Michael Eric Kraut

After facing a possible DUI charge in Los Angeles, I searched for my best possible options for an attorney. When I read reviews from previous clients, I began to look further into Mike's credentials. I was extremely worried about what could have happened, and knew I definitely needed someone with a s...olid background and expertise in DUI cases. I had met with an attorney prior to Mike, and decided right away he was not a fit. This is when I found Mike Kraut after searching, and forwarded his BIO to an attorney friend I have out of state. She was thoroughly impressed, as well as anyone else I checked with (other attorney friend of family) both who don't practice in DUI, but strongly suggested to meet with Mike, and that he was more than qualified from what they could see. I am thankful for the reviews I read which really started the process to get me to him. Not only was he extremely professional, and very caring, he was extremely promt in returning any call or emial, and took my first call on the weekend. I was never passed to a secretary! I set up my first meeting, as I knew I needed an attorney- I can't believe how much better I felt after my first consultation. Mike assured me of his persistance with any DUI case. This is VERY true!!! He couldn't come more highly recommended by me!!! Please if you are scared, and afraid of meeting with an attorney, Mike Kraut is the BEST in this business for a reason. His expertise won't let you down, and if it wasn't for me reading your reviews, I wouldn't have looked further. So thankful for everything he did to help me, and as a result I am thrilled with the outcome!

From the beginning, Michael Kraut has done a phenomenal job in fighting for the best possible outcome in my case concerning 2 separate charges for DUI's. He initially stepped in as my lawyer after I received the second DUI which happened within a probationary period established by the preceding DUI c...ase that was ongoing. Not only did he take on my cases on short notice in the midst of the first case, but he actually intervened from the moment he was contacted by my family while I was in jail. Without his help, I could have been stuck in there for much longer than I had which was a mere 30 hours. At this point, he was not formally contracted as my lawyer yet. I was rather surprised that he took time to help get me out as soon as possible. From then on, he led me through each and every step necessary to achieve the best outcome in court. Although it appeared that I would be serving up to on and a half years in county jail, he was able to strike a refusal I had on the first case and lower the DUI charge to a wet-reckless driving charge with court fees brought down to the minimum. For the second case, I received a DUI with 2 days jail-time (turned out to be 2 minutes), 4 days of community service, and admittance into the hospital and morgue program. Thanks to Michael Kraut! I could not have asked for a better lawyer to handle my case.

Simply put - Michael kraut is the real deal. He exceeded my expectations, and turned what could have been the most tumultuous period of my life into a personal renaissance. Mike's legal counsel did not just cover my court appearances - we forged a connection the minute I walked into his office, so... that every minute of my life until a decision was handed down, he helped steer it in the right direction. Every other lawyer wanted to get bogged down explaining how they would defend my case. Mike's first words to me - "everything is going to be ok." His professional style rose above his competitors immediately, and I left our first meeting saying, "no one else has given me a sense of assurance in their abilities like Mike has." That led to my decision to hire him. It was the best decision of my life. My concerns were not just for the future and the outcome of the case, but how I would proceed in life in the coming months. If it wasn't for Mike, I wouldn't have had the focus and peace of mind to "continue on living" as he would say. I had a DUI with a blood alcohol content of .09, and it was all reduced to an "Exhibition of Speeding", a non-DUI related charge that only has a fine associated with it. I only have Mike, his endless expertise, and relentless work ethic to thank.

Let Go and Let Kraut. A 3rd DUI and .23 alcohol content? I was terrified. I was pulled over on Hollywood Boulevard for Excessive Honking of the Horn. I had actually never honked my horn and had told the 2 motorcycle cops just that. They could care less. I was arrested and taken to the station and... released an hr later for DUI. Immediately I hired an attorney that I had worked with before and thought how could one lawyer be different from the rest. WOAH! Well turns out in CA, previous DUIs, even from a different state can be tacked on to your existing one if they are within a 10 yr time frame. Any other lawyer would of plea bargained and got me out of there before they had time to research my past. One of the DUIs was from 9 yrs and 10 months ago. I missed the cut off by 2 months. So my lawyer put my case on the back burner , delayed the initial hearings and gave the prosecution time to find out everything. Immediately after he told me I was facing a 3rd time DUI and mandatory minimum of 120 days in jail, I fired him. On to Attorney 2. and I quote "Big Shot(well he thought he was) Beverly Hills DUI Miracle Worker". Made things even worse and pissed off the prosecution so much that they weren't even willing to plea bargain anything, No House Arrest, No Gigantic Fine, Nothing. Fired Him. FYI, you don't get refunds from attorneys. So now this is 8-9 months after my initial arrest. I have no attorney, facing jail time along with a million other punishments, no direction and no hope. If convicted I would lose my company, clients and who knows what else. After all the referrals from colleagues, friends etc. I found Michael Kraut on the internet. I called and he personally answered the phone , which threw me off and immediately I go into a 300 word a minute ramble about everything that has happened. He tells me to "Calm Down" and come in the following day. "Wait, Does he not understand Im facing Jail Time and whats at stake here"? I go into meet Mr. Kraut and he is stern, honest and to the point. In this situation you don't want someone to cuddle you and tell you its gonna be okay. Mr. Kraut is the guy that is gonna know every angle of your case in a day and tell you what to expect to the best of his knowledge. He will prepare you and be honest with you which is the best situation you want to be in, rather than have false hope. The cops had lied initially about me honking the horn. He got the cops on the stand and got the officers totally contradicting their stories. locations, which direction i was heading, duration of the so called "excessive honking" everything. The next day the prosecutor offered a deal which was a better situation then if i had been found guilty in a trial but I declined and went for a dismissal. After the defense testimony and the police officers screwing up their stories, my 3 passengers testifying honestly and saying that there was no honking going on, the judge dismissed the case. There has been few times in my life when I have had complete joy and sense of God giving me another chance and Mr Kraut provided that. If you want an attorney that will tell you how great he is and what he can do for you then go to the yellow pages outside the jail. If you want an attorney to be straight forward with you, prepare you and get you the best possible outcome then definitely hire Mr. Kraut. I owe him a lot and still stop by his office to say thanks and bug him even after the 300 phone calls a day i gave him during this scary period of my life. You have to put your trust in him. He is well connected and was with the DA's office for 14 years. Believe me you want somebody that knows there way around this crazy scary legal system. Thanks again Mr Kraut. Also the bailiff that day smiled as I was walking out as to be in disbelief. 50 other attorneys could not believe that Mr. Kraut could get a .23 3rd time DUI thrown out no matter what the facts.

My nightmare started on Mar 30, 2012. I was charged with a FELONY DUI. Let me start out saying that this was my first introduction to the the LA County criminal justice system. I had absolutely no idea of who to go to or where to start. I had a lot of drugs in my system and I had been in two diff...erent crashes and did quite a bit of damage, totalling my car and other peoples' property. Michael Kraut was recommended to me by another attorney friend of mine. Simply put, HE IS THE BEST. At our first meeting, he laid out what I could expect and what the best-scenario timeline and worst scenario timeline could be. We walked through what was going to be required of me during this process. He jumped on the case well before it was filed and was able to convince the police and prosecution to file the case as a misdemeanor rather then as a felony. From start to finish, the entire process only took 4 months, which at the time seemed like forever, but in comparison to all the other cases in the court system is a fraction of what the typical defendant faces. It didn't matter what day or time I called Mike, I always received a prompt response. He was very clear on what I needed to provide him. He's a no-nonesense kind of guy, which I appreciated very much. He doesn't necessarily tell you what you want to hear, but he'll always tell you what you need to hear. There were several extenuating circumstances in my case that could have forced a very serious penalty (state prison, large fine), but Mike was able to convince the DA not to pursue this route. The charges were ultimately reduced to a non DUI misdemeanor (exhibitition of speed) and a small fine. I can't express what a relief it has been to me and my family to have this episode behind us. It was one of the scariest things I've encountered; Mike made it much less scary and allowed me to continue on with my life and career. Mike handled all the himself. I was never relegated to a junior associate or researcher. Mike would be the first call I make if I ever find myself needing an attorney's services again. I couldn't have scripted a better outcome if I tried.