTING (Session one)

There are a number of police shoots each day around the United States. In California there are many police shootings that are justified. However, there are also a number of police shootings that are not justified. Every officer involved shooting should be investigated by the police department's Officer Involved Shooting team (OIST)to make a determination as to whether or not the shooting was justified. The officers should be statematized and hopefully video taped immediately after the shooting. The officers should be separated from their partner right after the shooting so the officer interview will not be tainted from collateral talk between the officers. There should be a walk through at the scen and there should be a forensic team at the scene. Since the officers all knew the routine and know that there own force officers will conduct the investigation they have a high confidence level that their shooting will be justified espcially if there are no other sources of information. The police will go to the scene in force and try to lock down all of the witnesses and seize all of the video or other evidence. When WILSON TRIAL GROUP gets involved in an officer involved shooting that has caused death or serious bodily injuries to an individual we try to get out to the shoot scene as soon as possible. We do this because we want to search for witnesses, see what officers are still on scene, canvass the area for video or other sources of film capture and start our oen log of the scene. Each witness identified has to be interviewed (preferably on video) and then extensive background on each witness needs to be conducted. You also have to develope sources at the scen because you will have to return many times. Do your own reenactment with the witnesses and video tape it. Search for additional evidence the police may have missed. Take pictures of every inch of the scene and the location where the police responded from. You should also have a Google View of the area. Each police officer will eventuall have to be interviewed, deposed or statemtized. Each paramedic or other responder will have to be interviewed, statemetized or deposed, and all witnesses will need to be processed the same. Be detailed in your evidence gathering and your scene analysis. The keys to a bad shooting will always be at the scene in the begining of the case. Take measurements, do angle analysis on views and build a mock reenactment scene set for video prductions. The next steps in the police shooting investigation will be covered in Session Two. http://www.wilsontrialgroup.com/video.html

ONLINE ATTORNEYS CREDENTIALS

When you are looking for an attorney on line you have to really do your homework. Just because an attorney has a good rating on AVVO or other rating services. An average attorney or a inexperienced attorney can look good online if they hit all of the right buttons. They can claim to have worked on complex cases, handled heavy duty legal problems, or engaged in some other type of spectacular legal accomplishment. Some attorneys know about other cases or have tangentially participate in a case. You need to vet the attorney after you do your on line search. You do this by researching the work or cases they claim to have been involved with or handled. You can check court records, call references, or call the attorney and question them about their participation. You can also ask them to provide a writing sample from their work on the case with the Appropriate redactions. WILSON TRIAL GROUP will provide links to work product on request. There are attorneys out there that just want to sign you up and then refer you to another attorney. They may not even work on your case which means they will not be involved or monitor what goes on in the case. Your best interest needs to be protected. When you hire the Wilson Trial Group we take your case on seriously. We work on the case and make sure your interests are advanced and protected. We are an experienced trial law firm that get results. If your attorney does not try cases then they will not be taken seriously.

ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN TIMES OF CHAOS

Seeking justice in times of chaos is not an easy task to undertake. Chaos comes in many different forms depending on the person and their particular circumstances. Maybe you have lost a job because your boss fired you, or you have been underpaid and are unable to pay your rent. A person's ability to pay their bills and keep food on the table is dependent upon their ability to receive a fair wage for a fair days work. Unfortunately some employers have a different opinion as to what is fair or they just don't care.

Employees should be given an uninterrupted lunch period and be paid for their overtime work. However, their are some employers that go to great lengths to take their employees time and not pay for it. We at the Wilson Trial Group are committed to bringing economic justice back to the employment market place. Taking on employers who fail to pay proper overtime or who fail to provide uninterrupted lunch periods is particularly fulfilling to us.

No one wants likes to have their property rights stolen from them, and that is exactly what is being taken from you when your employer fails to follow the wage and hour laws in California. Our mission is to bring these economic thieves to justice in Court, and expose their larceny. The only way to change these types of employers' conduct is to take them to court and punish them for the thievery they are committing. We at the Wilson Trial group are aggressive in championing your rights and look at it as an honor to prosecute your case.

INGLEWOOD POLICE SHOOT AND KILL MARCUS SMITH

MARCUS SMITH WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT WHILE ATTENDING A BIRTHDAY PARTY. THE LAW OFFICES OF DENNIS WILSON HAS BEEN RETAINED BY THE FAMILY TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE THIS ACTION. WITNESSES REPORT THAT MARCUS SMITH WAS UNARMED WHEN POLICE OPENED FIRE ON HIM AT POINT BLANK RANGE. ATTORNEY DENNIS P. WILSON HAS BEEN OUT TO THE CRIME SCENE A NUMBER OF TIMES AND HAS TALKED TO MANY WITNESSES. ALL THE CIVILIAN WITNESSES INTERVIEWED AT THE SCENE WHO SAW THE SHOOTING ALL STATE THAT MARCUS SMITH DID NOT HAVE A GUN AND DID NOT POSE A THREAT TO ANYONE. INVESTIGATORS HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED TO THE LOCATIONS HAVE DEVELOPED SHOCKING ACCOUNTS OF WHAT REALLY OCCURRED. [SEE LOCAL NEWS RELEASES FOR DETAILS]

ACCORDING TO THE WITNESSES INTERVIEWED THE POLICE ENTERED THE LOCATION IN COMBAT FORMATION. THEY APPROACHED THE REAR OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AND THEN DREW THEIR WEAPONS AND SHOT MARCUS SMITH. ACCORDING TO THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF AN INDEPENDENT AUTOPSY MARCUS SMITH WAS SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE BACK. WITNESSES AT THE SCENE REPORT THAT THE POLICE HANDCUFFED EVERYONE, WERE VERBALLY ABUSIVE TO WITNESSES, BEAT UP MARCUS SMITH'S BLIND BROTHER, AND MAN HANDLED MANY PEOPLE AT THE LOCATION. THE RESIDENTS REPORT THAT THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE INGLEWOOD POLICE AND THEY WAY THEY TREAT WITNESSES.

THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PRESS RELEASES HAVE NOT BEEN ACCURATE ON THIS DISTURBING INCIDENT ACCORDING TO THE EYE WITNESSES AT THE SCENE. ATTORNEY DENNIS WILSON HAS LAUNCHED A FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER AND CONTINUES WITH THE FIRM'S ONGOING INVESTIGATION OF THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT. PEOPLE KEEP GETTING KILLED BY POLICE OFFICER'S USE OF THEIR FIREARMS. TRAINING NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED AND THE POLICY AND PROCEDURES NEEDS AN OVERHAUL ACCORDING TO COMMUNITY LEADERS AND OTHER OFFICIALS. DPWLAW1.COM

STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS IN INGLEWOOD

Burbank Lawyer Dennis Wilson helps you stand up for your rights. In today's society, it is very difficult for an individual to take on City Hall. You need an attorney to help you fight injustice and oppression. There comes a time in each of our lives when we are faced with a situation where we are wrongfully accused, unjustly judged, or just labeled what we are not. These are the times when we should stand up and be counted. It's hard to face the noise and wall of fear without someone there who has been through it all before.

Fighting injustice and defending a person's rights is what Dennis Wilson does on a daily basis. His office handles major civil rights cases, criminal defense cases, and many other types of legal situations where someone needs help. The office is able to quickly respond to most legal problems and can call into action many resources to aid you in your time of need.

Currently the Law Offices of Dennis Wilson, working in conjunction with several other offices including those of Gregg Yates and Tony Luti is prosecuting another officer involved shooting in Inglewood. When Chief Seabrooks claimed that there were only two rounds discharged into Kevin Wicks the legal team was quick to prove this was wrong, because in fact Kevin Wicks was shot three times. The Inglewood Police Department has been requested to release the audio tapes of the 911 CALLS that night, but still has not done so. Chief Seabrooks has failed to contact the Law Offices of Dennis Wilson or any of the other Law Offices involved in prosecuting this case on behalf of the family.

The photograph of the front door, the civilian witnesses statements, the two autopsy findings, physical evidence at the apartment and other details of the investigation all point away from the Inglewood Police Department's version of what happened that night. This case is going to trial in Federal Court and the truth will shine through, injustice will be exposed, police policy and procedures will be brought into question, and there will be a jury verdict at the end of the day.

WRONGFULLY ACCUSED

WHAT DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU ARE WRONGFULLY ACCUSED OF A CRIME? THIS TYPE OF INJUSTICE HAPPENS MORE THAN PEOPLE THINK EACH DAY IN AMERICA. OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE IS SUPPOSE TO BE DESIGNED TO ENABLE YOU TO OVERCOME THIS OUTRAGEOUS SCENARIO. HOWEVER, IT TAKES TIME AND RESOURCES TO FIGHT INJUSTICE.

AVENGING INJUSTICE IS WHAT ATTORNEYS ARE SUPPOSE TO DO. IT IS A LONG AND HARD JOURNEY THAT THE CLIENT AND ATTORNEY ARE GOING TO TAKE TOGETHER. THE EMOTION EVOKED WHEN ONE IS WRONGFULLY ACCUSED IS AN ANCIENT ONE. HUMAN BEINGS HAVE SUFFERED THIS INJUSTICE SINCE THE EARLY CAVE PEOPLE FOUGHT OVER FOOD. ONCE ALL OF THE FACTS ARE UNCOVERED AND THE GROUP IS SHOWN WHAT REALLY HAPPENED ONLY THEN WILL A JURY BE ABLE TO JUSTLY ACQUIT YOU.

YOUR TRIAL LAWYER'S JOB IS TO TELL YOUR STORY BASED ON ALL OF THE FACTS AND SHOW THE JURY WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. THIS TAKES PATIENTS AND THE ABILITY TO BE IN TOUCH WITH THE GROUPS EMOTIONS AND CONSCIOUS. WHEN THESE THINGS ALL COME TOGETHER, THEN INJUSTICE IS SHOWN AND THE CIVILIZED GROUP CONSCIOUS WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.

KEVIN WICKS KILLED BY INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT

THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT ALLOWED OFFICER BRIAN RAGAN TO REMAIN ON THE STREETS OF INGLEWOOD AFTER HE HAD SHOT AND KILLED AN UNARMED MAN AND SHOT OTHER UNARMED MEN IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. ON JULY 21, 2008, BRIAN RAGAN ALONG WITH OTHER INGLEWOOD POLICE OFFICERS POUNDED ON KEVIN WICKS APARTMENT DOOR WITHOUT ANNOUNCING THEIR IDENTITY AND WHEN KEVIN WICKS OPENED THE DOOR HE WAS SHOT THREE TIMES BY OFFICER RAGAN. KEVIN WICKS DIED FROM THE GUN SHOT WOUND INFLICTED UPON HIM BY OFFICER RAGAN.

THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD RECEIVED NUMEROUS 911 CALLS PRIOR TO THE 12:20 A.M. SHOOTING RELATED TO REPORTS OF A MAN HAVING A DISPUTE WITH A DOMESTIC PARTNER. THE MIDDLE UNIT UPSTAIRS WAS IDENTIFIED AND SUBSEQUENT CALLS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTIES HAD MOVED DOWNSTAIRS. INGLEWOOD POLICE HAD RESPONDED MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES PRIOR TO THIS JULY 21, 2008 INCIDENT TO APARTMENT 11 AND KNEW THAT IT WAS A PLACE THAT WAS LEFT OPEN BY THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING. TENANTS HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE USE OF THIS MIDDLE UPPER UNIT AND NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT BY THE OWNER.

THAT NIGHT OFFICER BRIAN RAGAN SHOT FIRST AND ASKED QUESTIONS LATER. BRIAN RAGAN HAS A HISTORY OF USING EXCESSIVE FORCE ON MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHILE IN HIS INGLEWOOD UNIFORM ON DUTY AND THE COMMAND AT INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT KNEW ABOUT THIS AND STILL LET HIM LOOSE ON THE STREETS TO PULL THE TRIGGER AGAIN ON INNOCENT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. UNFORTUNATELY THIS TIME OFFICER RAGAN WAS ALLOWED TO LEAD A TEAM OF ARMED POLICE OFFICERS TO THE WRONG UNIT WHERE HE OPENED FIRED UNJUSTIFIABLY AND KILLED KEVIN WICKS.

CHIEF SEABROOKS WENT TO THE SCENE THAT NIGHT AND INTERVIEWED OFFICER RAGAN AND HIS COHORTS ABOUT THE SHOOTING DEATH OF KEVIN WICKS. AFTER INTERVIEWING RAGAN CHIEF SEABROOKS RELEASED INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO SHOTS FIRED. AN INDEPENDENT AUTOPSY CONDUCT AFTER THE LA COUNTY AUTOPSY CONFIRMED THAT KEVIN WICKS WAS SHOT THREE TIMES. LEADS ARE NOW SURFACING THAT ESTABLISH THAT BRIAN RAGAN HAS HAD A HISTORY OF USING EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE INGLEWOOD COMMUNITY SINCE AT LEAST JULY OF 2005 WHEN RAGAN WAS INVOLVED WITH THE TASER SHOOTING OF AN UNARMED MAN IN THE BACK AND THE WHEN THE MAN WAS ON THE GROUND OFFICER RAGAN HIT HIM REPEATEDLY WITH HIS NIGHT STICK.

THIS TYPE OF POLICE CONDUCT AND FAILURE OF OVERSIGHT MUST BE CORRECTED FORTHWITH. A FEDERAL COURT ACTION HAS BEEN FILED ON BEHALF OF DONNA WICKS AGAINST OFFICER RAGA AND THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT SEEKING AMONG OTHER THINGS THE ASSISTANCE OF THE COURT BY WAY OF MANDATORY INJUNCTION TO HAVE THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT COOPERATE WITH AND TURN OVER TO THE CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES AND OTHERS ALL OF THE EVIDENCE AND FACTS IN THE KEVIN WICKS CASE. BRAIN RAGAN DOES NOT BELONG IN A POLICE UNIFORM BUT RATHER IN A PIN STRIPE UNIFORM.

TRIAL LAWYER'S AGENDA

TRIAL LAWYERS TODAY SHOULD BE PROUD OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING FOR THEIR CLIENTS. OUR UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION IS THE BASIS OF THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL. JOHN ADAMS WAS NOT ONLY ONE OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS, HE WAS ALSO A TRIAL LAWYER. THE TRADITION OF BEING A TRIAL LAWYER DATES BACK TO THE FOUNDING OF THIS COUNTRY AND THE RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A U.S. CITIZEN IN ORDER TO BE ENTITLED TO A RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IN THIS COUNTRY. OUR VERY SYSTEM OF JUSTICE IS PREMISES UPON THE RIGHT OF A PERSON TO HAVE 12 INDIVIDUALS HEAR THE FACTS AND RENDER A DECISION BASED UPON THE FACTS AND THE LAW AS GIVEN TO THEM BY THE COURT.

AS TRIAL ATTORNEYS PRACTICING IN BURBANK, THIS OFFICE HANDLES MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF CASES THAT GO TO TRIAL. WE ALWAYS WANT TO PRESENT OUR CLIENT'S CASE TO THE JURY SO THAT THE CLIENT MAY BE HEARD BY HIS PEERS, AND SO THAT OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE CAN CONTINUE TO FLOURISH.

A JURY TRIAL ALLOWS THE CLIENT TO TELL THEIR STORY TO THE VENIRE AND ENABLES THIS OFFICE TO PRESENT OUR SIDE TO AN IMPARTIAL JURY OF PERSONS FROM THE COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE GREATEST PLEASURES IN LAW IS BEING ABLE TO TRY A CASE TO THE JURY. WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT ONLY FUN AND EXCITING, BUT IT IS ALSO OUR WAY OF PARTICIPATING IN THE DREAM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

FINDING A BURBANK TRIAL LAWYER

When you look for a trial attorney to handle your case be sure to find one who has been in the Courtroom in front of a jury. You want someone who will be able to present your version of the facts in an effective and realistic fashion. Also you should check to see if the trial attorney is able to devote enough preparation time to your trial.

During the trial its your attorney's job to question each witness in order to present your truth. Jurors are people and that means they not listen to everything that is being said. All you can do is hope that they will not be more absorbed in their own lives then in listening to your life. This is a reality in the Courtroom. After trial studies show that jurors do not always track the evidence and the testimonies and many times just want to get back to their own lives.

Should we expect jurors who are forced into service to want to take the extra time to review all of the evidence and the witnesses testimonies before they render a decision? Should jurors be paid more so they want to hear the case and deliberate? Should we look into establishing a system where sitting jurors are paid a premium to deliberate?

This is the best system in the world, but there is room for improvement. Post your comments on how we can improve the jury system so that all of the people and others can get a reasoned trial where the jurors want to listen to the evidence.

CUSTODY DISPUTES DURING THE HOLIDAYS

DURING THESE HOLIDAY TIME MANY FAMILIES EXPERIENCE AND INCREASE IN DISCORD BECAUSE OF THE STRESS INVOLVED IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON. INSTEAD OF THIS BEING THE HAPPIEST TIME OF YEAR FOR YOUR CHILDREN THERE ARE THOSE WHO TURN THIS TIME OF YEAR INTO A CHRISTMAS NIGHTMARE. FIGHTING OVER VISITATION TIME, ACTIVITIES AND OTHER EVENTS THAT INVOLVE THE CHILDREN IS NOT IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BE TRYING TO DO IS EXACTLY WHAT THE COURT WANTS TO DO,AND THAT IS LOOK OUT FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN. THE COURTS ARE VERY CROWDED, JUDGES ARE ON VACATION AND TEMPERS ARE HIGH DOWN AT THE COURT HOUSE. WHEN YOU DO HAVE TO GO TO COURT YOU BETTER MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PAPERS ARE IN ORDER, YOU HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE INFORMALLY FIRST, AND THAT YOU HAVE AN ATTORNEY CAPABLE OF HANDLING THIS TIME OF YEAR.

MANY PARENTS START DRINKING AND USING, ENDANGER THE CHILDREN, LEAVE TOWN OR SUBJECT THE CHILDREN TO UNWARRANTED PROBLEMS. YOU WILL NEED TO ACT QUICKLY AND COMPETENTLY TO SAVE THE CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS. DO YOU HAVE A LEGAL PLAN AND THE RIGHT ATTORNEY TO INTERVENE RAPIDLY? MAKE THIS A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS FOR THE CHILDREN AND WORK IT OUT WITH THE OTHER PARENT. IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT THEN TAKE THE LEGAL ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN.

Blogger Buzz: Blogging from YouTube

Blogger Buzz: Blogging from YouTube

FAMILY SERENITY FOR THE HOLIDAY CUSTODY AND VISITATION TIME

It never seems to fail that during the holiday season many problems arise in families that are going through a divorce or have lingering custody issues. Try to minimize the need to call your attorney during the holidays. You may not need to take legal action just because there is a dispute about a drop off or pick uptime or because you feel that the children really want to spend more time with you. First try to work it out with your ex. This will help minimize the stress to the children and will provide you with an evidentiary showing that you first tried to work out a reasonable result with regards to the visitation.

If you can't work it out, then try to first have your attorney send a letter with a short time frame attached to it and which references your informal attempts to work out the dispute. It can be quite costly to seek legal redress during the holidays because of time constraints, the crowed courts and other factors. As a last resort you may have to seek an order from the Court with regards to the visitation and custody issues if it is truly an emergency situation or there is a likelihood that irreparable harm may result if relief is not granted.

It can be quite tricky if you are going to apply ex parte to the Court for a shortened period of time to seek the Court's intervention. There will be time that has to be spent preparing declarations, moving papers, ex parte papers and other documents needed to be filed with the Court. If you have to go this route make sure that you do not skimp and spend the extra time and money to obtain the best result for the children. Your attorney should will be able to guide you through this mine field and have you walk out relatively unscathed at the end.

RISING INTEREST RATES AND YOUR FALLING HOME VALUE

Everytime that the Federal Reserve raised interest rates in the last one and one half years there was a corresponding effect on your existing home value. As interest rates increased the price of loans also increased. This had the effect of increasing the monthly real price of your loan servicing and squeezing people out of the market as it became more and more expensive to make the monthly loan payments. As there were less and less buyers the demand for property decreased which caused a corresponding drop in the value of the properties. The Federal Reserves' recent lowering of the interest rates has only had a negligible effect on overall interest rates because everyone figures that the Fed will not lower the rates anymore.

All of this means that if you had an adjustable rate loan tied to the Federal Funds rate your interest rate increased over time as did your monthly loan servicing payments. Also, at the same time your equity was being depleted as the value of your house decreased. At some point if these variables continue in the same direction you will end up upside down on your loan versus your property value. With a no equity position and increasing monthly payments your reserves are being drained and you are falling deeper and deeper into debt. Your entire financial future has now been ruined by the loan broker, banker or agent that put you into your loan, and they knew this was going to happen to you. Those hollow promises that you would be able to refinance your way out of this predicament were carelessly made by your lender or facilitator and may be actionable.

You have real damages because the cost of your borrowing over the life of the loan just keeps increasing, your credit rating is falling, your equity has evaporated and you have nothing to show for your hard work. Forget about refinancing becasue with the implosion of the subprime market any hope of obtaining a 100% loan has disappeared with your agent's business. Who's going to pay for your damages and how are you going to be able to avoid certain financial death for the next several years.

The Law Offices of Dennis P. Wilson is exploring the possibilities for you and may be able to help. You need to review all of your loan documents, closing statements and other representations made to you by the lenders or their agents. If they knew or should have known that you could not afford the effects of an upturn in the interest market and if they failed to properly inform you of the potential consequences than you may be able to take legal recourse against your lender. Contact the Law Offices of Dennis P. Wilson to find out what they have to say about your problem.

THE PRICE OF JUSTICE

IN TODAYS LEGAL SYSTEM THE ONLY REAL WAY FOR A JURY TO COMPENSATE A VICTIM FOR THEIR INJURIES IS BY ASSIGNING A MONETARY VALUE TO THE INJURIES. WHEN PEOPLE FIRST CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF MONEY IT WAS MAINLY FOR TRADE SO THAT CHICKENS AND HOGS AND PRODUCE AND OTHER THINGS DID NOT HAVE TO BE EXCHANGED WHEN PEOPLE WERE ACQUIRING THINGS THEY NEEDED. CONSEQUENTLY, MONEY TOOK ON AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR SOCIETY AS A MEDIUM THAT SYMBOLIZES VALUE. IN OUR CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WE CAN NOT GIVE A PERSON BACK THEIR ARM OR LEG OR LIFE AND WE CAN NOT TAKE AWAY ALL OF THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT EACH PERSON SUFFERS AS A RESULT OF ANOTHER PERSON'S NEGLIGENCE. THUS, WE HAVE DECIDED THAT IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY WE SUBSTITUTE MONEY FOR KING SOLOMON'S JUSTICE.

HOW DOES ONE DECIDE WHAT PRICE TO PLACE ON A PERSON'S INJURIES? DO WE USE OUR OWN INJURIES AS A GAUGE? WELL, WE CAN, BUT EACH PERSON'S PAIN THRESH HOLD AND FEELINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR PAIN ARE UNIQUE TO THAT PERSON. SOME SAY THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR MEDICAL BILLS, BUT NOT THEIR PAIN AND SUFFERING BECAUSE EVERYONE DEALS WITH THEIR OWN PAIN AND SUFFERING. IS IT FAIR TO GIVE A PERSON WHO CAUSED SOMEONE ELSE'S PAIN AND SUFFERING A FREE PASS AND ABSOLVE THEM OF THEIR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR CAUSING THE PROBLEM? LIFE BRINGS WITH IT CONSEQUENCES AND FOR EVERY ACTION THEIR IS A REACTION. FOR EXAMPLE, A CAR ACCIDENT IS CAUSED BY SOMEONE AND THEIR IS A VICTIM OF THE CRASH. SHOULD A VICTIM HAVE TO BEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN INJURIES BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE CRASHED INTO THEM? BY THE SAME TOKEN, IF SOMEONE ACCIDENTALLY CRASHES INTO YOUR HOUSE, SHOULD YOU HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF REPLACING ALL OF THE DAMAGED PARTS AND THE DOG THAT WAS KILLED?

IN ANY EVENT, WHEN YOU ARE PRESENTING A CASE IN BURBANK COURT AND REQUESTING MONETARY DAMAGES FOR YOUR INJURIES, YOU ARE LIKELY TO HEAR JURORS SAY THAT YOU SHOULD ONLY RECEIVE YOUR MEDICAL BILLS THAT ARE REASONABLE. THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY OUT OF YOUR POCKET FOR ALL OF THE MEDICAL BILLS THAT THE JURY DID NOT AWARD TO YOU. WHAT A WIN FALL FOR THE DEFENDANT WHO CAUSED THE PROBLEM! THEN, FOR EVERY DAY YOU WERE IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN THEY JURY WILL HAVE TO DECIDE HOW MUCH MONEY JUSTICE TO AWARD YOU FOR THAT PAIN THAT YOU DID NOT HAVE BEFORE YOUR BACK WAS WRECKED BY THE PERSON WHO DROPPED A BAG OF CEMENT ON YOU AT HOME DEPO. THE JURY WILL ALSO HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT FUTURE PAIN AND SUFFERING TO AWARD YOU AND WHETHER YOU ARE ENTITLED TO DAMAGES FOR EMOTIONAL DISTRESS.

EMOTIONAL DISTRESS FROM A BACK INJURY CAN BE QUITE DEVASTATING BECAUSE ONCE YOU ARE UNABLE TO SIT, STAND OR WALK WITHOUT PAIN, YOU ALSO SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION AND OTHER PSYCHOLOGICAL PAINS THAT HAVE CLEARLY BEEN CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF ANOTHER PERSON. THIS OTHER PERSON MAY HAVE INSURANCE, WORK FOR A LARGE COMPANY THAT HAS INSURANCE OR OTHERWISE IS ABLE TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A DAY FOR THEIR ATTORNEYS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE PLAINTIFF HAS TO RELY ON THEIR ATTORNEY TO PAY ALL OF THE COSTS OF COURT AND TRIAL (THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS) AND FOREGOING ATTORNEY'S FEES UNLESS THEY RECOVER DAMAGES FOR YOU. WOULD YOU PAY TO FIX UP A POOR PERSON'S HOUSE IN DESPERATE NEED OF REPAIR, PUT IN NEW PLUMBING AND LANDSCAPING, PAY THE MORTGAGE COSTS ON A HOUSE YOU DO NOT LIVE IN, AND IN A FALLING REAL ESTATE MARKET FOREGOING BEING PAID FOR YOUR TIME AND COSTS UNLESS YOU WERE ABLE TO SELL THE HOUSE AT A PROFIT HIGH ENOUGH TO PAY THE OWNER A FAIR PROFIT? WELL THAT'S WHAT PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY'S DO AND THEY ALSO CHAMPION JUSTICE FOR THE INDIGENT, LESS ADVANTAGED AND THOSE WHO CAN NOT FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES.

SO WHEN YOU ARE DETERMINING HOW MUCH MONEY JUSTICE TO RENDER WHEN YOU ARE ON JURY DUTY, DON'T GIVE THE DEFENDANT A FREE PASS. MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAREFULLY CONSIDER EACH ELEMENT OF THE DAMAGES THAT THE PLAINTIFF CLAIMS THEY SUFFERED. DO NOT GIVE THE PLAINTIFF MONEY UNLESS YOU BELIEVE THEM AND THEN COMPENSATE THEM FAIRLY. A SMALL AWARD OF PAIN AND SUFFERING MAY BE ALL YOU WANT TO AWARD, BUT DON'T DO IT JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN. BE FAIR AND IF A PERSON HAS SUFFERED THEY SHOULD BE MADE WHOLE. IF THAT MEANS AWARDING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, THEN YOU HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW THE LAW AND MAKE THAT AWARD.

INTERPRETING LEASE CONTRACTS

BEFORE YOU SIGN ANY LEASE FOR RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR BURBANK ATTORNEY REVIEW IT FIRST. THIS WAY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE SIGNING AND WHAT YOUR OBLIGATIONS WILL BE UNDER THE CONTRACT. ITS A LOT EASIER TO WORK OUT A CONTRACT CHANGE BEFORE YOU SIGN IT THAN AFTER YOU HAVE COMMITTED YOURSELF AND SIGNED IT. IT IS WELL WORTH THE MONEY YOU WILL PAY TO HAVE YOUR ATTORNEY REVIEW THE CONTRACT AND EXPLAIN IT TO YOU VERSUS HAVING TO PAY YOUR ATTORNEY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO LITIGATE THE CONTRACT IN COURT.

MOST REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS ARE FORM CONTRACTS WRITTEN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LANDLORD. YOU CAN MODIFY THEM BEFORE YOU SIGN THEM THROUGH THE USE OF CROSS OUTS AND ADDENDUMS. A CROSS OUT IS SIMPLY CROSSING OUT WORDING OR SECTIONS THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE INCLUDED. AN ADDENDUM IS THE PRACTICE OF ADDING ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS INTO THE CONTRACT THAT ARE BENEFICIAL OR UNIQUE TO YOUR POSITION. BY USING CROSS OUTS AND ADDENDUMS YOU CAN TAILOR THE LANDLORD'S CONTRCT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE AND GAIN SECURITY AND COMFORT IN CASE THE CONTRACT HAS TO BE LITIGATED.

YOUR BURBANK ATTORNEY CAN REVIEW YOUR CONTRACT AND DRAFT ADDENDUMS FOR YOU AS WELL AS HELP YOU HAND TAILOR CROSS OUTS OF SECTIONS THAT MAY CAUSE YOU PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. PAYING $300 TO $400 PER HOUR IS A LOT MORE ECONOMICAL THAT PAYING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR LITIGATION COSTS. PLAY IT SMART AND DO WHAT THE LANDLORDS DO, HAVE YOUR BURBANK ATTORNEY REVIEW ALL OF YOUR CONTTRACTS BEFORE YOU SIGN ANYTHING.

BURBANK TRIAL ATTORNEY HELPS CLIENT IN CRIMINAL JURY TRIAL

THE JUDGE ASKED THE ATTORNEYS IF THEY WERE READY TO PROCEED WITH THE JURY TRIAL. BOTH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE BURBANK CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY ANSWERED "READY FOR TRIAL". WITHIN 45 MINUTES THE VOIR DIRE PROCESS HAD BEGUN AND EACH SIDE WAS ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE POTENTIAL JURORS. THIS PART OF THE CASE CAN BE HARROWING FOR THE CLIENT AS THEY MUST SIT THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE SOME POTENTIAL JURORS LOOK AT THEM AND SAY THAT THEY MUST BE GUILTY IF THEY ARE SITTING AT THE BURBANK DEFENSE ATTORNEY'S TABLE. EACH PERSON UP IN THE BOX IS QUESTIONED ABOUT THEIR PREJUDICES AND THEIR ABILITY TO BE FAIR. ALL YOU CAN HOPE FOR IS THAT THEY TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

ONCE THE JURY IS SELECTEDNEXT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY GIVES THEIR OPENING STATEMENTS WHERE THEY EXCLAIM THAT THE DEFENDANT SITTING AT THE BURBANK DEFENSE ATTORNEY'S TABLE IS GUILTY AND THAT ALL THINGS RIGHT ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE. WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THE BURBANK DEFENSE ATTORNEY TO GIVE HIS OPENING ARGUMENT, HE REMINDS THE JURORS THAT THE DEFENDANT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AND THAT THE JURORS PROMISED NOT TO MAKE UP THEIR MINDS UNTIL DELIBERATIONS. NOW A REVIEW OF THE DEFENSE CASE IS GIVEN IN DETAIL BY THE BURBANK DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND AS HE SITS DOWN HE ASKS THE JURORS TO "BE OPEN TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE DEFENDANT IS NOT GUILTY."

THE NEXT THING THAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESENTS THEIR CASE THROUGH WITNESSES AND ATTEMPTS TO ELICIT INFORMATION THAT CASTS THE DEFENDANT IN A FALSE LIGHT. THE BURBANK DEFENSE ATTORNEY QUESTIONS EACH WITNESS ON CROSS EXAMINATION SHINNING LIGHT ON INCONSISTENCIES AND CROSS IMPEACHES THE PEOPLE'S WITNESSES. ONCE THE PEOPLE REST AND AFTER SOME PREFUNCTORY MOTIONS THE BURBANK DEFENSE ATTORNEY CALL HIS WITNESSES AND USES THEM TO TELL THE DEFENDANT'S TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. THE LAST WITNESS TO TAKE THE STAND IS THE DEFENDANT. ONCE ALL OF THE EVIDENCE HAS BEEN PRESENTED EACH SIDE IS GIVEN A CHANCE TO PRESENT A CLOSING ARGUMENT. THE PEOPLE GET TO DO AN OPENING CLOSING, THEN THE BURBANK DEFENSE ATTORNEY GIVES HIS ONLY CLOSING AND THEN THE PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED A FINAL CLOSING.

ONCE THE JURY IS GIVEN THE CASE IT TAKES THEM APPROXIMATELY TWO AND ONE HALF HOURS TO RETURN A NOT GUILTY VERDICT. THE JURORS REPORT THAT THEY REVIEWED ALL OF THE EVIDENCE AND WENT OVER EACH WITNESS' TESTIMONY. IT WAS A FAIR TRIAL AND A FAIR DELIBERATION AND THE FINAL RESULT WAS THAT THE BURBANK DEFENSE ATTORNEY HELPED HIS CLIENT THROUGH A CRIMINAL MISDEMEANOR TRIAL THAT LASTED ELEVEN DAYS CULMINATING IN A NOT GUILTY VERDICT IN EAST LOS ANGELES ON AUGUST 21, 2007.

INSIDE BURBANK LAW: CHECKING HOUSES

Burbank Lawyer Dennis Wilson helps you with your questions about buying a house in todays changing real estate market. Based upon the current changing housing market conditions it is even more important today to do a comprehensive home inspection of the house you want to buy. Many sellers fail to disclose material facts that have an impact on a house's value. You need to ask the seller specific questions in addition to the standard disclosures.

You should insist that the seller meet with you so that you can conduct an examination of their knowledge about the house. The seller can tell you things about cracks in the foundation, fire damage, water damage, paint used, run off problems, nusiances in the neighborhood and many other details that you are going to want to know about. It would be a good idea to have your attorney present when your are interviewing an owner who is selling their house.

Dennis Wilson can provide you legal representation before you have any problems and he can interrogate the owner for you. It would be a good idea to have the owner of a home fill out the attorney home transfer questionaire that Dennis P. Wilson can personally tailor for your real estate purchase needs. You can also have your attorney visit the house with you so that photographs can be taken as well as a visual inspection conducted by a real estate attorney. The costs of having Dennis Wilson go out to the house you want to buy, conduct an inspection, interview the seller and photograph the house is well worth the price. This will be the best investment you can make and will provide invaluable insight into the real estate process. Call attorney Dennis Wilson today at 1-877-DPWLAW1.

BURBANK FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY SEARCHES FOR TRUTH

When you hire a Burbank family law Attorney you want someone who will spend the time necessary to understand your case and fight for your rights. If you are facing a child custody proceeding you want to make sure that the Court has all of the relevant information to help it make the right decision. Your attorney needs to make sure that you submit addmissible evidence to the Judge for consideration.

Consequently, it may be necessary to obtain declarations from people with personal knowledge of the facts related to the child custody proceedings such as time spent by the parents with the children, abuse of the children either physically or emotionally, and other things that directly impact the children. The Court and everyone else is interested in what is in the childrens best interest, and which parent is going to foster continuing and ongoing contacts with the children and the other parent.

A Burbank attorney can help you negotiate the tricky child custody proceedings and make sure that you put your best foot forward. In other words, you need to let the Court know who you are, how you are helping your child become a more productive member of society, how you are not interfering with the other parents continuing and ongoing contacts with the children as well as many other things that your burbank attorney can cast light on for the Court. A Family Law attorney has to be a good listener, well versed in the rules of evidence, able to draft a straight forward and compelling declaration and argue your postion effectively to the Court. This search for the truth in the proceedings by your attorney will not only help you and the children, but will also makes our society a better place to live in each day.

BURBANK ATTORNEY INVESTIGATES THE FACTS OF YOUR CRIMINAL ACTION

Burbank Attorney Dennis Wilson will take your case seriously when you hire him. He will interview you and the witnesses associated with your case in order to get the complete story of what happened. Mr. Wilson will also visit the scene of the alleged incident and the arrest location so that he can familiarize himself with the details of your case. A good Burbank criminal defense attorney will be willing to devote the time necessary to prepare your best possible defense.

Expect to have to do quit a bit of work with Mr. Wilson reenacting the facts related to the incident. The details of the incident will usually set an innocent person free. However, additional work will be required to help you prepare to testify in your own defense. A criminal defense attorney needs to be intimately familar with all of the facts in the case in order to search out the truth at the time of trial and to present the case accurately to the jury. The only way to do this is to conduct an investigation of the Police's report and the details therein. Dennis Wilson's prior experience and intuitive analysis enables him to fully understand the most obscure details of your case and bring them to light at an opportune time to shed light on the truth. You want an attorney that is going to fight your criminal charges and fight for you in Court.

USE YOUR BURBANK ATTORNEY TO REVIEW CONTRACTS

One of the valuable uses you can employ your attorney for is the review of contracts that you plan on signing. Although you may have a general familiarity with the terms in the contract, an attorney can give you insight into the legal significance of the terms and tell you what your obligations may be under the contract.

You can also have your attorney propose alternate terms and conditions more favorable to you. Its important that your attorney be given background information on the deal at hand, the players and the roles that everyone is going to assume. This will enable your attorney to tailor the terms to your advantage and try to protect you as best as possible.

The Law offices of Dennis Wilson provides contract review legal services. Dennis Wilson will meet with you in person and answer your questions, review your documents and provide alternate language if you want same. Additionally, Mr. Wilson will explain potential problems and benefits that he sees in the contract. No contract is bullet proof, but it helps to know where you might expect problems and where you can expect to maximize your benefits.