2018 – STATE V. J.H.

Our client was charged with a domestic violence assault in the fourth degree after his long-time partner and the mother of his children falsely accused him of shoving her. We were able to show the jury that she was in fact the aggressor and was using the criminal justice system to gain an advantage in child custody. The jury saw through her story and quickly returned a not guilty verdict.

2018 – STATE V. B.R.

Our client was charged with DUI after being pulled over for not using his turn signal on an empty road. Despite a solid performance on the roadside “tests”, the police took him to the breath machine where he blew over the limit. The prosecutor refused to reduce or dismiss the charges and so we took the case to trial. Under a blistering cross-examination the State’s own expert had to admit that the procedures that were used in the breath testing did not meet scientifically established standards and the jury hung. The prosecutor offered a reduced charge and our client walked away with no DUI on his record.

2018 – STATE V. MINOR CHILD

Our very young client was charged with five felonies, stripped from his parents, and taken to jail based on the bare allegations of his classmates. Through extensive discovery and investigation, we determined that a tight knit group of individuals and family members had banded together to make false claims. The State was ultimately forced to dismiss all of the charges in the face of our demand for a jury trial.

2018 – STATE V. MINOR CHILD

The State arrested our client on allegations that he had stolen a firearm and traded it for drugs. Our team worked the case mercilessly and prepared for trial without taking any continuances. The State was ultimately forced to abandon all of the charges and release our client.

2017 – STATE V. A.T.

As a young man our client was charged with serious felonies arising from allegations of drug trafficking in southeast Alaska. He left the jurisdiction and moved south where he improved his lot in life and went on to help others with their struggle and addictions – but the charges and warrants haunted him from Alaska. He contacted our office after being denied a passport due to the outstanding warrants. We were able to convince the prosecutor that dismissing the charges, and the warrants, in their entirety was the right thing to do. Our client continues to positively impact the community without the fear of arrest.

2017 – STATE V. R.N.

Our client had his license taken nearly 15 years ago following a felony DUI and he contacted us about using the provisions of SB-91, Alaska’s latest major criminal revision, to get it back. Unfortunately, R.N.’s conviction pre-dated the treatment programs covered under the statute and there was not a clear path toward regaining his license to drive. Through motion practice we were able to convince the prosecutor to not oppose our request and our client was able to drive again for the first time in 15 years.

STATE V. T.D. (2016)

T.D., a juvenile, was charged with multiple sexual assault charges carrying mandatory minimum penalties upwards of 20 years per charge. Mr. Cooley was able, through the use of an expert and pretrial management, to provide substantial mitigating evidence to the District Attorney. In the end, T.D.’s case was handled in juvenile court and he was placed on probation, avoiding a lengthy adult prison sentence and a lifetime of sex offender registration.

STATE V. HYATT (2014)

Hyatt was charged with assaulting his wife with a kitchen knife. Mr. Cooley vigorously prepared the case for trial and presented his defense through cross examination of the State witnesses. At the conclusion of the State’s evidence Mr. Cooley was able to convince the Judge that no reasonable juror could find Mr. Hyatt guilty and the Judge dismissed the case.

The State, upset at having the assault thrown out, then sought to charge Mr. Hyatt with a DUI from an accident nearly a year prior. Mr. Cooley prepared legal briefing and filed it with the Court, arguing that too much time had passed to pursue the DUI. The State was eventually forced to dismiss the DUI as well.

STATE V. HENSEL (2014)

Hensel was charged with Felony Driving Under the Influence after being contacted in the driver seat of a truck stuck in the snow near Kasilof: he faced a minimum sentence of 3 years. At a pretrial hearing, Mr. Cooley was able to elicit testimony from the officer that conflicted with his prior reports and helped to show that Mr. Hensel had not in fact been driving or in physical control of the truck. Mr. Cooley was able to use these newly uncovered facts to convince the District Attorney to drop the charges.

STATE V. WHITAKER (2012)

Whitaker was charged with two counts of Murder in the shooting death of two individuals outside of a Chili’s restaurant in Miami. Through the use of expert witnesses and tireless preparation, Mr. Cooley was able to present evidence at a pretrial hearing that Whitaker had acted in self-defense. The Trial Court refused to grant Whitaker immunity from prosecution, but the Court of Appeals was persuaded by the evidence Cooley put forth in the hearing and granted Whitaker immunity from prosecution.

2018 – IN THE MATTER OF O.O.

Our client was not identified as a father when the State removed a child. Once he was identified the State drug their feet and tried to place barriers in the way of getting this child home to her dad. By ensuring he was recognized as the father and taking an aggressive litigation position, we were able to get the child home where she belonged.

2017 – STATE V. S.F, J.F, & J.L.

Our clients were accused of violating river permitting requirements. Despite simultaneous municipal action, the State also sought to prosecute criminally. By engaging in discovery and investigation, developing a strong defense and closely tracking the municipal action, the State was ultimately compelled to dismiss all of the criminal charges filed against each of our clients.

2017 – IN THE MATTER OF Z.I.

Our client’s ability to parent had been impeded by the appointment of a guardian for her children that our client did not agree with. When we got involved, we were able to demonstrate to the court that the continued order would violate our client’s constitutional rights and convince the court to undo its guardianship.

2017 – IN THE MATTER OF Z.R.

Our client’s ability to parent had been impeded by the appointment of a guardian for her children that our client did not agree with. When we got involved, we were able to demonstrate to the court that the continued order would violate her constitutional rights and convince the court to undo its guardianship.

STATE V. SOSA-PALMA

Mr. Sosa-Palma was accused of murdering his brother. If convicted, he would have spent the rest of his life in prison. By challenging and attacking the forensic, medical, and crime scene evidence, Katie was able to successfully convince the judge that, despite the State’s theory of the case, Mr. Sosa-Palma was acting in self-defense. When the Judge granted Mr. Sosa-Palma’s request for immunity under Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law, Mr. Sosa-Palma’s murder charge was dismissed and he was released from jail.

STATE V. RANDALL

Successfully challenged a CSSD administrative child support order leading to the reversal of tens of thousands of accrued child support arrearages, invalidating an administrative driver’s license suspension for non-payment of support and securing a dismissal of criminal charges for driving while his license was suspended.

MERRILL V. MERRILL

Prevailed on a theory of equitable rescission at trial resulting in the client keeping sole possession of all of the property acquired during the marriage without having to divide anything with his former spouse.

STATE V. WASHINGTON, ET AL

Challenged the constitutionality of Florida’s controlled substance laws and obtained a court order on behalf of over 30 defendants finding the statutory scheme unconstitutional and dismissing their cases. Although a stay was entered and the trial court reversed on appeal, the cases were able to resolve with negotiated resolutions that avoided felony convictions and lengthy prisons sentences for the defendants.