Possession and other drug-related offenses
From drug possession to manufacturing, distribution and other offenses, the consequences of drug crime charges can have a permanent effect on your future. At Sheppard, White, Kachergus & DeMaggio, our Jacksonville law firm knows how difficult these allegations can...
DUIs involving women
The number of drunk drivers on the roads in Florida may be decreasing each day. But the number of intoxicated female motorists is increasing. There are two million more female drivers on the roads than there are men, states Time.com. Traditionally, men were more...
CSI-style forensic labs at a retail location near you
While the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation television franchise ended first-run episodes and only exists in syndication, new CSI-style "adventures" continue at high-profile locations. Law enforcement does not have a corner on the market in digital-forensics...
Knowledge That Victim Is a Law Enforcement Officer Now Required to Convict for Attempted Murder of Law Enforcement Officer
Florida law imposes harsher penalties on defendants who knowingly commit crimes of violence against law enforcement officers. For instance, a defendant found guilty of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer is subject to a mandatory life sentence....
Can I refuse to take a breathalyzer?
You know the potential consequences of drinking and driving in Florida. However, that does not stop you from wondering if you have the right to refuse a breathalyzer. You may not have consumed enough alcohol to qualify as drunk. But there is an officer knocking on...
Nation’s Courts Divide on Whether Title VII Protects LGBT Workers
We previously posted about a decision from the Northern District of Florida-Lafayette v. Winstead County-holding that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protected employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Our own Elizabeth White's article on...
Black Box Recorders and the Fourth Amendment
Approximately 96% of all vehicles manufactured since 2013 are equipped with devices called event data recorders-or "black boxes"-that keep track of data such as when the driver brakes, steering, engine rpm during a crash. More sophisticated black boxes record a wealth...
Disabled Students Have the Right to Make Meaningful Educational Progress
In 1973, Congress enacted legislation which would later become the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The act gives students with certain disabilities the right to a "free appropriate public education." Each student under IDEA is given an...
Handling false drug offense allegations
If you are currently facing drug charges, you may be unsure of how your future will be affected. Unfortunately, you may have been accused of a drug-related offense that you did not commit and you could have no idea of what to do next. At Sheppard, White, Kachergus,...