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DUI DROPPED TO RECKLESS DRIVING

Result: No Conviction
2011CT002953NC

The Defendant was stopped for swerving and not having his headlights on. When the Deputy stopped the Defendant he noticed him to have a strong odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and poor coordination. The Defendant also admitted to drinking. The Defendant submitted to the field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. Once taken to the jail the Defendant refused the breath test. The Defendant called the Law Firm of Finebloom and Haenel to discuss his options. AnneMarie went over the defenses in his case the plan of action. AnneMarie immediately began to zealously advocate for her client. The State Attorney’s office still did not offer a deal which satisfied her or her client. AnneMarie set the case for trial. After the team at Finebloom and Haenel continued to negotiate with the State Attorney, they eventually recognized the weaknesses in their case and dropped the charge to a Reckless Driving with no formal conviction.

DUI REFUSAL REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING

Result: No Conviction
2011CT012124NC (Sarasota)

The Defendant was investigated by law enforcement when they observed his vehicle resting against a sign halfway in the roadway. When the Deputy approached the vehicle the Defendant appeared to be passed out. When the Deputy awoke the Defendant he observed him to have a strong odor of alcohol, bloodshot watery eyes, slurred speech and to be disoriented. The Defendant admitted to drinking. The Defendant refused to perform field sobriety tests and to give a breath test. The Defendant was nervous about the charges he was facing immediately hired AnneMarie Rizzo after being recommended to her by a former client. AnneMarie took the sworn testimony of the Deputy and filed a motion to suppress all of the State’s evidence in the case. At the motion hearing AnneMarie convinced the Prosecutor to reduce the charge to Reckless Driving and kept her client from ever losing his driver’s license or being formally convicted.

CLIENT FOUND NOT GUILTY OF DUI AT TRIAL

Result: Not Guilty
2011CT006002NC (Sarasota)

The Defendant was stopped for making a wide left turn and failing to maintain a single lane. The DUI deputy noticed an open container in the car and several indicators of impairment. At that time he asked the Defendant to perform Field Sobriety Tests. The Defendant refused to perform the tests and refused to give a breath test. After being arrested the Deputy found a receipt with 20 drinks purchased from a local bar in the Defendant’s pocket.Darren Finebloomand AnneMarie Rizzo were hired to represent him. AnneMarie and Darren explained the plan of attack, investigated the case, and set the case for trial. AnneMarie and Darren successfully argued to the Judge the reasons for not allowing the receipt in evidence. The Prosecutor still refused to offer AnneMarie and Darren’s client a deal. At the end of the trial the jury returned a verdict of NOT GUILTY for their client.

3rd time DUI and Battery on Law Enforcement Officer Dropped to Reckless Driving and Obstruction without Violence

Result: No Conviction
2011CF003700NC (SARASOTA)

The Defendant was investigated by law enforcement when they suspected he was in violation of his business purpose license for a pending DUI charge. When the officer began to speak with him he noticed the Defendant had an odor of alcohol, slurred speech and several other indicators of impairment. The Defendant admitted to drinking. The Deputy wanted to begin a DUI investigation of the Defendant of which the Defendant refused to cooperate and then began to resist being arrested. After a struggle and being tased by the Deputies the Defendant was taken into custody where he was charged with multiple felonies and another DUI. AnneMarie Rizzo was hired again by this client to defend his best interests. After a very intense and detailed investigation of the facts of the case, depositions and several meetings with the Prosecutor AnneMarie was able to expose the weaknesses of the case to the Prosecutor resulting in the DUI charges being reduced to a Reckless Driving and the felonies being dismissed.

DUI with BATTERY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DROPPED

Result: No Conviction
2011CF006214NC (Sarasota)

The Defendant was stopped for traffic infractions. When the Deputy made contact with the Defendant he observed him to have a odor of alcohol, poor balance, bloodshot watery eyes and slurred speech. At this time the Defendant was requested to perform field sobriety tests and began questioning the Deputy as to his reasons for requesting them. A struggle ensued between the Deputy and the Defendant. The Defendant was ultimately arrested and charged with DUI and Felony Battery on a Law Enforcement officer. The Defendant was nervous and scared and came to the Law Firm of Finebloom and Haenel for help. Here he met with AnneMarie Rizzo. The State Attorney’s did not want to give their client a deal as the Deputy claimed to have several injuries due to the Defendant’s actions. AnneMarie investigated the case and the Deputy thoroughly. After long fight AnneMarie convinced the Prosecutor to drop the charges of DUI and Battery on a law enforcement officer. Ultimately AnneMarie’s client resolve the case to obstruction of an investigation without violence and did not receive any conviction.

DUI REFUSAL Reduced to Reckless driving

Result: No Conviction
2011CT004773SC (SARASOTA)

The Defendant was stopped for speeding and almost causing an accident. When contacted by law enforcement they noticed he had bloodshot watery eyes, an odor of alcohol, and slurred speech. The Deputies also stated they noticed she was having trouble balancing. The Defendant willingly participated in the Field Sobriety Tests of which the Deputies said he did not do well. The Defendant was then arrested for DUI and refused to give a breath test. As soon as David Haeneland AnneMarie Rizzo were retained they zealously began to advocate for their client to get him the best possible result. AnneMarie and David set the case for trial challenging the State’s evidence. Ultimately the Prosecutor agreed to reduce the charge to Reckless Driving.

DUI REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING

Result: No Conviction
CTC105566XELASP (Pinellas)

The Defendant was investigated by law enforcement after he was seen throwing up out of the drivers side of his car, while it was running, in a parking garage after a Wine Festival. The Defendant was then requested to perform field sobriety tests of which he did not perform well. He was then arrested and provided a breath sample over the legal limit. After being arrested the Defendant contacted the Law Firm of Finebloom and Haenel. David Haenel and AnneMarie Rizzo requested all the evidence in the case and poked holes in the strengths of the State’s case. The State Attorney’s office initially refused to give their client a deal but after a detailed description of the weaknesses of the State’s case they ultimately amended the charge to a Reckless Driving.

DUI with BREATH TEST OVER .08 Reduced to Reckless Driving

Result: No Conviction
2010CT002609NC (SARASOTA)

The Defendant was stopped for multiple traffic infractions. When the Deputy made contact with him he noticed signs of impairment. The Deputy called for a member of the DUI task force to further investigate. The DUI deputy asked the Defendant to do field sobriety tests. He performed these tests. The Deputy arrested him for DUI stating he did not perform well on the tests. After he was arrested the Deputy asked him for a breath test and he provided two unlawful samples. AnneMarie Rizzo relentlessly fought for her client. After many negotiations with the Prosecutor AnneMarie got the charges reduced to a Reckless Driving with no formal conviction.

3rd Time DUI WITH REFUSAL of BREATH TEST REDUCED TO RECKLESS DRIVING

Result: No Conviction
2010CT014955NC (SARASOTA)

The Defendant was stopped for failure to maintain a single lane on the interstate. When stopped by the police he was questioned about where he was coming from and how much he had to drink. The law enforcement officers stated they smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from him and other signs of impairment. They asked him to perform field sobriety tests of which he performed. The Officer stated he did not do well on the tests and arrested him for DUI. Once at the jail the Defendant refused to submit to a breath test. After he was released from jail he immediately hired AnneMarie Rizzo. At this time AnneMarie took depositions and filed a motion to suppress the evidence in the case. At the motion hearing AnneMarie persuaded the prosecutor to reduce the charge to Reckless Driving.

DUI with BREATH TEST OVER LEGAL LIMIT DROPPED TO RECKLESS DRIVING

Result: No Conviction
2010CT015425NC (SARASOTA)

The Defendant was out at a local bar and was seen by law enforcement leaving the bar under the influence. The officer then saw the Defendant driving by and waiving at him. He then went to his patrol car to try to catch up to the Defendant’s vehicle. After he caught up to the vehicle and observed it swerving he stopped the car. At that time the person in the driver’s seat of the car was not the same person that had drove by and waived. The officer then called for a DUI traffic deputy to investigate. At this time he informed the Deputy he felt they switched seats. The Defendant then was asked to perform field sobriety tests and admitted to driving before the stop. She then was arrested and taken to jail where she gave a breath test over the limit. AnneMarie Rizzo was hired and began to investigate the case. After poking holes in the State’s case and arguing a motion to exclude evidence AnneMarie successfully had the charge reduced to a Reckless Driving.