Attorney Carlos M. Lastra's Legal Cases

Criminal defense

High Profile Attempted Murder case

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OUTCOME: Negotiated work release sentence of 10 months

Handled High-Profile Multi-Defendant Attempted 1st Degree Murder case arising from the Teamster’s strike where a non-striking union member and former 1987 National Champion University of Miami Lineback ... er was stabbed five times with an ice pick. All six co-defendants were striking teamsters and Carlos represented the alleged lone “stabber.” After a year of litigation, including three co-defendants trying to implicate his client by turning state’s evidence, Carlos was able to uncover a conspiracy spearheaded by union members. After negotiations with employment law counsel for UPS, and the prosecution, they reached an agreement whereby his client testified at the labor arbitration hearings in exchange for a reduction of charges to aggravated battery. Also included was an agreement that UPS would testify at his client’s post-conviction motions hearing, which resulted in his client serving only 10 months in a work release program.

Criminal defense

Innocent Impaired Client Framed by Boyfriend of 1st Degree Felonies

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OUTCOME: Acquitted of all charges by Jury

Defended Hearing/Speaking Impaired client charged with Burglary with Assault, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Stalking, and numerous batteries. Carlos’ deaf client, who had never be ... en arrested before, was facing a minimum of four years in prison with a potential life sentence. After jury selection, he rejected the prosecution’s plea offer of two months in jail. After three grueling days of trial, including completing part of the closing argument in sign language to a jury which included jurors with hearing-impaired friends and family, Carlos persuaded the jury to return an acquittal on all charges. The jurors took one hour to return their not guilty verdict.

Criminal defense

40 Years in Prison Avoided

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OUTCOME: Acquitted of all felony charges by Jury

Represented homeless man charged with burglary of a residence who was facing a minimum forty year life sentence if convicted. After thorough cross-examination of investigative and arresting police offi ... cers, Carlos persuaded the jury to acquit his client of felony charges and he walked out of the courthouse a freed man.

Child custody

Parent seeking legal custody, private school and support for children

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OUTCOME: Client awarded legal custody tie-breaker, private school, child support and attorney's fees

At the conclusion of a three day trial, while addressing the amount of an attorney’s fees award, the Circuit Court wrote in its Memorandum and Judgment: “Mr. Lastra presented himself as an extremely ca ... pable, knowledgeable, and experienced trial attorney, and it was a pleasure to watch him in action.”

Contracts and agreements

Sued Ex for damage to Client's credit

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OUTCOME: Judgment of $60,000 for breach of divorce agreement

Collected liquidated damages ($60,000) for harm to my client’s credit as a result of his former spouse failing to make payments on the former marital home and her car payment.

Child custody

Career parent permitted to move with child to pursue dream job

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OUTCOME: Client permitted to relocate out of state with minor child; awarded child support

Achieved a relocation of custody order permitting my client to move cross-county after my client’s daughter’s father refused to permit my client to take a job outside the state of Maryland. Over three ... days of trial, presented career and job placement and educational expert testimony on the significance of my client’s unique career opportunity and the comparative quality of the schools in each competing locale.

Divorce and separation

Complex High-Net Worth Divorce

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OUTCOME: Acquired $16,000 monthly indefinite alimony, $2.4 M monetary award; $350,000 attorney's fees award

Acquired a $16,000 per month alimony award, a $2.4 million monetary award, and an award of attorney’s fees of $350,000 after a 13 day trial.

Child custody

Represented single father fighting for custody against deceased wife's family

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OUTCOME: Client awarded sole custody

Achieved a custody award for a father whose infant daughter was secreted and absconded by the family of his deceased fiancé after she died in the Fort Totten Washington, D.C. Metro train crash in an ef ... fort to control the infant’s wrongful death claim against WMATA. After three days of trial, Carlos successfully defeated the decedent’s family’s attempts to assassinate his client’s character and reputation despite their hiring three separate law firms to prosecute their claims. Thereafter, he successfully removed the attorney selected as guardian by the extended family’s personal injury lawyers and initially appointed by the Court to oversee the infant’s money.

Alimony

Alimony Termination based on Cohabitation

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OUTCOME: Secured $1,082,500 Judgment for my client

Secured a judgment for $807,500 in back alimony payments and a $275,000 attorney’s fees award for my client after a nine day trial wherein I was able to prove, including through the use of extensive fo ... rensic digital computer and electronically stored information (ESI) evidence secured from the opposing party’s digital devices (smartphone, laptop, back-up drive), as well as global positioning satellite systems surveillance, that the opposing party had cohabitated in violation of an alimony termination provision contained in the parties’ agreement.

Carlos M. Lastra's Legal Cases (9)

High Profile Attempted Murder case

Innocent Impaired Client Framed by Boyfriend of 1st Degree Felonies

40 Years in Prison Avoided

Parent seeking legal custody, private school and support for children

Sued Ex for damage to Client's credit

Career parent permitted to move with child to pursue dream job

Complex High-Net Worth Divorce

Represented single father fighting for custody against deceased wife's family

Alimony Termination based on Cohabitation