Michael Eric Kraut

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.

Upon opening my DUI case with Kraut Law Group, I immediately felt a sense of security dealing with Attorney Micheal Kraut. As soon as we begun our first hearing he dove right in, asking plenty of questions, and he began to assess my situation. After hearing my story he provided me with the best possi...ble options as well as his plans for my case. In his response, not only was he realistic with his foreseen outcomes of my case but he surpassed my expectations by ultimately fighting for and winning me my full dismissal (the best possible outcome). In my opinion Attorney Micheal Kraut and his firm saved my life, my record, as well as a great deal of finances that I would be obligated to pay if I had not chosen Kraut Law Group to represent me in my case. I am very thankful for their hard work, and would definitely recommend them to anyone dealing with a stressful case such as a DUI.

I contacted Mr. Kraut after getting pulled over for and arrested for an underage DUI, a little above the legal limit. I spent a night in jail following the arrest. It was by far one of the most anxiety-provoking situations I have ever been in. I saw my whole future go down the drain, contemplating th...e potential consequences of this charge. Upon getting released, I decided to seek out an attorney to help me out with the case. After doing extensive research on those in my area, I came across Mr. Kraut. Immediately after talking on the phone with him, I knew that I wanted him to represent me. He seemed confident, experienced, personable, and helpful. All these first impressions turned out to be true. After hiring him, he virtually took care EVERYTHING. He is a very busy man, and though at times it seemed like I was not involved enough, he was still able to take the time to walk me through the proceedings of my trial. I came out with my charge reduced to a wet and reckless. I cannot stress how lucky I am that this happened, and also to have picked Mr. Kraut to represent me. He is a great guy, knows the court system like the back of his hand, and really cares for his clients. I could not be happier with these results.

After an exchange of words with another patron at a concert venue led to a minor altercation, I was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor battery. Because of my ignorance of criminal law, I failed to press counter-charges against the other individual and found myself spending a night in jail with ...bail set at $50,000. After pleading with a judge and public defender the following afternoon, I was released on my own recognizance and told to hire an attorney. I was facing jail time, fines, and worst of all, a criminal record. After hearing my story, Michael Kraut agreed to take my case. He explained that it would be difficult to fight because the case had been officially filed when the judge released me on my own recognizance. He went on to explain that he would now be dealing with the city attorney in an attempt to get my charges reduced or expunged. Upon meeting with the city attorney, he was told that my charges would not be reduced and that I would be facing the maximum penalties when convicted and sentenced. This is when Mr. Kraut began his work. He gathered evidence, spoke to witnesses and obtained written statements, building a solid “mutual combat” defense. When my court date arrived, I met Michael at the courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. He calmly took me aside and asked if I would be willing to plead “no contest” to a charge of disturbing the peace and attend twelve anger management classes. He went on to explain that, if this plea bargain was accepted and I completed the classes, that this conviction would be expunged and my record sealed. I agreed. Unfortunately, the city attorney again rejected the offer and continued to push for the maximum penalty. The reality of going to jail began to set in. Michael Kraut did not back down. He produced the evidence he had gathered and confidently told the city attorney that he had a solid case and would win if it went to trial. This caused the city attorney to back down and accept the plea deal. Because of Michael Kraut’s personal attention to detail, assertiveness and perseverance, I am now just eleven anger management classes away from putting this whole horrible event behind me. I will forever be grateful for his hard work and personal approach.