Charles W Applegate

Charles W Applegate

4.5
Rating: 9.4

Licensed for 22 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Santa Rosa, CA
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI, Lawsuits & Disputes ... +2 more

3436 C Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA

About Charles

Biography

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense 50%

If you are suspected of a crime or charged with a violation of law, you NEED a criminal defense attorney to present your defense or negotiate a penalty. As a former criminal prosecutor who has handled hundreds and hundreds of criminal cases, I know how the police and the prosecution operate. As a criminal defense attorney, I use that inside knowledge to help get my clients the best possible result.

19 years | 500 cases

50%
DUI and DWI 15%

If you are suspected of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you may be arrested for DUI (driving under the influence). A DUI conviction has serious consequences, but g good attorney can negotiate lesser penalties, or even get the charges dropped or reduced, depending on your circumstances and your past history.

19 years | 500 cases

15%
Lawsuits and Disputes 15%

If you make a big purchase and later decide you to return the item, what can you do if the store refuses to refund your money? You can file a lawsuit and proceed with litigation, but the process can be costly and time-consuming. The law provides several other methods to resolve disputes and all offer unique advantages. A lawyer who specializes in disputes reviews your paperwork and tells you what method will best serve your needs and budget.

23 years | 100 cases

15%
Car Accident 10%

If you are involved in a car accident, you may benefit from the services of a car accident lawyer, one who knows the dynamics of car crashes and can identify and weigh all the possible factors which may have played a part.

23 years | 200 cases

10%
Personal Injury 10%

A personal injury lawyer works with clients who have suffered a physical or emotional injury, usually by accident or mistake. Whether you were in a car accident or the victim of medical malpractice, a personal injury attorney can help. I know how the insurance claim process works, what evidence to gather, and how to calculate and present your claim for damages so that you get the relief that you deserve.

23 years | 200 cases

10%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in California for 22 years

State: California

Acquired: 2003

Active

No misconduct found

Location

APPLEGATE LAW OFFICE

3436 C Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA, 95403

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Charles W Applegate's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.5 /5.0

22 Client Reviews

5 star (19)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (3)

Posted by Shannon | November 27, 2021 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Great lawyer!

Charles provided excellent service to my family and I when we needed a lawyer for an auto accident injury. He and his staff were professional, kind, patient, and timely throughout the process, from beginning to end. We had a positive outcome and experience with him, even while dealing with a not so p...ositive injury. I would absolutely recommend Charles and his staff.

Posted by Lynne | August 26, 2021 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Charles Applegate is the best!

I had the good fortune to have hired Charles Applegate for a personal injury lawsuit. This type of thing can be very nerve-wracking and stressful and, certainly, nothing that I had experience in at all. From our first meeting and throughout this process, Charles walked me through what needed to hap...pen and what I needed to do. He was incredibly responsive and returned my calls or emails almost immediately. All that I had to do was complete an assortment of documents, provide my own documentation to support my claim, and attend a deposition. Charles took care of everything else. He was very respectful of my feelings and my injury; he never made me feel like my lawsuit was frivolous. We agreed upon a settlement amount that ranged from acceptable to awesome. He negotiated an amount that exceeded the awesome amount! I negotiate for a living, and I’ve got to hand it to Charles. He fought for me and pushed the opposing lawyers to come back with a hefty settlement. I wouldn’t want to sit on the other side of the table from Charles. He was relentless. I cannot recommend him highly enough. I hope I never need his services again, but if I do, Charles is the only lawyer I would call.

Posted by Rosa | July 18, 2019 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Great in helping me navigate the legal system

Me Applegate is professional and I trust him in guiding me thru the legal process. I'm glad he is representing me and can't thank him enough.

Posted by anonymous | January 11, 2019 | Consulted Attorney

This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.

Very Good

Was kind, understating, down to earth and helpful. Very good at his job. Hopefully we won’t need to use him, but highly confident, if so he would do an amazing job. So patient. Answered all of our questions. Had a wealth of experience and knowledge.

Posted by Roman | January 5, 2019 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Top Notch

I told Charles my Situation and he New it was a weak case against me and during this time he responded to every text and phone call the following day after hiring Charles he was in court and when seen DA he was able to find out that all charges against me were dropped. Thank You Charles for keeping... me calm throughout this joke of a mess.

See All Client Reviews

Charles W Applegate's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Charles
Devina G. Douglas headshot
Devina Douglas

Criminal defense lawyer | Mar 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Charles is a great attorney who is very good at listening to his clients to ensure he gets the best outcome for them. I endorse this lawyer."

Travis Ashley Newton headshot
Travis Newton

DUI and DWI lawyer | Aug 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Patrick Michael Pekin headshot
Patrick Pekin

Personal injury lawyer | Jul 29

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I went to law school with Mr. Applegate and I work with him on the occasional criminal case. He is an excellent attorney with superb analytical skills and a powerful courtroom presence."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 05

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Charles. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Patrick Michael Ciocca headshot
Patrick Ciocca

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 09

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I know Charles Applegate and have worked with him. He is a hard working, dedicated, knowledgeable and efficient attorney. More importantly, he is a good person who will treat you the way you want to be treated. I strongly endorse him."

Julia Nicole Mcilroy headshot
Julia Mcilroy

Unknown lawyer | Jul 08

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Charles is a hard-working, earnest, and conscientious advocate for his clients. His clients trust him and other attorneys respect him because he is an outstanding person and excellent attorney. I highly recommend him."

Michael John Shambrook headshot
Michael Shambrook

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 11

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Mr. Applegate takes a real interest in the defendant's case and looks after all the legal aspects. He diligently pursues all legal avenues and works directly with the other side, if possible, (often a Deputy District Attorney) to resolve, thorny issues, in the very best interests of the client. He is an attorney I enjoy working with as he has integrity and he is very smart."

Katharine Lynn Elliott headshot
Katharine Elliott

Criminal defense lawyer | Apr 28

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer."

Wallace E Francis headshot
Wallace Francis

Criminal defense lawyer | Mar 23

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Charles is brilliant, fast on his feet, and gets results that leave others slack-jawed."

Brian A. Noble headshot
Brian Noble

General practice lawyer | Jan 04

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Charles Applegate is an outstanding advocate for his clients and is committed to ensuring that the judicial process is upheld on their behalf."

Jason Jung Suk Ahn headshot
Jason Ahn

Criminal defense lawyer | Dec 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr. Applegate is a lawyer of the highest caliber. His keen intellect, compassion, and work ethic will continue to produce great results for his clients."

Andrew John Caborn headshot
Andrew Caborn

Criminal defense lawyer | Dec 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"One of the best attorneys in the state."

Michael John Apicella headshot
Michael Apicella

Criminal defense lawyer | Nov 11

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Charles is a highly skilled and effective advocate for his clients. Charles is known in the legal community as a competent and hard working attorney. He has earned the respect of his peers and the court. I have referred many people to Charles for help with various criminal law issues, as I feel confident that they will be well served. If you're looking for an intelligent, passionate, dedicated lawyer, look no further."

View All Endorsements
Stacy Elaine Rafanelli headshot
Stacy Rafanelli

Litigation lawyer

Patrick Michael Pekin headshot
Patrick Pekin

Criminal defense lawyer

Julia Nicole Mcilroy headshot
Julia Mcilroy

Criminal defense lawyer

Wallace E Francis headshot
Wallace Francis

Landlord or tenant lawyer

Patrick Michael Ciocca headshot
Patrick Ciocca

Criminal defense lawyer

Rayburn Allan Killion headshot
Rayburn Killion

Unknown lawyer

Michael John Apicella headshot
Michael Apicella

Family lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.4 (Superb)

Work Experience

2007 - 2008

Deputy District Attorney, Tulare County District Attorney

2007 - 2008

Deputy District Attorney, Mendocino County District Attorney

Associations

2010 - Present

Friends Outside

Member, Board of Directors

2004 - 2013

American Bar Association

Member

2004 - 2013

Sonoma County Bar Association

Member

2003 - 2013

State Bar of California

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Felony DUI

Felony child endangerment dismissed; DUI reduced to a misdemeanor.

People vs. (Anonymous)

Case Dismissed

See More Legal Cases

Education

2003

University of California, Hastings College of the Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1994

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution