As most people are aware New York State has legalized the use of recreational Marijuana. Despite the recent change in Marijuana laws, it is very important that people who decide to recreationally use Marijuana and do so in a manner that is safe and will keep them from getting arrested. One of the more common ways I have noticed Marijuana use still leading to an arrest is when a person uses Marijuana while driving or right before driving. If an officer pulls you over and develops probable cause that you are under the influence of Marijuana while driving, you could be charged with Driving While ..read more

This question might be of interest to people from all walks of life. In my experience as an attorney, I have noticed that college students are particularly interested in the answer to if an officer can search your car without a warrant. Here in the Hudson Valley, we have many great colleges and universities, including Marist, Vassar, The Culinary Institute of America, Dutchess Community College and Bard College. As such, just as college students tend to do, weekends are reserved for having a good time. Let’s try to avoid a weekend mistake from ruining a person’s future. Below is a short list o ..read more

As the old saying goes, accidents do happen. However, in some instances an accident could mean that you have a valid personal injury claim. Many people wonder if an accident they were involved in would allow them to bring a claim for compensation. In this instance let’s talk about car accident personal injury claims. In the Hudson Valley we have some of the most natural beauty in the entire United States. We also have certain roads and highways which unfortunately are where serious automobile accidents occur. Lake Taconic, Route 9 and State Route 87 have seen their fair share of serious and so ..read more

Across the United States, an individual cannot legally purchase or consume alcohol until they are 21 years of age. When an individual does consume a significant amount of alcohol and then drives with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or greater, they may be facing driving under the influence charges. If an individual who is under 21 and is charged with driving under the influence, they will face even greater penalties than a person who is of age. Underage individuals who have a blood alcohol content of 0.02 percent or higher can face DUI consequences. A first offense underage DUI ch ..read more

When an individual becomes injured due to the negligence of another party, they may want to know what their legal options are in New York State. Bringing a personal injury lawsuit against a liable party can allow the victim to recover significant damages if negligence can be proven. In a personal injury case, there are two types of potential damages that one may be able to recover. Economic Damages Economic damages consist of compensation for the financial burdens that the injured party has faced as a direct result of the accident. These can include anything from medical bills ..read more

When an individual steals property from another party, it is considered a larceny crime. Being convicted of larceny can have very serious effects on an individual. Penalties for committing larceny crimes in New York State are largely based on the value of the property that was stolen or the amount of money that was stolen. Larceny is broken into two major categories, petit larceny for items with values under $1000 and grand larceny for items valued at greater than $1000. The penalties are as follows: Petit larceny (property stolen with a value of $1000 or less) is a class A misdemeanor, punish ..read more

When an individual brings legal action because they claim that they were injured on the job or due to the negligence of another party, it is important to make sure that they are very careful about what they post on their social media profiles. In fact, there have been a number of cases over the years that were stopped because the party who claimed they were injured posted photos of them doing an activity that they would not be able to do if they were truly injured on their social media. Though many people believe that staying off social media is only applicable to personal injury cases, it is ..read more

Today, New York State’s Governor announced that local law enforcement agencies, as well as the New York State Police, will be enforcing the STOP-DWI campaign this weekend. Superbowl Sunday is notorious for high rates of alcohol consumption and therefore, police departments will be on the lookout for individuals who break the law by driving while intoxicated. There are several different aspects of the STOP-DWI campaign, some of which include: Enforcement of underage drinking An increase in the number of patrols Sobriety checkpoints placed on roads to find and arrest drunk drivers In addition, l ..read more