Columbus Legal Issues Blog

When Ohio police want to establish probable cause to arrest you

On behalf of Soroka & Associates, LLC on Friday, May 24, 2019.

You may be among many licensed drivers in Ohio who have paid fines for traffic tickets at some point in their lives. When a police officer pulls you over, it's understandable to feel nervous. Many times, things turn out a lot better than you expected, perhaps with the officer in question issuing a warning to slow down and then allowing you to leave.

Other times, a patrol officer might not only pull you over, he or she may ask you to exit your vehicle. If that happens, it's typically because the officer thinks you have committed a crime, such as driving under the influence of alcohol. After you exit your vehicle, the officer might ask you to take a field sobriety test. The more you know about such tests ahead of time, the better able you'll be to protect your rights, especially if you face arrest.

Know the basics of Ohio's OVI laws before you drive

On behalf of Soroka & Associates, LLC on Friday, February 22, 2019.

Most people know that the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration here in Ohio is .08, but that isn't the end of the story. There is much more to the state's laws regarding operating a vehicle while impaired, or OVI.

The more you know about the law, the better off you may be as you enjoy time with friends, family or co-workers and consider whether you can safely, and legally, drive home afterward.

Family law: Interpreting children's best interests

On behalf of Soroka & Associates, LLC on Tuesday, November 27, 2018.

Perhaps, you and your spouse have determined that your marriage is no longer sustainable. You can count yourselves among hundreds of other Ohio couples who are currently having similar thoughts about their own relationships. Divorce is definitely not easy and, when children are involved, can be quite stressful. In all matters of custody, visitation and support, the court has your children's best interests in mind.

Problems can arise, however, if you and your spouse disagree about what is best for your kids. Whether you are writing the terms of your own co-parenting plan or you have determined a need to litigate the situation, the court must either approve your plan or make decisions on your behalf, as needed. To better understand the court's thought process when making such decisions, it helps to seek clarification about how judges typically interpret children's best interests.

Drinking alcohol: Harmless activity or causing problems for you?

On behalf of Soroka & Associates, LLC on Thursday, August 30, 2018.

If you were to survey Ohio residents, especially those currently attending state colleges, to ask why they do or do not drink alcohol, you may find that many people answer your questions in similar ways. For instance, some people might tell you that their faith beliefs prohibit them from imbibing. Others might say they simply think it is fun to get together with friends and toss back a few cold ones.

There are numerous reasons that people (perhaps yourself included) choose to drink alcohol or not. If you are prone to addiction and alcohol is causing a substance abuse problem in your life, you might be among those who are looking for support resources to help them overcome their struggles. Alcohol-related incidents also often lead to criminal charges, especially if you drive after drinking, then get into an accident.

Do you know how to protect your Miranda Rights?

On behalf of Soroka & Associates, LLC on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Have you always been the type of person who gets nervous if you see a police officer? Even if you know you have done nothing wrong, your heart rate may increase a few beats per minute when you see a law enforcement officer in uniform. Many other people in Ohio also have this kind of anxiety. It can make for an extremely stressful experience if a police officer pulls you over or knocks on your front door at home.

If a cop starts asking you questions or requests that you allow a search of your home, person, vehicle or private property, it's best to try to remain calm and cooperate as much as possible. However, you never have to do or say anything that violates your personal rights. The officer, too, must act in accordance with your rights at all times. This is why it's critical that you understand Miranda regulations as well as how they apply to your situation.

Embezzlement isn't just about money or the amount of it

On behalf of Soroka & Associates, LLC posted in blog on Thursday, March 8, 2018.

If you are like most people, when you hear the word "embezzlement," you picture someone in the corporate world who steals hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars from an employer or clients. While this is one example of this particular crime, it is not the only one.

Anyone entrusted with the care of money or property who others accuse of secretly taking it for personal gain could face a charge of embezzlement. This white-collar crime most often occurs in employment settings in addition to the corporate world. A range of activities encompass this crime such as falsifying records to cover theft or changing accounting records to hide the theft.

Isn't the RICO Act just for mobsters?

On behalf of Soroka & Associates, LLC posted in blog on Thursday, December 7, 2017.

You may be like many other Ohio residents in that when you hear about the "RICO Act," you envision mobsters and their organized crime syndicates. It is true that the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (passed by Congress in 1978) began as a way to get to higher ranking officials in mob organizations who weren't actually "on the ground" committing the crimes.

Historically, state and federal agencies used the RICO Act to deal with obviously illegal activities such as trafficking of drugs, weapons and people, along with counterfeiting and prostitution. Later, when these types of activities no longer provided the same anonymity and profits, the mob moved into more traditionally white-collar criminal activities, and state and federal law enforcement officials used the RICO Act to prosecute for these crimes as well.

Ohio law enforcement not happy with low OVI ranking

On behalf of Soroka & Associates, LLC posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, September 7, 2017.

A recent report published on the WalletHub.com website ranked the 50 states according to their overall strictness of impaired driving laws. The rankings took into consideration minimum sentences, mandatory jail time, fines and ignition interlock requirements, as well as the number of offenses allowed before the incident becomes a felony charge and numerous other factors.

Ohio ranked third most lenient. To some, it may sound as if operating a vehicle under the influence in this state is not too serious when compared to other states. However, here in Ohio, the consequences of an OVI conviction may still wreak havoc in your life. If you are facing an OVI or DUI charge in Ohio, it really doesn't matter how other states handle the same offense.

Drug trafficking: Get the facts and get representation

On behalf of Soroka & Associates, LLC posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, June 9, 2017.

Right here in middle America, illegal drug use is a major issue. As this is the case, those thought to be bringing drugs into Ohio may face serious criminal consequences if authorities ultimately charge and convict them. Drug trafficking is not just a state offense; it is a federal offense, so the potential penalties associated with this type of crime can be life-changing.

If you or a loved one is facing drug trafficking charges, you probably have many questions like: What are the potential penalties? What can I do to fight drug trafficking charges?

Under the microscope for medical fraud

On behalf of Soroka & Associates, LLC posted in Criminal Defense on Monday, March 13, 2017.

You may still be reeling after receiving the notice that you were under scrutiny for crimes of fraud in your medical office. Whether you are a physician or a billing administrator, investigators will likely examine every aspect of your job to find the point at which fraud is likely to have occurred.