In this section of the website, I answer many common, and not so common questions that clients have asked me over the years. There are three ways to find the answers to your question or questions. One, type your question in the search box that is found down and to the right - then click … [Read more...] about How This Section Of The Website Works
Q & A
Can You Get a DUI on a Boat in Florida? BUI Laws Explained
If you spent a Saturday on Choctawhatchee Bay or out near Destin Harbor and ended up stopped by an officer, you may be wondering whether you can really get a DUI on a boat. The short answer is yes, but Florida does not call it a DUI. On the water, it is called BUI, which stands for boating under the … [Read more...] about Can You Get a DUI on a Boat in Florida? BUI Laws Explained
Statement Released on Behalf of Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky’s Legal Defense Team
Click here to download T.S. Lupella's attorney statement as a PDF. On behalf of Dr. Shaknovsky and the Shaknovsky family, his legal defense team would submit the following statement to news media and the public regarding his current criminal charges as we vigorously challenge the false and … [Read more...] about Statement Released on Behalf of Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky’s Legal Defense Team
Arrested on Vacation in Destin or Fort Walton Beach? Here’s What to Do
A trip to the Emerald Coast is supposed to be the highlight of your year. So when a night out ends with handcuffs instead of a sunset walk on the beach, the fear sets in fast. I have practiced criminal defense law in this area for more than 20 years, and I can tell you that an arrest while you are … [Read more...] about Arrested on Vacation in Destin or Fort Walton Beach? Here’s What to Do
Florida Hit and Run Penalties: Leaving the Scene of an Accident
I have spent more than twenty years in the courtrooms of Okaloosa, Walton, and Santa Rosa Counties, and one of the most common things I hear from people is this: “I panicked, and I drove away.” If that sounds like you, take a breath. You are not the first good person to make a split-second decision … [Read more...] about Florida Hit and Run Penalties: Leaving the Scene of an Accident
What Is Solicitation of Prostitution in Florida? Charges and Consequences
I have practiced criminal defense on the Emerald Coast for more than 20 years, and I can tell you that very few arrests carry the same mix of fear and embarrassment as a solicitation charge. Most of the people who call my office after one of these arrests are not career criminals. They are husbands, … [Read more...] about What Is Solicitation of Prostitution in Florida? Charges and Consequences
Refusing a Breathalyzer in Florida: What It Costs You and Whether It Was the Right Call
A traffic stop on Highway 98, the Mid-Bay Bridge, or anywhere along the Emerald Coast can change quickly. One moment, a driver is heading home from dinner in Destin. Next, an officer is asking for a breath sample. The decision that follows used to be straightforward for many people. Refuse the test, … [Read more...] about Refusing a Breathalyzer in Florida: What It Costs You and Whether It Was the Right Call