John Stephen Hager

PRO

John Stephen Hager

4.9
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 26 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Daytona Beach, FL
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense

140 South Beach St., Suite 310, Daytona Beach, FL

Virtual Consultation Available

About John

Biography

Practice Areas

1

Practice Area

Criminal Defense 100%

27 years

100%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2019 2018 2017
...
+ 3
Top Contributor
Top Contributor
2012
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating

Licenses

Licensed in Florida for 26 years

State: Florida

Acquired: 1999

Member in Good Standing

No misconduct found

Location

Hager & Schwartz, P.A.

140 South Beach St., Suite 310, Daytona Beach, FL, 32114

defendyourcase.com/Attorney_Profiles.aspx

Hager & Schwartz, P.A.

12 S.E. 7th St., Suite 611, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33301

defendyourcase.com/Attorney_Profiles.aspx

Hager & Schwartz, P.A.

555 N.E. 15th St., Penthouse A, Miami, FL, 33132

defendyourcase.com/Attorney_Profiles.aspx

Online Presence

Other places you can find John online.

John Stephen Hager's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

87 Client Reviews

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews | Divorce & Separation

Posted by anonymous | April 25, 2012 | Divorce & Separation

Helped me during a very difficult time in my life

I was in the process of a divorce with my husband and he accused me of domestic violence agaist him and had me arrested. He flat out lied and Mr. Hager was able to prove this through the 911 tape, lack of photos, lack of witnesses to the incident and the police officer's observations of my hsband an...d I when they arrived at the house. The case was ultimately dismissed and the dismissal and the lack of evidence in the criminal case helped the family court judge see that my husband was vindictive and I won in the family case as well. I recommend this attorney to everybody in need of a sharp, caring and intelligent criminal attorney! Simply the best!!

Posted by anonymous | August 14, 2013 | Divorce & Separation

Makes promises he can't keep

Worst lawyers and nothing but con artists. Sweet talks you into hiring them, once they have your money, they refuse to answer calls, make really simple mistakes (i.e. emailed me someone else's divorce petition, double charges on bill). I hired this firm to represent my divorce and related criminal ...domestic violence charge. I already had a divorce attorney, but Mr. Hager and his sweet talk convinced me to hire them. He gave me his and his partner's cell phone numbers as reassurance that they mean it when they say they return calls. Later, I just found out this was part of the bait-and-switch routine. Sure it's their cell phones, but what good is it when nobody picks up and always goes to voice mail? I was lucky if I got a text response from them. Mrs. Williams represented me on my divorce proceeding, after making several mistakes, including sending me a divorce petition that wasn't mine and several false charges on my bill, I had enough and fired her. This only complicated matters with Mr. Schwartz. Mr. Hager called a meeting and he reassured me I would not be charged the remaining balance that Mrs. Williams had charged and that the representation I would receive from them would continue to be unbiased. I was happy that it seemed like they were willing to work it out, but only to find out it was another lie. Mr. Schwartz took my firing of Mrs. Williams personally and because of the conflict of interest, he did not represent me well in the criminal case. He willingly and knowingly missed a hearing in front of the criminal judge. After pleading with him, he agreed to appear, if I agreed to pay him an extra $750 to attend a 15 minute hearing!! Totally unbelievable. His reasoning was that he only initially agreed to appear because Mrs. Williams was on the case. But now she is no longer representing me, he refused to attend! The only way was if I lined his pockets with $750!! If this doesn't sound like extortion, I don't know what is. I have all of these on record. The final straw was when Brett Schwartz completely and utterly LIED to me a second time. We had discussed that he would set depositions on separate dates. He went ahead and scheduled them on the same date without my knowledge or consent. When I confronted Mr. Schwartz, his response was very short, if I don't like what he's doing, get another lawyer!! Funny thing was that I told him I was happy to, as long as he refunds me my money. His response: "Not happening". Stay away!!

John Hager

Replied last August 15, 2013

This client that posted this review is nothing but vindictive. This client has used in the past with his prior attorneys strong arm tactics (i.e. stating that he is going to post bad reviews on the internet if he doesn't get what he wants). This client was accused of felony domestic violence, where he allegedly strangled his wife. In court, there were allegations that he had contact with the alleged victim in direct conflict with a court order, and the prosecutor moved to have his bond revoked. Mr. Schwartz aggressively represented this client in court and successfully convinced the judge to deny the prosecutor's motion and prevented him from remaining in custody for the duration of his case. Further, as to the setting of the depositions, attorneys are skilled in the law and know why it may be beneficial to have depositions of witnesses scheduled on the same day vs. having them set on different dates. The simple answer is so that both witnesses don't have time to discuss what they testified to and align their testimony to corroborate each other's account of events. Last, our firm has not received a negative review from a client in the past. It is true that we provide all of our client's with our cellular telephones so that can readily access us when there is an emergency or other extenuating circumstances. I am not so sure how many other attorneys would give you their cellular phone numbers, which is answered on a regular basis, and if not, the calls are returned in a reasonable amount of time, within 24 hours. Our commitment is to our clients, first and foremost. We are not the first attorney that he hired, and I am sure that the next attorney that handles his case will not be the last. John Hager

See All Client Reviews

John Stephen Hager's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse John
Michael M. Stover headshot
Michael Stover

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"No one needs to endorse John. When you meet him, you'll see his demeanor and legal prowess is elite. Truly elite. Along with easily being a top 100 trial lawyer in the state, he is a wonderful human being. It is my honor to endorse Mr. Hager."

Lawrence James Arnkoff headshot
Lawrence Arnkoff

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 15

Relationship: Friend

"I met John about 15 years ago while the two of us were waiting to see clients at the Federal Detention Center in Miami. He was young and highly motivated. Although I barely knew John I had a good feeling about him and now some fifteen years later I am still referring him clients. John is bright and conscientious and he has the confidence clients want to see. When I refer a client to another attorney I expect that client to receive the same attention if not more than I would give them. John does that for me. I have been practicing in Nashville for the last ten years and I am comforted knowing that John takes excellent care of my South Florida clients. He is an excellent communicator. I would highly recommend John to anyone needing a criminal defense attorney in Florida."

David Alan Shekhter headshot
David Shekhter

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 08

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"John is not only a personal friend and mentor, but an excellent attorney. We have worked many cases together and achieved successful outcomes. He is very thorough knowledgeable and professional and I look forward to working on future cases with this excellent attorney. I endorse this lawyer."

Jason Todd Forman headshot
Jason Forman

Criminal defense lawyer | Apr 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John is a tough criminal defense attorney who fights hard for his clients. He handles cases all over the State and is not afraid to mix it up with the Prosecutors when needed."

Isabel del Cid Castillo headshot
Isabel Castillo

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 10

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have worked with John on a number of sensitive cases involving an overlap of criminal and immigration issues. He works hard in negotiating with prosecutors in order to enter into a plea that will have the least consequences for our mutual clients from an immigration perspective. I would highly recommend John."

Jason A. Brodie headshot
Jason Brodie

Criminal defense lawyer | Jul 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Criminal defense lawyer | May 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse John. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Todd Alan Onore headshot
Todd Onore

Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 14

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer without any reservations. John is a genuine person who is a very hard worker. He works tirelessly to get the best possible outcome for his clients."

Kenneth Patrick Hassett headshot
Kenneth Hassett

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. John is a well respected lawyer in the legal community. He is a true gentleman who works tirelessly for his clients. He is a dedicated advocate who will not take short cuts."

Christian K. Lassen II headshot
Christian Lassen

Unknown lawyer | Aug 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."

Brett Michael Schwartz headshot
Brett Schwartz

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 19

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer."

Richard Lawrence Steinberg headshot
Richard Steinberg

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 06

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John Hager and his partner are very capable Criminal Defense attorneys. I would not hesitate to refer clients to John if they find themselves facing criminal charges."

Eric Tolin Schwartzreich headshot
Eric Schwartzreich

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 22

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. I have had the pleasure of working on cases with John. He is always prepaed and very passionate about his cases. He is an excellent attorney and a true beliver."

Julian Felipe Montero headshot
Julian Montero

Criminal defense lawyer | Apr 25

Relationship: Friend

"John is a highly regarded and extremely competent criminal defense attorney. He is very thorough and knowledgeable and has a very high success rate in defending his clients in a variety of criminal matters. I strongly recommend John and his firm Hager & Schwartz to anyone who is charged with a criminal offense."

Lisa Marie Vari headshot
Lisa Vari

Criminal defense lawyer | Apr 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"John Hager is an exceptional criminal defense lawyer in Miami and south Florida. John is amongst the select few Miami criminal defense lawyers that I would, without hesitation, refer my clients, friends or family to if the need arose for his help."

Michael David Weinstein headshot
Michael Weinstein

Criminal defense lawyer | Apr 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. John is a well liked excellent attorney. I have referred him business as well."

Russell Stuart Jacobs headshot
Russell Jacobs

Criminal defense lawyer | Apr 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"If you are looking for a criminal defense lawyer in South Florida, look no further than John Hager. He is a lawyer's lawyer and a consummate professional. More importantly he was a former prosecutor so he knows the prosecutor's thought process and how they handle their cases. John is sought after by clients all across Florida to represent them in their criminal cases and I can certainly see why. I would recommend John Hager as a criminal defense attorney without reservation."

Joseph N. Nusbaum headshot
Joseph Nusbaum

Criminal defense lawyer | Apr 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. I have known John for well over 10 years. Over those years I have referred John many Criminal Defense matters and each time the individual has personally called me back thanking me for introducing them to John. His knowledge and professionalism is unmatched in the community. More than anything, his personal involvement and true caring about his clients make him special. I am honored to endorse John. He is encompasses everything that an attorney should be."

Christopher Denton Forrest headshot
Christopher Forrest

Criminal defense lawyer | Dec 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Highly recommended. Smart and aggressive."

Diana I. Castrillon headshot
Diana Castrillon

Criminal defense lawyer | Mar 31

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer's work. I refer all of my criminal defense matters to Mr. Hager and his partner, Brett Schwartz. Mr. Hager does an excellent job for the clients I have referred and is always professional and ethical in his practice."

View All Endorsements
R. William Barner III headshot
R. William Barner

Criminal defense lawyer

Michael M. Stover headshot
Michael Stover

Criminal defense lawyer

David Alan Shekhter headshot
David Shekhter

Criminal defense lawyer

Lawrence James Arnkoff headshot
Lawrence Arnkoff

Federal crime lawyer

Jason Todd Forman headshot
Jason Forman

Appeals lawyer

Joseph C. Wasch headshot
Joseph Wasch

Contracts and agreements lawyer

Jason A. Brodie headshot
Jason Brodie

Family lawyer

Joshua Kyle Friedman headshot
Joshua Friedman

Family lawyer

Kenneth Patrick Hassett headshot
Kenneth Hassett

Criminal defense lawyer

Todd Alan Onore headshot
Todd Onore

Criminal defense lawyer

Richard Lawrence Steinberg headshot
Richard Steinberg

Lawsuits and disputes lawyer

Julian Felipe Montero headshot
Julian Montero

Business lawyer

Russell Stuart Jacobs headshot
Russell Jacobs

Real estate lawyer

Brett Michael Schwartz headshot
Brett Schwartz

Criminal defense lawyer

Eric Tolin Schwartzreich headshot
Eric Schwartzreich

Unknown lawyer

Lisa Marie Vari headshot
Lisa Vari

Family lawyer

Michael David Weinstein headshot
Michael Weinstein

Criminal defense lawyer

Christopher Denton Forrest headshot
Christopher Forrest

Foreclosure lawyer

Diana I. Castrillon headshot
Diana Castrillon

Car accident lawyer

Joseph N. Nusbaum headshot
Joseph Nusbaum

Personal injury lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2025

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2024

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2023

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2022

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2021

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2020

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2019

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2018

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2017

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2016

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2015

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2015

Client's Choice, Avvo

2014

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2013

Top Lawyer, South Florida Legal Guide

2013

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2012

Top Up and Comer, South Florida Legal Guide

2012

Top Lawyer, South Florida Legal Guide

2011

Top Up and Comer, South Florida Legal Guide

2010

Top Up and Comer, South Florida Legal Guide

2009

Top Up and Comer, South Florida Legal Guide

Work Experience

2003 - Present

Partner, Hager & Schwartz, PA

2001 - 2003

Defense Attorney, Conroy, Simberg, Ganon, Krevans, Abel, Lurvey, Morrow & Schefer, PA

1999 - 2001

Assistant Attorney, Office Of The State Attorney

1997 - 1999

Legal Intern, Bogenschutz & Dutko, PA

Associations

2010 - Present

Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

2008 - Present

Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

2006 - Present

Florida Bar, Traffic Court Rules Committee

Member

2005 - Present

Broward County Bar Association Trial Lawyers

Member

1999 - Present

Florida Bar

Attorney

Sample of Legal Cases

Domestic Violence Case

Case dismissed due to lack of evidence

Strong Arm Robbery

Case reduced to a misdemeanor

Aggravated Assault with a Firearm

Client was found not guilty

Resisting Police Officer Without Violence

Judge granted the Motion to Dismiss

Exploitation of Elderly Charge

Case not filed

See More Legal Cases

Education

1999

Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad Law Center

JD - Juris Doctor

1994

University of Florida

Bachelor of Arts

Publications

Languages

English

Activity

Top Contributor

John earned significant contribution points in 2012.

Avvo Rating

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Avvo Rating Levels
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