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David O

DUI and DWI Attorney at Seattle, WA

4.9   29 reviews

Licensed for 20 years

Virtual consultation available

Free consultation

About David

Learn David’s areas of practice.

2
Practice areas

With almost two decades of legal experiece, I have dedicated my whole legal career to criminal and DUI defense because I love helping people. I believe it is a privilege to practice law and even more so when someone has asked me to help them get through their tough case. What sets me apart from the rest is that I am completely results oriented. I want to get the right result for each client no matter how long it takes. I take pride in serving my clients well. I understand providing excellent service and getting results require hard work, an attention to detail, and preparation.

Awards

Client's Choice 2017,2012
Client's Choice
2017 2012
Licensed for 20 years
State WA
Status Active
Acquired 2002
Updated 03/18/2023

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Contact David

David O Defense
1700 Westlake Ave N
Suite 200
Seattle, WA, 98109

Reviews

4.9 / 5.0
  29 customer reviews
5 Star
 
97%
4 Star
 
0%
3 Star
 
0%
2 Star
 
0%
1 Star
 
3%
Client's Choice 2017
Client's Choice
David received a significant number of 4+ stars in 2017
Posted by Aaron | November 3, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
The Best DUI Lawyer
There is no better DUI lawyer than David O. As a former prosecutor, he has built relationships with that offense that allow him to more effectively mitigate your circumstances. He resolved two DUI for me. I errored at a young age and he allowed me to get out of it. He'll instruct you from start to finish and emphasize handling necessities in advance as to show you're taking it seriously to the judge. You can find "cheaper" lawyers, but they aren't better. You pay for what you get.
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Posted by Leo | August 18, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best DUI lawyer hands down.
From the cuffs to the never-ending court proceedings, having a DUI charge may be a terrifying experience, and I am grateful I had David O by my side every step of the way! Attentive, personable, and knowledgeable, David ensured my every need was met. Prior to every court proceeding David always made sure I was prepared, and there were no surprises, he even answered questions I didn’t know I had! Although having a strong lawyer in your corner is extremely important, David is much more. Going through the courts takes several months, many proceedings, and a considerable amount of paperwork, David always made sure I was at ease. Honestly, many times it felt like I had a friend, not just an attorney. When you are dealing with DUI charges, it’s not a cheap process, with or without a lawyer. If you are going to invest in someone, invest in David! Overall, I thought his prices were fair, and he turned the money into magic! I was facing a DUI, but through David’s negotiation skills and knowledge of the law, he was able to get the charges significantly downgraded! I've seen the outcomes of others who opted not to hire a lawyer or who hired a different attorney, and I have to say, David delivered the best results.
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Posted by David | June 28, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
STOP SCROLLING AND CHOOSE THEM!!
I've had David defend me on TWO separate cases. One being a dui, and the other being 2 felony charges. In both cases David and his team were able to give me the best possible outcome. I couldn't have asked for more. If you're looking for a firm that answers calls/ text, genuinely cares, and gets sh*t done, look no further! These guys do their due diligence, and will figure a way to work the law in your favor. Thank you again David/Tim for all you've done for me. My future is no longer on pause thanks to you guys. My family and loved ones really appreciate you as well. Best regards, David L.
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Posted by Zac | June 12, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent attorney
Attorney David O and his team worked tirelessly on my DUI case. Their professionalism and hard work were outstanding. The communication of David to me was impeccable for explaining options and information to a client(myself) going through this process for the first time. I highly recommend David and his team for great advice and representation. I couldn’t have asked for a better attorney. Keep up the great work. Zac B.
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Posted by Jordan | August 27, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Highly recommended
There are really not enough words to describe what an outstanding advocate David was to my case! In February 2019, I was charged with a DUI, which is scary enough, but I had also just recently moved to Seattle, started a new position, and along with other factors, just made this all, that much more stressful to deal with. After the incident, my wife started looking through a list of lawyers, and after speaking with David, we knew we had to retain him. After every conversation I had with him, he just provided me with a sense of calmness and reassurance during a really unsure time. In the end, David was able to reduce my second DUI to reckless driving, which was the best outcome I could hope for. I know this may not be everybody’s situation, but I can guarantee you that David will work hard on your case and fill in all holes. My advice is, listen to him and do everything he says! He is very knowledgeable and knows what he’s talking about. Integrity and professionalism is hard to come by, and David mirrors that 110%. I highly recommend his services!
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Posted by anonymous | June 22, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
The Guy.
Got a DUI, and was a nervous wreck. Obviously it showed, and David was able to be that soothing and knowledgeable expert that you expect out of an attorney representing you... and more. He made it so that I walked out of the consultation at ease, and was always available for any question or concern that I had after hiring him. I am extremely cautious, but with his support it felt like nothing could go wrong.
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Posted by Yen | March 13, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Awesome, Compassionate Attorney!!
I met with a handful of other attorneys and thoroughly read reviews, and I am so happy I decided to have David handle my case. Right from my first meeting with David, I was an emotional mess, but David’s caring personally made me feel calm and better right away. I was so stressed reading everything I found online and how it would affect my future, family, friends but David gave me a piece of mind and was there to answer my many, many questions (trust me, I had a lot). I went to court about 3-4 times but never had to talk or do much because David did everything behind the scenes for me. My case took about 7 months from incident to be resolved, but David had informed it would be a process and some cases even go longer. David was able to get my charge reduced to the lowest penalty (not dropped, but I knew from the beginning that was unlikely). I am so relieved the case is over and I’m also glad I feel comfortable enough to text David still to this day if I have any questions! Get yourself an awesome lawyer like David so you can stress less and sleep more, he will handle it all for you!!!!!
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Posted by Josh | March 12, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Outstanding service
I got into trouble with a DUI arrest last year, and boy am I glad I found David! He is extremely professional and is dedicated to his craft. He was the only lawyer I met with who wasn't staring at the clock during our free consultation, which went 30 minutes over because of all of the questions I had. He explained from the very beginning that my case would be difficult, and that he would work very hard to provide the very best representation as he could for a favorable result both with the DOL and the court system. This man works hard for his clients, his reputation, and his family - and his work ethic shows how much he cares about all three of those things. In the end, I got a favorable result with David representing me, and I would absolutely recommend him to any family or friends who may find themselves in this situation in the future.
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Posted by Peter | December 20, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Absolutely Recommend!!!!
I was in a very sticky situation a few months back and I wasn't quite sure what to do. I came across David's site and his reviews seemed great. Long story short, David did an amazing job in helping me with my situation. From start to finish he was very comforting and calm. He was extremely responsive (which matters a lot to me!), he knew exactly how to handle the situation and it also helps that he's got an extensive network! I would absolutely recommend David to anybody and I plan to return to him in the future as well :)
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Posted by anonymous | September 12, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Thanks David
Getting arrested and charged with a crime is a really scary experience but from my first consultation with David, he helped put me at ease with his professionalism and his genuine and caring personality. He talked to me like a friend and was honest with what results he was expecting from my case. I was arrested for DUI and blew over twice the legal limit and in the end, David was able to get my charge reduced to reckless driving.
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Posted by anonymous | August 26, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
David literally saved my life.
Being a hardworking guy pursuing my dream, a sudden shaming criminal arrest is nothing but devastating and destroying to me. I still remembered that Sunday that I called David 20+ times hoping to get all questions answered at once. It was David who was willing to meet me very early in the next day and started contacting the prosecutor immediately afterwards (which was way before the charge was filed). I am a person who is not that patient and I just cannot the lengthy legal process. During the past year it wasn't quite uncommon that I cold call David and night and keep texting him every day asking how the progress went. David was able to be not only my lawyer but also my spiritual guidance which helped me go through the whole process. From the very beginning, David set the expectation correctly and let me know what to expect. He knew when&how to deal with prosecutors and knew what cards the other side had to play. He trained me very well for trial and taught me to express my innocence to the fullest extent. Having seen many similar cases ending up with a plea deal, I honestly didn't have a very high expectation. However guess what, the whole case got DISMISSED UNCONDITIONALLY right before trail date. David defended my innocence and proved the fact that I am not guilty of anything. He is just so awesome in my case and words cannot even describe my gratefulness and appreciation due to my limited language ability. If you got some legal matters to deal with in Seattle area, I'd recommend nobody but David to help you.
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Posted by anonymous | April 13, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Integrity & Communication
David O has the utmost integrity, follow-through, and compassion. David is an incredible listener and presents all your options, allowing you to choose with his professional expertise infused. He does what he says he's going to do and has incredible communication.
Posted by Jun im | April 7, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Thank you david!!!!
David O is best lawyer, friend and mentor. I got charged with DUI with minor accident and he won the trial and got my cases dismissed. Even though he told me that my cases were really difficult and chances of winning were 50/50, but I trusted him to the fullest and decided to go all the way and fight for it. He did his job really well and alleviated my fears and made me feel more calm. He is great. Not only he is my lawyer, but also became someone who I can look up to like close friend who motivates me to be better in every way. He helped me a lot not only with cases, but gave advice to about my life. When my wife got into car accident, he provided great wisdom and helped to her as well. I highly recommend him if you get into the same type of this trouble I did because he has your back and will give you 1000% to fight for you.
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Posted by anonymous | August 30, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
David O, Defines the goal, Sets expectations, Gets RESULTS!
David O, Thank you David for taking my case, listening, defining goals, setting expectations, getting results, and most of all giving me the comfort knowing that you had my family and my best interest as your priority. My case was a difficult case with 2 Assault DV charges. These stemmed from me being assaulted and people not being honest. David was my second lawyer. From the moment that we met, he was HONEST about the fact that this DV was not an easy case to defend. We discussed my accounts of the situation, my witnesses, and the accounts of the police report and other parties involved. He did not promise me this would be easy. He did set out a simple plan. Discussed what needed to be done. and explained the most important part of the case. Be patient. Trust him. Continue living life. Its his job to worry about the case. I did just that. David worked with prosecution, presenting how the case was flawed. How the evidence did not add up. He also talked to me about my options, the deals presented, the possible outcomes. AT NO TIME DID HE PRESS ME TO TAKE A DEAL. He was able to get 1 count dismissed, 1 count court removed the DV tag. BOTH COUNTS DISMISSED !! David WON. I WON. My family WON! He treats you like family and is the ONLY way to go.
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Posted by anonymous | July 10, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Hiring David O for my defense was the best decision I could have possibly made!
From the moment that we were introduced, David treated me like a person and not just another case. Is it weird to say that you're going to miss your attorney? Each time we met it always felt like I was seeing a friend again, his caring and good-natured demeanor helped keep me calm and steady during an extremely stressful time of my life. He is obviously very experienced and has a commanding knowledge of DUI defense law. After reviewing the facts of my arrest and the charges that were being brought against me, he took the time to clearly explain the possible outcomes (best and worst-case scenarios) and to describe what his experience has been with cases that were similar to mine. At the end of our first meeting we discussed his fee structure, which was very competitive compared to what I had been led to believe I would be paying for a defense attorney based on a handful of internet searches. I left his office that first day feeling supported and understood, and there was no need for me to shop around: I knew I was going to hire him. Throughout the duration of my case he always very clearly explained the actions he was taking and what I should expect for our next court date. Whenever I felt the need to reach out for support or to have a question answered, he found the time in his schedule to talk and to provide reassurance. He was extremely professional, and I always had full confidence that he was taking every possible action to see that we achieved the best result my case. And in the end, WE WON! Seeing him in action as he presented my case, questioned witnesses and held the prosecutor to a high standard of argument was amazing. The court clearly thought so too, as the judge ruled in our favor and I was able to leave the courthouse that day with an enormous weight lifted from my shoulders.
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Posted by VB | February 19, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent Defense Attorney, Result driven and amazing human being
David is an excellent Defense attorney and more than that, just a fantastic human being. During the course of 1 year i worked with him on my case, he has been a great friend, counselor, mentor and he is always available 24x7 365 days either in person, phone, text or email. I had a very difficult case with high bac and bad driving. David worked hard to identify possibilities for suppressing my bac results. He then set me up to win in my jury trial and i got my case dismissed with a verdict "not guilty". This past 1 year was the most excruciating year in my life and when ever i am stressed i have reached out to David and he has always coached me through those stressful times and helped me make make the right decisions. He genuinely cared and wanted to see me succeed. I am also a non immigrant resident working here in Washington. This made the case even more challenging and he very patiently and skilfully negotiated every minor detail of my case with prosecution and jury to help me win. I will definitely recommend David to fight your legal battle. If there is anyone who can help you win with a high probability, it will be David.
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Posted by Chris | January 27, 2015
It doesn't get any better than David O
This was my first time having to deal with anything like and DUI, and as you can imagine it was extremely nerve-racking and stressful. From our very first phone call to our last day in court he completely made me feel at ease and informed. I was a college student at the time and he was extremely positive and understanding of my mistake, even working with me on a payment plan to get me through it all financially as well. Not only did David help me win my DOL civil case, he also got my DUI reduced to a negligent driving. I would HIGHLY recommend David O to anyone who has to go through this unfortunate situation. You will not regret it, it was sincerely one of the best decisions of my life. Thank you David!
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Posted by anonymous | August 20, 2014
Genuine, Caring, and Professional
I was seeking legal counsel about my DUI case from David and from the moment I called him I could already tell that his relationships with his clients go far above and beyond industry standards. Within minutes I felt like I was talking to not only an experienced lawyer, but also a close friend and mentor. As he read through my documents, he was quick to explain to me different avenues or points of contention he found and was adamant about hearing my side of the story. Knowing that I was in a really tough spot, he was genuine about setting my expectations accordingly and gave great personal insight to put me at ease. Based on his great communication skills, transparency, empathy, and professionalism, there is no one else I would recommend over David O if you unfortunately find yourself with a DUI charge. I've worked with other lawyers and I can honestly say that David is the only one that I can say that really cared about me and the outcome of my case.
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Posted by Kathleen | October 25, 2013
The best decision I made
I met with another DUI attorney before meeting with David. He asked me if I had met with any other attorneys before meeting with him, I said yes and told him which attorney I had met with. He knew her, had worked with her before, and said if I picked either of them he knew I would have great representation. It impressed me that he knew someone else that specializes in DUI cases, and he didn't choose to badmouth her to a potential client. He is so nice! I was able to communicate with him very well and he was understanding. I was beating myself up for my dumb decision and he had some insight that helped me get past that. We won my DOL case which is very hard to do. I was very pleasantly surprised and felt very lucky David represented me. There were plenty of questions I had and David would respond to my emails and texts immediately. He was very hardworking. The prosecutor gave me a plea deal of reckless driving, however David persisted until my case was dropped further. My civil charges got reduced to negligent driving and some community service. I could not be happier with choosing David O to represent me. He did a great job and was worth every penny. I can't give him enough credit. He is amazing.
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Posted by Shuo Wang | October 9, 2013
David is an awesome lawyer!
I was in an argument with my wife three months ago, and I was arrested and charged DV, me and my wife was shocked by this since we did not hurt each other at all. So after my wife bailed me out, we found David and asked him for help. He went over every detail with me and told me just relax, he will take care of me. And at the court date, he came with me and talked to prosecutor at the court, and prosecutor agreed on deferred prosecuting me! After three month, my case was dismissed, my bail was return and me and my wife are happy again!
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Cost

Rates
  • Free Consultation 60 minutes
Payment methods
Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 9.5 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Attorney at Law/ Principal
  • David O Defense, PLLC
  • 2008 - Present
  • Associate Attorney
  • Bradley Johnson Attorneys
  • 2004 - 2008
  • Northwest Defenders Association
  • 2003 - 2004

Education

  • Oklahoma City University School of Law
  • Juris Doctorate
  • 2001
  • University of Washington
  • Psychology
  • 1998

Legal Cases

  • DUI case dismissed
  • Dismissed

Associations

  • Citizens for Judicial Excellence
  • Member
  • 2008 - Present
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Member
  • 2006 - Present
  • Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Member
  • 2004 - Present
  • Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Member
  • 2002 - Present
  • King County Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2001 - Present
  • Joint Asian Judicial Evaluations Committee
  • Board Member for the Bylaws Committee
  • 2008 - 2010
  • King County Pro Bono Clinic
  • Coordinator
  • 2007 - 2009
  • Korean American Bar Association
  • Board Member
  • 2004 - 2010
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • Korean

Honors and Awards

  • Washington 2010 Rising Star
  • Washington Law & Politics Magazine
  • 2010
  • Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation
  • Washington State Bar Association
  • 2009
  • Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation
  • Washington State Bar Association
  • 2008
  • Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation
  • Washington State Bar Association
  • 2007
View all awards

Attorney endorsements

Received (32)
Given (18)
Endorse David
DUI and DWI Attorney | Feb 05
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"David is an excellent attorney. As a former prosecutor, I have handled numerous cases against David and know first hand that he is a shrewd negotiator and zealous advocate."
Criminal defense Attorney | Dec 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I cannot recommend David enough. He is a highly compassionate attorney with an unparalleled sense of justice. He is highly skilled and intelligent regarding all facets of criminal law. He is well liked by everyone in the courtroom: judges, prosecutors and clerks--all respect him."
DUI and DWI Attorney | Dec 08
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I highly endorse Mr. O. He is exceptionally knowledgeable in the area of DUI criminal defense. I have personally observed Mr. O in court advocating on behalf of his clients. He represents his clients zealously and proficiently. I recommend his services with confidence."
Criminal defense Attorney | May 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse David. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
DUI and DWI Attorney | Mar 01
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"David O zealously advocates on behalf of his clients and is incredibly personable, which is important when negotiating with prosecutors. I highly recommend David."
DUI and DWI Attorney | Jan 30
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. When someone thinks of a lawyer, they think of a person with the power of persuasion and that Mr. O possesses in abundance; he is well-liked and highly respected by judges, clerks, bailiffs, prosecutors, fellow defense attorneys, his clients and the public who watch him in action. One of Seattle's top attorneys hands down, I am honored to be his colleague. I recommend him without reservation."
Criminal defense Attorney | Jan 15
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I highly endorse Mr. O. He is a leading Pacific Northwest attorney in this area of the law. Mr. O is committed to providing his clients with the very best legal representation."
Unknown Attorney | Dec 07
Relationship: Other
"I endorse this lawyer."
Criminal defense Attorney | Oct 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer, he has great people and communication skills and works hard for optimal results."
DUI and DWI Attorney | Jul 26
Relationship: Worked for lawyer
"Having earned my "chops" under David's tutelage, I know first hand how much he cares for his clients and how hard he works every day to protect their rights. David's "client-centric" approach to criminal defense is something that should be admired and mirrored by his peers."
Criminal defense Attorney | Jun 04
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"David O is a highly competent, experienced, compassionate lawyer whom I endorse without reservation."
Criminal defense Attorney | May 30
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have known David for years and am continually impressed by his passion and work ethic when it comes to getting the best results for his clients. While David always seems to have a smile on his face, he has a reputation with both judges and prosecutors as being ethical, but aggressive. I have never hesitated to refer clients to David because I know they will be taken care of."
DUI and DWI Attorney | May 29
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. I have known David for a long time and have seen him in court on countless occasions. He is an excellent trial attorney, and a great person. I would not hesitate in referring him in any criminal matter."
Unknown Attorney | Dec 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Criminal defense Attorney | Mar 30
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Excellent attorney. Deeply experienced, passionate and articulate in representing individuals charged with a crime."
DUI and DWI Attorney | Mar 04
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"David is an excellent advocate with a great work ethic and attention to detail. He brings a great deal of professionalism his practice and always fights hard for his clients."
Criminal defense Attorney | Nov 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have worked with David O on several cases over the last 4 years. He is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to criminal defense work, and his reputation with the courts and prosecutors is one of the best around. I highly endorse his work."
Criminal defense Attorney | Nov 08
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer's work. He is hard working and very pleasant to deal with. He is honest and always patient. He goes the extra mile for his clients"
DUI and DWI Attorney | Oct 14
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have seen David practice in mulitple courts over the years. He is a highly knowledgable and effective attorney. He has the respect of his peers in the criminal defense community and I give him my highest endorsement."
Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I had a close family friend who needed an attorney. The lawyer I chose to refer my friend to was David O. Smart, aggressive and compassionate. He obtained excellent results, and I would not hesitate to refer to him again. I endorse this lawyer's work."
View more endorsements
Criminal defense
Criminal defense
DUI and DWI
DUI and DWI
Criminal defense
Criminal defense
Criminal defense
DUI and DWI
DUI and DWI
DUI and DWI
DUI and DWI
Criminal defense
Criminal defense
Criminal defense
Immigration

Avvo Contributions

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Seattle DUI and DWI Lawyer David O
David O
DUI and DWI Attorney
Seattle, WA
Licensed for 20 years
Free Consultation
Virtual consultation available