Monthly Archives: March 2020
Runaway Car Crash Kills One, Injures One
Observers believe that speed might have been a factor in a deadly vehicle wreck on U.S. Highway 301. The wreck occurred near Ashbrook Drive in Pasco County. According to Florida Highway Patrol troopers, 28-year-old Donathan Buck was northbound when he lost control of his vehicle and crossed the center line. He then crashed into… Read More »
They Say I Failed the DUI Field Sobriety Tests. Am I Automatically Guilty?
Absolutely not. At best, FSTs are only circumstantial evidence of intoxication. And, circumstantial evidence is subject to interpretation, which is why police officers always say the defendant “failed” the tests. But jurors often interpret the results differently, and their opinion is the only one that counts. Finally, not all field sobriety tests are created… Read More »
Coronavirus Update: Matassini Law Firm
To Our Clients: We have been watching the COVID-19 pandemic carefully, and we want to keep you updated on the current operating procedures in our office. We appreciate that this is a stressful time for you and your family. It is for us and our employees as well. The global effort to slow the… Read More »
CRIMINAL LAW APPEALS 101
When a jury decides to find a defendant guilty after a trial it is the trial court that decides what sentence should be imposed and not the jury (with the exception of death penalty cases). Immediately after sentencing the trial court is required to advise the now-sentenced-defendant that he or she has the right… Read More »
Seriously-Impaired Motorist Kills Pedestrian
The suspected driver in a fatal Tampa crash had a BAC level more than three times the legal limit. He also admitted to taking drugs shortly before the wreck. 31-year-old Douglas Ehas was driving a Pinch-a-Penny pool supply truck when he swerved off Bayshore Boulevard near the Julia Street intersection and struck a local… Read More »
Fatal U-Turn Crash in Lutz
Few details were available about a fatal wreck which occurred near the intersection of U.S. Highway 41 and Sunset Lane. According to police and witnesses, 46-year-old Debra Beltramea, who was southbound on 41, attempted to make a U-turn onto the northbound side. In so doing, she collided with another northbound motorist, whose name was… Read More »
Types of Passenger Injuries on Cruise Ships
Each year, about thirty million passengers and crew members travel on large cruise ships. Generally, these vessels are more like floating cities than oceangoing ships. So, the potential for injury is high. Additionally, since these injuries occur so far from hospitals, a rather mild injury can be a very serious situation. The same general… Read More »