AWARDS: $2,350,000 award to automobile accident wrongful death plaintiffs • jury acquittal – double criminal homicide • $1,000,000 award to motorcycle accident wrongful death plaintiffs • jury acquittal – criminal homicide • $465,000 award to medical malpractice plaintiff • jury acquittal – criminal homicide, recklessly endangering another person, neglect of a care dependent person • $325,000 federal jury verdict, UIM and insurance bad faith award to automobile accident plaintiffs • jury acquittal – attempted criminal homicide • $300,000 award to medical malpractice plaintiff • jury acquittal- attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon • $300,000 award to automobile accident/ products liability plaintiffs • jury acquittal – homicide by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle DUI, aggravate assault by vehicle • $115,000 award to truck accident plaintiff • jury acquittal – murder, rape • $100,000 non-jury trial verdict to facial laceration plaintiff • jury acquittal – 1st degree Murder (capital case) • $90,000 award to premises liability/slip-and-fall plaintiff • jury acquittal – DUI, terroristic threats, carrying firearms without a license • $440,000 award to civil rights violation plaintiff • jury acquittal – theft, receiving stolen property • $135,000 award to civil rights violation plaintiff • jury acquittal – possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (PWI) • $636,000 jury verdict in plaintiffs’ medical malpractice case • jury acquittal – indecent assault, indecent exposure • $550,000 award in plaintiffs’ personal injury case • juvenile case acquittal- solicitation to commit aggravated assault, aggravated assault of unborn child • $250,000 award to mass transit accident plaintiff • jury acquittal – theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy • $130,000 award to premises liability/slip-and-fall plaintiffs • court-appointed appellate counsel – Supreme Court of Pennsylvania reversal of rape conviction • $465,000 award to automobile accident plaintiff • jury acquittal – aggravated assault • $125,000 award to automobile accident plaintiff • jury acquittal – DUI • non-jury acquittal – dismissal of armed robbery charges • $170,000 award to automobile accident plaintiffs • successful jury verdict in defense of attorney charged with legal malpractice in professional liability case • $140,000 award to injured bicyclist plaintiff • non-jury acquittal – dismissal of 2 counts of criminal homicide • $180,000 award to employment discrimination plaintiff • jury acquittal – indecent exposure • non-jury custody trial – award of primary physical and legal custody of minor to paternal grandparents over natural mother • juvenile decertification petition granted to criminal homicide charges – release at age 21 • non-jury custody trial – award of primary physical and legal custody of minor to father • jury acquittal – DUI • $90,000 award to automobile accident plaintiffs • non-jury custody trial – award of primary physical and legal custody of minor to mother • $50,000 jury verdict for plaintiff- passenger in automobile accident case • non-jury custody trial – award of primary physical and legal custody of minor to father • hung jury – Arson trial (no criminal punishment imposed) • $265,000 award to premises liability plaintiff • jury acquittal – delivery of a controlled substance • $125,000 award to premises liability plaintiff • jury acquittal – DUI • $190,000 award to products liability plaintiff • $150,000 award to premises liability/construction accident plaintiff • $750,000 award to prison medical malpractice and civil rights violation plaintiff • $90,000 award to automobile accident plaintiffs • $108,500 award to automobile accident plaintiff • $80,000 award to automobile accident plaintiff • $150,000 award to truck accident plaintiffs.
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02 February
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Searches and Seizures: How Far Can Police Go During A Routine Traffic Stop?

Posted by DAY Vision
in Uncategorized

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures by law enforcement, but the right to go about your daily activities without interference from police is not without its limits. One common situation in which where your rights under the Constitution and the ability of the police to carry out their duty to enforce the laws come into focus is during routine traffic stops.
Common situations in which police stop vehicles

Police must have probable cause to believe a crime has been committed in order to stop you or search your vehicle. Seeing you commit a traffic law violation is a common cause for a traffic stop. Checkpoints are an exception to the rule requiring probable cause to stop a vehicle because they are authorized under Pennsylvania Law.
Grounds for searching a stopped vehicle

Anything a police officer observes from outside your vehicle using only his or her five senses can be seized and could give probable cause for searching the vehicle. For example, a gun left in plain view on the back seat or the smell of marijuana as you roll down your window can be enough to justify a further search. A police dog trained to detect the scent of drugs or explosives could be the basis for probable cause for a search and search if the animal picks up a scent from outside a vehicle.

A mistake made by many people is giving consent to a vehicle search. The Fourth Amendment requirement of probable cause does not apply when you give police permission to search, so anything they seize may be used as evidence to prosecute you for committing a crime.

Consult an attorney

Decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court and Pennsylvania courts are constantly expanding and restricting the rules under which police may conduct searches and seizures of vehicles they stop. You should waste no time contacting an experienced Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer if you are charged with a crime based upon a search and seizure.