Michael Eric Kraut

Quick Response: I'd hire him again in a heartbeat. No need to shop around anymore, Mike is your guy. Long winded answer: Unfortunately, this is not my first time needing a lawyer. With that said, I kind of knew what I was looking for and did some serious research. I read every review I could on h...ere and yelp, called around and this is where I landed. After I having an initial conversation with Mike, my gut instinct told me to go with him. However, to be safe, I met him in his office anyways. Mike new his stuff, he was professional and I liked the fact that he was a straight shooter and didn't try to make any promises to me. I have a prior on my record that could have put me in a world of hurt with this DUI. Luckily, I wasn't hammered at blew just above the legal limit - which, put me in a 'good' position. Mike got it brought down to a Speed Exhibition charge, leaving me with 2 years of probation and a $1078 (it could be $200 something + some community service if you choose to go that route). The crappy thing about California is that there are two separate parts to a DUI - legal and DMV. Mike says that there is a 95% chance that the DMV will still suspend my license for 4 months (which they did end up doing). In that time, I have to take a DUI course. I called around and it looks like that ends up costing about $500 and will take 3 months to complete going once a week (there is no fast track from what I have found). The word on the street is that my license will actually only be suspended for 30 days and then I can get a restricted license for the remainder of the time (I am on my first month of this suspension and working out the kinks. Details to follow). However, he is helping me with this in anyway that he can as well. The DMV is it's own beast and you have to take it as it comes. Bottom line: TAKE A CAB! This is such a costly pain in the ass and just realllllllly not worth the time, stress, or money. BUT, you are reading this review for a reason - go with Mike, he knows his stuff. The price is right and most likely worth it. I can only speak for the DUI case, but do know that he is trustworthy and if by some unfortunate circumstances I had a bigger issue on my hands I would turn to him again in a heartbeat. Suggestion: let him do his job. There is no real need for you to know every detail, it won't change a damn thing. Trust that he will get you the very best results that he can. If he doesn't, people like me won't write these reviews and business goes down the crapper :) But, do be honest with him and put all your cards out on the table, that will only help you in the long run.

On June 23, 2011, after side-swiping a parked SUV and leveling a stop sign, i was arrested and booked into the WONDERFUL Beverly Hills Jail (no joke- was comparable to a recent stay at the Beverly Hilton) on suspicion of DUI…for the second time. This would have been my second DUI charge, resulting in... a large fine, 9 months of DUI class, community service, and possible jail time, had i not been blessed with meeting Attorney Michael Kraut. After my first and ONLY DUI (thanks to Michael), i realized i had a drinking problem and sought help. After a few months of being sober and an active AA member, i was accused of being under the influence of prescription meds while driving (Still a DUI), as they "found" my prescription bottles hidden on the cushion of passenger seat ;). I have since tapered off ALL my medications. As you can imagine, after working so very hard to get and maintain sobriety, and be booked for taking medications prescribed to me for anxiety, i was furious and very scared. After a quick online search, really good reviews, and a more than proficient understanding of DUI charges, i met Michael Kraut. He's a straight shooter. He will tell you the facts, inform you of all possibilities, but also assure you that he will make things better. AND BOY, CAN HE!!! As i and Mr. Kraut felt the charges were not valid, and should not be treated as a second offense, he stood by me for a YEAR! I didn't have to show up to court until the last day, but would get phone call updates on a regular basis, letting me know what he was working on and what they were trying. In the end, i ended up with a "Dry Wreckless Driving" charge, a 3 month driving school (Half the time of a first DUI charge), no com. service, and no jail time. If i had to do it again (please, oh please, never, ever,ever…did i say ever? EVER again) i would choose Michael. Thank you, sir!

I was driving home on the 110 fwy after a night of diner and cocktails with friends on Superbowl weekend. The end of the fwy in Pasadena has serious curves and I was too busy talking to notice police behind me. I went over the line on a curve and was pulled over. Like a dummy I told the truth, “yeah ...I had a drinks with dinner, but that was hours ago”. Next thing I know I am taking a breathalyzer test and arrested! I later found out I blew just over the limit. The whole experience is horrible! I have never been in trouble before. What’s worse? I just finished grad school in education and have not found a job yet. I will not pass fingerprints and cannot work with kids with a DUI on my record! Right away I start researching lawyers. Found my top 5 and Michael Kraut was #3 on my list. I left messages and Michael was the first to contact me. He called me after business hours and said that he always tries to call clients on the same day. This was a good sign! I met 2 other lawyers first who were not reassuring. One lawyer was overly concerned about getting paid (yes, I am unemployed). The other lawyer said that I will be ok because it’s my first offense. I did not feel like he would fight the charges. My future career is on the line! At my meeting with Michael, he was professional, knowledgeable, confident, honest, and well connected. He personally works his own cases and handles everything including DMV. I was a nervous wreck. Michael empathized, listened to my story, and reassured me. Two things sealed the deal for me. (1) He asks lots of targeted questions which gave me the sense that he was asking about things to use to fight the charges. (2) He proceeded with the same sense of urgency that I felt. He started working right away on the DMV paperwork while I was still in the office. He was honest and gave me the best case scenario and the most likely scenario. I left his office feeling like I was in the best hands! Throughout my case, Michael returned calls and emails within the hour, or at most within the same day. He is busy and his responses were friendly and to the point. I only wish his legal secretary would send an email update as soon as something happens with your case. I found out about my DUI charges when I contacted him about my DMV hearing. However, I always knew that he was working hard on my case. Michael prepared all of my paperwork so quickly that it went in BEFORE the DA even had a chance to file. The DUI charges were DROPPPED! I was charged with Speed Exhibition! Michael met me at court and explained what would happen. I got a glorified speeding ticket, 1-day driving impact class, and $1000 total court fines. No jail, no AA meetings, no drug/alcohol treatment, and most importantly no DUI conviction on my record! He made the best case scenario happen! I am beyond grateful!!! Michael also represented me at the DMV hearing and did his best. Unfortunately, my drivers license was suspended for 6 months even though I do not have a DUI conviction. DMV has a separate policy from the courts and you are auto suspended if you blow over the limit. The cost…If you want the best, you will have to pay Michael for his expertise. Yes, I’m broke but my boyfriend is not. Michael allowed us to break up his fee into a few payments. Please do not drink and drive! It is not worth it. Do not drive even if you only had a few cocktails over dinner and you don’t even feel drunk. I have learned my lesson! But if you do get in trouble, call Michael Kraut! He is absolutely the best!!!

As a physician it was so painful to be charged with DUI. My professional life was in danger. After spending a night in the jail I was hopeless and helpless. Michael Kraut, is the man of his words. He said he is very honest and he was. He said he could help me and he did. He is as competent and effici...ent as he says. He made the impossible happen and rejected all the charges before the court day, as if it never happened. When I re-applied for my driver license, I realized that DMV never got informed; they had no idea why I do not have my driver license. Medical Board also never got informed. I learned my lesson and I am back on my feet. Michael you are great and I owe you the rest of my professional life.

In late 2010 my life was completely changed in one horrible instant. One night, while driving home, I was involved in a fatal car accident. I had been drinking earlier that night so when the police gave me a sobriety test, I blew over the limit. I was arrested and spent the night in a holding cell at... the local police station. For a person who had never been arrested before, that was pretty rough. At the time, I was unaware of the condition of the other driver, so as far as I knew, I would be charged with a DUI and that would be the end of it. The next morning some detectives questioned me and I was informed that the other driver had died. I remember feeling sick and absolutely devastated. It felt like a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from. I spent the next day in LA County Jail with $100,000 bail and the charge of “gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated” filed against me. In the days/weeks after my release I felt totally hopeless and helpless. I asked everyone I knew what to do as far as legal defense. Those who worked in legal circles warned me not to go with a public defender, especially considering the severity of my charges. So my wife and I started looking for a criminal defense attorney. We met with several, and let me tell you, the process was not fun. I’m very much a person who goes with his gut feeling when it comes to people and every lawyer we met with made me feel uneasy. They all seemed so heartless, calculating, and money-hungry. Then while searching online, I stumbled onto Michael Kraut’s website. I liked the fact that he had experience as a prosecutor and that he specialized in DUI cases. I decided to give him a call, and to my surprise, he answered on his cell. I explained my charges to him and he seemed to genuinely care about my predicament We set up a time to meet in person to go over the details of the case and determine if he’d be able to help me or not. From the moment I met Mike in his office, I had a good feeling about him. As we discussed the accident, I could tell that he really cared about my mental state and well-being. Now, one thing I really appreciate about Mike is that he doesn’t sugar coat things. He explained that day that should we decide to hire him, the process would be long and trying. It would be months and possibly more than a year before we would have any type of absolution. He also told me that I needed to be prepared for the likelihood that I would be spending some years in prison, and it was just a matter of how many. He assured me that he would do his very best to achieve the best possible outcome.