April DeAnn Taylor

HOUSE CALLS ARE POSSIBLE, BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO AGREE FOR ME TO BRING ONE OR MORE WITNESSES WITH ME WHEN MAKING ANY HOUSE CALLS.

First, let me say, although I am physically located in Southern Oklahoma, I work ALL OVER THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.   I limit the amount of cases I handle at any given time so that my clients get the best representation I can give them.  And, since returning to private practice in 2012, I have handled a lot of DPS work for other attorneys at the administrative level, district court level and supreme court level. Although I can't say I specialize in the area, I can say I have "special knowledge" in the area that most attorneys in Oklahoma do not have.  If you are dealing with a license revocation issue with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, contact me. My clients call me "The DPS Attorney".

My biggest accomplishment and biggest win against DPS was just a little over a year after leaving DPS in the Roulston v. DPS and Tucker v DPS cases.   Although there has been many articles and stories written about this issue, you seldom see my name mentioned.   No news reporter ever talked personally with me; however, the argument was totally mine--no other attorney over the years had discovered this argument.  I came up with the argument, I tried the cases and I personally performed all the briefing.  

I made the facial defect argument in court without letting anyone know I was making the argument.  I knew it was a winner back in 2008-2009, but had trouble getting other attorneys to understand and/or grasp the concept.  So I remained quiet about the issue until I returned to private practice in 2012.  In March/April, 2013  I tried the Tucker vs. DPS case one day, which was taken under advisement.  The second day I tried the Roulston case--and we won on the facial defect issue before Judge Croy in Oklahoma County.  (Note:  I had already tried two other cases in Tulsa Court wherein the Judge's ruled against me.)   The Judge found the revocations were void ab initio.   The issue became known by DUI attorneys all over the state.   Suddenly, many Oklahoma attorneys were wanting to hire me to handle their client's DPS cases.   Here is what one article said:

"Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals recently decided 6 combined cases regarding the validity of the breath test affidavit........ Because of their action--ALL breath tests and refusals where the affidavit was printed on the Intoxilzyer 8000 are invalid.  This decision was handed down on October 9, 2013.  DPS had known of the issue for several years but took no action to correct it.  Within a matter of hours of the decision being issued, emails went out to all operators instructiong how to correc the issue for future tests."

A class action is pending which resulted from my big win against DPS.    So if you were arrested in Oklahoma between August 2008 and October 2013, you should check and see if you are entitled to be part of the class action.  I am not involved in the class action as I was not offerred any partnership nor any share in bringing the action based on the facial defect claim so you will need to check with those attorneys who may currently be handling that litigation as to your possible participation.  Don't miss your opportunity.  Be sure and contact the attorneys handling the class action.

Now for a little background.   I previously worked for the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) and was the Deputy Chief Legal Counsel at that agency for a number of years.  I was born and raised in Ardmore, Southern Oklahoma.   I began my legal career working as a legal secretary for a law firm in Ardmore, Oklahoma.  Several years later, I became a paralegal and worked in that position until attending law school.  I have been working in the legal field for over 35 years. 

I was a litigator in private practice in Ardmore, Oklahoma until July, 2004 when I accepted a position at the DPS Legal Division.  I began working for the DPS in August, 2004 as an Associate Legal Counsel and was officially promoted to Deputy Chief Legal Counsel (2nd in command in the Legal Division) in July, 2006.

For close to a decade, I have dealt with implied consent license revocation cases on a daily basis.  I have several published opinions in the Oklahoma Supreme Court and Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals.   I have traveled all over the State of Oklahoma trying cases and participating in administrative hearings.  After eight (8) years with the Department, I decided to return to private practice.  As of September 1, 2012, I returned to private practice  litigating cases for licensees  against the Oklahoma DPS.

In May, 2013, I  moved from Oklahoma City back to my hometown of Ardmore, Oklahoma.  After winding down a practice of mainly DPS license revocations, I went back to handling litigation in other areas such as domestic relations, probate, general civil and DUI along with driver license revocations.

I am not one of those attorneys who,  once you pay your fee, you never see or hear from her again.  One of the biggest complaints I have heard from clients of other attorneys over the past 35 years of being involved in the legal field is a lack of communication after paying big money to the attorney, the attorney will never call them back and/or their case is assigned to an associate/junior lawyer or the client can only talk to the clerical staff. I understand a lack of communication is one of the biggest complaints the bar association deals with.   When you hire me, you get me.  In fact, you will have my personal cell phone number. I will keep you apprised of what is happening in your case at all times.  I will provided you with copies of all correspondence and pleadings involved in your case--unless you instruct me otherwise.   Sometimes hiring the attorney who is more interested in marketing themselves and making money is not the best attorney for you.  This is not to mean that all attorneys who advertise with big tv ads etc. are not worth their money. However, I believe the best advertisement  for us attorneys is recommendations by former/current clients and other attorneys/judges. So do a little research on your potential attorney before hiring her.   SEE:  

Many attorneys will have the "BAC calculators" on their websites.  Beware of these.  Do not rely on them.  Reliance on those calculators can be very deceiving.  My best advice to you is that if you have drank ANY ALCOHOL in the last 4-6 hours, then DO NOT DRIVE.  Innocent people are convicted every day for DUI.  Remember:  You have the right to remain silent.  Anything you say can AND WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU.   So there is nothing wrong with "shutting up".  Don't be a chatter box.  What you say can and will be used against you.  If you admit to drinking "one beer" you are most likely going to be arrested for DUI.    Very common questions asked by police are "where are you coming from", "where are you going", and "do you know why I pulled you over?".   You may think these questions are harmless, but they are not.  Be very, very careful how you answer.  Understand, the police officer who stopped you is looking for a reason to arrest you.

Moreover, understand, ALCOHOL does not have to be involved in a DUI.  You can get a DUI for drugs, prescribed and non-prescribed, legal and non-legal.    You can be a 50 plus lady who takes nothing but doctor prescribed medication and be charged with DUI. Heck, you can get a DUI when you have taken no drugs nor ingested any alcohol.  Yes, IT HAPPENS.  Again, innocent people are convicted every day or innocent people plead guilty everyday because it is easier than fighting the judicial system.

For a decade, I only handled DPS cases and that is the area of law that all my published opinions are in.  However, I do handle other civil cases.

If you want an attorney who will personally handle your case and if you feel I am someone you would like to hire, please contact me.

Note:  "The DPS Attorney" and "OklahomaDPSattorney" are Oklahoma Registered Trademarks.