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187 Client Reviews

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Showing 71 - 75 of 84 reviews | Responsiveness

Posted by Jacob | September 05, 2012

OK

Overall my experience was ok, it was my 2nd DUI within 1 year (stupid I know, first was wet wreckless) When you call you will talk to David his assistant. David is very nice, pretty knowledgeable, and will give you "hope". He went over process and what they like to do and a lot of your options before... I talked to Mr. Blair. I was told they'd check calibration of machines, possibly retest blood, call my witness, check police officers record, whatever it took to get best outcome, etc. After I got police report my blood was .17 and Mr. Blair explained that they could do enhancements and what the possible outcome would be in court. I had a sober witness with clean record and reason for pull over was 100% false and made up. Long story short I was requested to show up at Arraignment (which I didnt do in first case with another attorney, only final time when deal was already made) because he said "sometimes they offer great deals to get it over with". I showed up and was offered 18 days weekend work, 1st time fine, 18 month classes, and that they wouldnt call san mateo county and report my probation violation. Mr. Blair told me he thought this was a great deal because they wanted to give me 28 days weekend work, and call to report my voilation which could give me 10 extra days. I really wanted to do a motion to supress because I had 1 great witness and 1 ok one (records). He told me we could do it that was option, but why and how the DA would probably break down witnesses, and if I lose motion they would give me stricter penalty. I thought about it and took the deal (which I regret now). He didnt pressure me to take the deal or anything, he just told me how he the DA would go about it and he didnt like my chances. So overall I didnt really feel a lot of work was put into my case for the money I paid. I basically paid Mr. Blair to obtain police reports and show up a little early and negotiate a deal with DA for me. All the talking to witness, retest blood, check police officers history, etc that was told to me in initial conversation, didnt see or hear any of it being done or considered. For this reason unsure if I shouldnt have just used public defender to get something similar and save attorney fee. Mr. Blair was very nice, always called me back quickly, and knew a lot of the processes though. He definitely has DUI's down as far as process/procedure, and he admitted the system was screwed up and Cops can lie and get away with it (the truth) which was nice to hear. He did even ask the judge to reduce the weekend work days he had already negotiated with DA, but judge didnt want to hear it and said he thought it was fair. So your basically paying for someone to simplify the court process for you and negotiate a quick deal to reduce charges, as far as a full on "dismissal" very doubtful unless you get a miracle like mistake in police report or something.

Mark Blair

Replied last September 11, 2012

For me to respond, I cannot mention my client’s name or use any identifying information. I have to refer to my client in a non gender specific way to preserve his/her privacy. My client had a prior wet reckless. My client was convicted not in 2011 as my client wrote, BUT in 2012, on January 4, 2012. Please note that my client’s new 2012 DUI for which my client hired me DUI occurred only SIX months after the first conviction, on June 12, 2012. My client in my client’s new 2012 arrest had roadside tests of .16/.15 and a blood test of .17 just 35 minutes after the breath tests. Before we went to court, I learned that my client was on probation for a “wet reckless”. I researched my client’s wet reckless case and read the conditions of probation. In January 2012, the judge ordered my client in my client’s wet reckless case NOT to drive a vehicle with any measurable amount of alcohol. In January 2012, the judge ordered my client NOT to violate the law. Unfortunately, when my client was arrested in Jun 2012 for my client’s new DUI, my client’s drinking and driving (.15/16 and .17 blood test) violated my client’ probation in my client’s wet reckless case. I am very familiar with the jurisdiction where my client in on probation for a “wet reckless”. In that jurisdiction, judges routinely put persons in actual jail when they (1) drink and drive (2) get arrested for a new DUI offense within six months of their first conviction. Judges in that jurisdiction put persons in jail for up to 60 days for such a violation. My client was well aware of this potential jail issue. Before we appeared at arraignment (first court appearance), we discussed the problems with being on probation. I had my client appear in court at the arraignment (first appearance) because we wanted to see if we could as early as possible in the case, avoid any actual jail time and avoid the district attorney in the new DUI case from contacting the district attorney’s office in my client’s wet reckless case to violate my client’s wet reckless probation. We were both concerned that a prosecutor could simply pick up the telephone, call the other jurisdiction, and have my client violated on my client’s probation. So we went to court with the idea of trying to obtain the best offer and then weigh accepting the offer vs the risks of setting the case for a motion to suppress the evidence. A person on probation has the following risks when arrested for a new offense in such little time after being placed on probation. First, when a person is violated on probation, the judge can remand (put in jail) immediately the person. Moreover, a person remanded into jail on a probation violation does NOT have a right to bail. That means, the judge can simply leave the person in jail until the probation violation is resolved. As previously indicated, the jurisdiction where my client was on probation, sentences persons to 60 days or more of jail for such violations. My client was aware of all the above. We were also concerned that the prosecutor for the new (second offense DUI) arrest would want actual jail as well. When a person is on probation for such a small amount of time and is arrested again for a new DUI, especially one in which the person is over two times the legal limit, the person can face 30 to 60 days or more of real jail on the second offense. So, I had my client appear, because as my client and I had discussed, if we could (1) avoid jail, (2) avoid the prosecutor contacting the other jurisdiction about the probation violation) and (3) minimize my client’s second offense sentence, my client would be quite fortunate. We would weigh all the above against litigating the motion. My client absolutely agreed. My client was concerned that my client may have a motion to suppress the evidence, because my client believed that the officer did not have a valid reason to pull my client over. My client had a passenger in my client’s vehicle who my client thought could support this position. I explained that we could go to court, see what we could nego

Posted by Lucy | June 26, 2012

Great Lawyer - Straight Forward and Answers Questions

I was in the process of moving to the East Coast when I received my DUI. I was very stressed, for the new job and the DMV dealings, and I would not be able to appear myself in court. After talking with a number of lawyers in the area, I went with Mark Blair, and I'm happy I did. He kept me informed a...nd up-to-date, even across the coast. I had many questions, and Mark and his staff were able to answer them for me. He also handled my case to get me the best possible outcome. I strongly recommend him as a lawyer.

Posted by Ren | April 13, 2012

I couldn't have found a better Lawyer

Mark was recommended to me by a friend and I could not have been happier with the results. He was always quick to respond to my questions and guided me through the worst time of my life. His knowledge and expertise resulted in my not having a 10 year blemish on my record and instead just have a les...son learned. On top of all this his rates are extremely affordable. Do not be fooled by more expensive Lawyers who promise the moon. If you want the best representation possible hire Mark!

Posted by anonymous | March 14, 2012

From DUI to Wet-and-Reckless thanks to Mark!

Despite a pretty high BAC of mine, Mark was able to reduce the DUI charge to Wet-and-Reckless! He has been extremely helpful from the beginning of the hell and very clearly responded to all of my request in a timely manner. He knew what he needed from me to gain what we wanted and clearly notifie...d so we were able to prepare all the things. He was very professional at the court (it was today!) and made my wife and me feel relaxed and comfortable during the whole time. Thanks to his expertise, we got what we desperately hoped for without any trouble. My court case ended painlessly before I realized what happened. If someone is desperate for help on a DUI case, Mark Blair must be the best choice that you can go for without any doubt.

Posted by Aakash | February 09, 2012

He got my DUI WITH ACCIDENT REDUCED!!!!

I will be perfectly honest with you here...as soon as I got into this mess I searched for a lawyer with the mindset that all lawyers are sharks. Mark Blair wasn't my first choice, and even after meeting with him I had my doubts. However, he communicated sooo much information over the phone and in...-person even before I retained him as my lawyer. This honesty and thorough knowledge on his part convinced me that he would be able to help me. He is incredibly professional in that he keeps you in the loop in regards to the progress of your case. Also, he sticks true to his word, and discusses your case with you with simplicity and without false promises. He told me that the best I could hope for was a reduction of charges to a Wet Reckless. I was facing, at worst, a felony DUI because the other party involved in my high-speed accident claimed personal injury... I don't know how he did it, but he did it. Mark Blair got my charge reduced to a misdemeanor Wet Reckless Driving charge. I recommend Mark Blair a thousand times over for all your DUI defense needs.

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