Michael Eric Kraut

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!

After an argument with my 94 year-old-father about taking his medications properly and his ability to drive safely, I was shocked to find myself arrested for elder abuse in the Bellflower area of California. I was trying to keep him from harming himself with his medications and others with his car ...and within minutes I’m stripped of my possessions and locked behind bars! Even though my family convinced him to drop the charges a few days later, the state refused to drop the case. I am a health professional with a state-issued license to protect, so I needed an experienced attorney quite familiar with elder abuse cases . My primary source of income was on the line. Even though the case seemed absurd to me initially, when the state refused to drop it, things got scary and even more stressful. I needed a good attorney. I researched elder abuse law and elder abuse attorneys and came across Michael Kraut’s firm. He definitely had the experience and his website was well organized and informative. Pick the wrong attorney, and I could lose my license or even go to jail because I just wanted to help and care for my own father! It was an awful feeling, probably the worst experience of my life. I called Mr. Kraut and he answered the call personally and he listened carefully to what I had to say. I could tell from his questions, comments, and understanding that he would do a good job. I met with Mr. Kraut and was impressed with the office, its location, and the way I was treated professionally. He understood the seriousness and the mechanics of the case. He worked out a fee based on my ability to pay and went to work. Since it was a misdemeanor case, Mr. Kraut appeared in court for me and had me call him after each court date for an update. He answered the phone personally. He returned any other call or email promptly. Mr. Kraut got my case dismissed. I chose the right attorney for the job. I’m able to continue to practice, and would recommend Mr. Kraut to anybody who is in need of an outstanding attorney.

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.

Michael Kraut saved & changed my life. Here is my experience with him. I was driving with my dog from Los Angeles to Long Beach for a weekend with my girl friend. I was only a few miles away from her place when my night and life went to Hell. I was pulled over by the CHP for reckless driving and arr...ested for driving under the influence of narcotics. I went to Jail, my dog to the local pound & my car impounded. The previous six months before my arrest, I was suffering from a painful case of Sciatica. I saw several doctors. Each of them trying to find the root of my problem along with giving me some immediate relief for my pain. I received epidurals, steroids and physical therapy but the pain wouldn’t go away. I was prescribed MS Contin (morphine), Vicodin, Norco, Percoset, Soma, Flexiril, Xanax and others. I also take Ambien and Adderall. Over time I slowly built up a tolerance and never thought twice that I should of stopped driving. I had the meds in my travel bag in the car. The mistake was I had one prescription bottle with a few different kinds of pills inside but I didn’t have the correct label or proof I was prescribed these. Some of the medications back at my home came in bulk size containers, so while staying at her house every few weeks, it was more convenient putting them in one bottle. I told the officer there is zero alcohol in me or any illegal drugs in my system other than what I was prescribed. But after some sobriety tests, I was placed under arrest for a driving under the influence of a narcotic. I received a DUI 6 years ago when I used to drink, so if convicted this would of been my second. A second DUI is more than double the costs, twice the school and possible jail time, so I knew I had to find someone with experience to represent me. I called & met a few of the well known DUI Los Angeles attorneys but every time I hung up or walked out of their office, I felt like they were trying to sell me a used car. I was helpless, depressed and still in tremendous back pain. I continued surfing the web looking for information when I found someone who was also arrested for a prescription drug DUI. He was praising his attorney Michael Kraut. I gave him a call early the next morning and an hour later met with Michael in his Hollywood office. I explained my situation and within minutes I saw a difference from him and the previous attorneys. He could see I was rattled and assured me that he could help, not to worry and focus on my health. I walked out of his office feeling I was in good hands. Within a few days, he handled my DMV hearing, explained how the system works, be patient and stay positive. I received a letter stating the Long Beach Court was charging me with a felony DUI. I called Michael up and he explained the severity of a felony, but assured me we can still get through this. First we need to get it out of the felony court until we worry about fighting the misdemeanor. At my arraignment, there were a few other lawyers representing other cases but none of them had the professionalism and confidence that he carried in the courtroom. It was easy to see his good reputation with the prosecutors, court clerks & the Judge. After he briefly explained the circumstances and my clean criminal record, the judge approved his request for an extension. I felt confident knowing I was in good hands with Michael on my side. At the next hearing, Michael walked in with copies of the prescriptions & my medical records and I could see him relentlessly going back and forth with the Prosecutor fighting for me. Minutes later when my name was called, I stepped up to the Judge with Michael. The Prosecutor told the Judge the medications matched up with my blood from the arrest and asked the judge to dismiss the case. The Judge approved. DISMISSED! My life was changed thanks to Michael Kraut. He is my attorney for life & I would recommend him to anyone looking for a DUI attorney. It’s nice to have the best on your side.

I made the biggest mistake of my life and was arrested on a petty theft case. After several consultations with other lawyers who told me there was nothing I could do pre filing, I came across Michael Kraut, whose specialty is squashing the case pre filing. Unfortunately by the time I got to him, my c...ase was filed and I was in danger of losing a job opportunity I had waited years for. Given the knowledge and years of experience Mr. Kraut has, not only as a defense lawyer but a prosecuting attorney I knew he was the right man for the job! This whole situation was a huge burden on not just me but my family! I was guilty of stealing and I would have been happy if the charges were reduced to an infraction or trespassing, even though it could still affect my job. Mr. Kraut was not only willing to work with me and my family on what was a humble budget, he went above and beyond, even when the DA offered him a plea bargain of reducing the charge. Mr. Kraut pushed for the best possible outcome, and in an EXTROIDINARY feat, got the charges dismissed. If you are looking for a Rockstar lawyer Kraut is your man! I was amazed as we walked the halls of the courthouse he knew everyone, and everyone certainly knew him. Seeing him in action made me very glad to have him in my corner. I would have been in BIG trouble if I had met him as a prosecutor! I think that is what gives him an edge, he really knows the in’s & out’s of the law! He was even able to reach the “unreachable” head Corporate Attorney for the store I was arrested at, in an effort that made the DA laugh in conceit and say “congratulations” on the win. You may not always understand his methods, but if you want someone who is willing to work any time day or night to get you the best possible results, Michael Kraut is the attorney for you! I hope I will never be in need of an attorney again, but if I did Kraut Law Group would be the first phone call I would make!