CRIMINAL DEFENSE SPECIALISTS

Our practice group has FOUR Criminal Defense Specialists who are certified as specialists in criminal defense by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Specialization is a meaningful differentiator among attorneys.

What is a Certified Criminal Defense Specialist ?  Read: CALIFORNIA RULE of COURT 9.35

Daniel Horowitz – Certified Criminal Defense Specialist

Daniel Russo – Certified Criminal Defense Specialist

Carmela Caramagno – Certified Criminal Defense

Douglass MacMaster – Certified Criminal Defense Specialist

NOW USING ZOOM ! (Thank you Eric Yuan) for Client Meetings

DOCTORS – COVID 19 Rx WARNING

Statement Regarding Improper Prescribing of Medications Related to Treatment for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is aware of recent news and social media reports of prescribers wrongfully hoarding and prescribing for themselves and family members certain medications referenced in the media relating to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Several states have recently issued emergency restrictions on how the drugs can be dispensed. Many require that medications be prescribed and dispensed only to patients with a legitimate and current medical condition. Further, the FDA recently issued an Emergency Use Authorization to allow for the use of hydroxychloroquine sulfate and chloroquine phosphate products donated by the Strategic National Stockpile for certain hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

DCA, the Medical Board of California, and the California State Board of Pharmacy remind health care professionals that inappropriately prescribing or dispensing medications constitutes unprofessional conduct in California. Prescribers and pharmacists are obligated to follow the law, standard of care, and professional codes of ethics in serving their patients and public health.

WHAT IS A CRIMINAL DEFENSE SPECIALIST ?

Aren’t all criminal defense lawyers “specialists” ?  After all, didn’t the criminal defense lawyer start as a regular lawyer and then specialize in criminal defense ?  The answer is “Yes”, a focus on criminal law often reflects a dedication to and knowledge in that area.  But a criminal defense specialist goes one, very significant step further.

Your Primary Care medical doctor refers you to a Board Certified specialist, when you have a specific type of injury that goes beyond her/his expertise.  This does not mean that your Primary Care doctor is ignorant in that area.

If you are charged with a crime you have to decide whether you want a generalist, a lawyer with a focus on criminal law or someone who is actually “Board Certified”.  (Keep reading to understand what “Board Certified” means).

Within the world of criminal defense lawyers there is a group that like doctors is “Board Certified”.  Our board, as lawyers, is the State Bar of California operated Board of Legal Specialization.  The title of Criminal Defense Specialist is controlled by the State Bar and it is a title that cannot be used by any attorney who has not met the strict standards of qualification set by the State Bar.

We have four attorneys in our group of associated lawyers who are certified as specialists by the State Bar of California.

The Specialist designation is earned by years of experience.  Once you apply there is rigorous peer review, reviews from the judiciary and a very detailed written examination.  Daniel Horowitz and Tom Kensok have both taught training courses for potential criminal defense specialists and prior to joining Lawyers in Lafayette, Tom Kensok was a senior District Attorney in Contra Costa County responsible for hiring and training new prosecutors.

Daniel Horowitz is a criminal defense specialist, a “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” and a member of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel – Nation’s Top One Percent.

Our offices are in Contra Costa County and in Vallejo but our cases take us around the world.   Our attorneys have appeared in courts in Israel, Cyprus, The Netherlands and throughout the United States.

We represent attorneys charged with criminal fraud, chiropractors fighting billing fraud and scope of practice allegations and many medical doctors.

The recent legalization of marijuana on a state level and the federal hemp growing laws, have led to many criminal cases being filed in the federal courts.  We represent hemp growers, CBD processors and marijuana distributors against federal charges.  Our trial team defends gang cases, general criminal cases, homicides, vehicular manslaughter, federal drug crimes, DUI’s,  conspiracy and most other serious state and federal felonies.