Attorney Michael Panella's Legal Cases

Criminal defense

Criminal Case Dismissed

Jul 25, 2017

OUTCOME: Dismissed

Another young client was pulled over and the officer asked to search the vehicle. My client consented and admitted to possessing of a small amount of marijuana. The officer arrested him for possession ... of marijuana < 20 grams. Because of his occupation and lack of criminal history, this misdemeanor became a significant issue in his life. After discussion with the Assistant State Attorney and successful completion of a pretrial diversion program, my client's criminal case is dismissed.

Criminal defense

Criminal Case Dismissed

Jul 06, 2017

OUTCOME: Dismissed

My young client and his girlfriend got into an argument at an out of town bar. Though neither the girlfriend, my client, nor any of their friends asked for police involvement, an officer was waiting at ... my client's residence and arrested him for Dating Violence - Battery upon arrival. Despite the girlfriend explaining she didn't want to press charges and that the entire incident was a misunderstanding, my client was subjected to stringent pretrial release conditions, and had an arrest record. Fortunately we were able to show the State that the incident did not warrant criminal prosecution, and showed that the girlfriend had not been "battered." They ultimately agreed to dismiss the case before filing a formal charging document. Case closed.

Criminal defense

Criminal Case Dismissed

Jul 03, 2017

OUTCOME: Dismissed

My client was initially charged with the serious felony count of "possession with intent to distribute [marijuana]." After filing pretrial motions, the State Attorney's Office decided to pursue the les ... ser charge of simple felony possession and also charged an attendant misdemeanor. Through negotiations with the State and successful completion of a diversion program, the case is now outright dismissed. No criminal history.

Criminal defense

Criminal Case Dismissed

May 31, 2017

OUTCOME: Dismissed

My client was cut off, cursed at, and falsely accused of brandishing a firearm at another motorist. The case initially started as a felony charge of "aggravated assault with a deadly weapon," however, ... after we filed several pretrial motions, the case was reduced to a misdemeanor charge of "improper exhibition of a firearm." In the end, my client maintained his innocence, and we negotiated a full dismissal of the charges through a pretrial diversion agreement in lieu of trial. He completed the conditions of the agreement within 45 days, and the case is now dismissed.

Domestic violence

Domestic Violence Injunction Dismissed

May 01, 2017

OUTCOME: Dismissed

What a great case. The Petitioner, whom my client was in a previous relationship with, filed an injunction (restraining order) against my client for "stalking violence" though there was scant evidence ... of the claim. This is a very serious allegation that carries severe implications for a person's life. After lots of work and discussion, the Petitioner voluntarily dismissed the action at the hearing.

Criminal defense

Criminal Case Dismissed

Apr 28, 2017

OUTCOME: Some charges reduced, others dismissed.

My client was charged with several serious felonies including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon. Meanwhile, he had a separate misdemeanor case for driving without a l ... icense stemming from the same incident. Through lots of work and discussions with an angel of an Assistant State Attorney (and Police Officer), my client entered a plea to the significantly lesser charge of misdemeanor simple "assault," received a withhold of adjudication, no jail time, and the attendant felony counts and separate driving case are now dismissed.

Speeding and traffic ticket

Serious Traffic Case Dismissed

Apr 04, 2017

OUTCOME: Dismissed

Should you care about a ticket? Yes. Here, my client was cited for causing an accident. Under Florida law and the facts of this case, had he been adjudicated on this citation, his license would have be ... en suspended and his insurance would have skyrocketed. We set the case for a hearing, and though the officer appeared, we were able to get the case dismissed.

Speeding and traffic ticket

Serious Traffic Case Dismissed

Mar 29, 2017

OUTCOME: Dismissed

My client was clocked by an airplane (yes, an airplane) and given a citation for allegedly driving over 100 MPH on I-95. This is not a "normal" speeding ticket, as it requires a mandatory court appeara ... nce and can have devastating effects on your license. We set the case for trial, and while both the trooper on the ground and the pilot in the air showed up to testify, we were ultimately able to negotiate the case to a full dismissal.

Litigation

Civil Case Won

Feb 23, 2017

OUTCOME: My client won.

One of my favorites. My client brought his courier work vehicle into a shop to install a trailer hitch. Unfortunately, the shop botched the job, and caused thousands of dollars in damage to my client's ... vehicle, putting him out of work for several days while Mercedes-Benz had to correct the problems. My client asked for reimbursement, but when the shop refused and still demanded payment for the hitch (less than $500.00 if performed correctly), my client agreed to let them off the hook and call it even. Amazingly, he was sued by the shop, so he decided to retain us. The shop owner refused to participate in productive mediation so we counter-sued for damages, and set the case for trial. After a full trial, the judge dismissed the original Plaintiff's (shop's) claims, and granted judgment in favor of my client (Defendant/Counter Plaintiff). Not only did the shop take nothing on its suit, but the shop owner was ordered to pay monetary damages to my client for the damage to his vehicle.

Speeding and traffic ticket

HTO Reversed

Feb 21, 2017

OUTCOME: License Revocation Rescinded

In another crazy license case, my client was facing a felony driving while license suspended charge because she was pulled over while driving on a "habitual traffic offender" revoked license. The reaso ... n for the HTO was for having three qualifying civil tickets within the past 5 years (even though they were all paid). We filed motions in those prior cases to reverse the convictions, and worked with the state attorney's office on this fourth, criminal citation. Ultimately, a wonderful judge agreed to reverse a conviction from 2012 which no longer rendered my client a habitual traffic offender, and reversed her 5 year license suspension. This single mother of two now has a valid license, the felony charge was dismissed, and we resolved the criminal case with a very low impact non-felony charge which will not affect her license. She almost cried when she held her valid license that only days earlier was revoked for 5 years.

Michael Panella's Legal Cases (11)

Criminal Case Dismissed

Criminal Case Dismissed

Criminal Case Dismissed

Criminal Case Dismissed

Domestic Violence Injunction Dismissed

Criminal Case Dismissed

Serious Traffic Case Dismissed

Serious Traffic Case Dismissed

Civil Case Won

HTO Reversed