Friday, February 26, 2016

3 More Clients Avoid DUI Convictions to Close Out February

Case #1: OWI-1st/PAC-1st (with .13 Breath Test Result) Reduced to Two Minor Traffic Tickets in Milwaukee County

As a professional in the insurance industry himself, DH knew better than anyone how catastrophic a drunk driving conviction can be. From years of absurdly high insurance rates to irreparable harm to a professional reputation, DH knew he wanted to avoid a conviction at all costs. After very thorough research, DH decided Dennis Melowski was the only attorney for the job. And Dennis definitely delivered. The outstanding result in DH's case was the product of a lot of hard work and perseverance. Through contested municipal court proceedings, to an appeal to circuit court, Dennis Melowski relentlessly attacked the charges against DH at every turn. Based on testimony from the arresting officer that Dennis was able to nail down at the municipal court level, a motion challenging the probable cause to arrest DH was filed in circuit court. At the hearing on this motion, Dennis was able to completely destroy the credibility of the officer. Time after time the officer's testimony contradicted what he had testified to in municipal court, and each time Dennis called him out on it. When he got off the witness stand, the officer knew how badly Dennis had damaged him, so much so that the officer went up to the prosecutor immediately after the hearing to tell him he did not want to go through that again in front of a jury. Knowing how poorly the officer had testified, the prosecutor agreed to a very favorable resolution of DH's case. Despite a .13 breath test result, the original OWI and PAC charges were dropped in exchange for no contest pleas to the minor traffic offenses of Inattentive Driving and Failure to Yield. DH completely avoided an alcohol-related conviction and suffered no loss of license. And couldn't be happier.

Case #2: OWI-1st/PAC-1st (with .11 Blood Test Result) Reduced to Reckless Driving

Our client, QW, had to avoid a drunk driving conviction in this case. His career depended on it. As a senior sales consultant, QW was required to cover an extensive geographic area and he would never be able to meet his job requirements with a revoked driver's license. Moreover, his company had a very strict personal conduct policy regarding employees who received DUI convictions. In short, QW's future with his company was in grave doubt. Fortunately, QW was referred to Dennis Melowski by an area businessman whose friends and acquaintances Dennis has been able to help out on several occasions. And QW's name can now be added to that list. After several rounds of negotiations with the prosecutor, Dennis was able to work out a very favorable resolution. The original OWI and PAC charges were dropped. In exchange, QW plead no contest to a reduced charge of Reckless Driving. Aside from paying a fine, he suffered no consequences. He never lost his license for a single day and, most importantly, he avoided the reputation-killing stigma of being a convicted drunk driver. 

Case #3: OWI-1st/Refusal of Chemical Test Reduced to Reckless Driving for Medical Professional Client

In BA's particular field in the medical profession, OWI convictions absolutely must be avoided. Not only would such a conviction immediately jeopardize his present position, it would haunt him professionally for years. Despite having some very difficult facts to overcome, Dennis Melowski was able to negotiate a result that completely avoided an alcohol-related conviction. Dennis was able to successfully argue that because English was a second language for BA, he was not able to fully understand the ramifications of his decision to refuse a breath test following his arrest and the officers did not take reasonable steps to make sure that he did. This argument provided Dennis just enough leverage in negotiations to convince the prosecutor to resolve the case with a reduced charge of Reckless Driving. No drunk driving conviction and a fully-preserved reputation. And one very satisfied client.