Posted on February 23,2022 in Real Estate Law

Whether you are starting a new business or expanding an existing business, you may need to enter into a commercial lease if you do not own the property where your business is located. Unlike residential leases, commercial leases are often lengthy and detailed. They also tend to have provisions which are usually more beneficial to the landlord and not the commercial tenant. This is why it is important to have a Stamford real estate attorney look over any commercial lease you are considering renting before you sign anything.

Right to Certain Protective Terms

Many of the basic protections that Connecticut law provides to residential tenants do not carry over to commercial tenants. Where some terms are common to residential leases, commercial leases may not contain them at all. For instance, the lease should provide that the tenant has exclusive use of the property, free from any interference by the landlord. Likewise, if the commercial property becomes unfit for the purpose for which the tenant leased it, they may no longer be subject to the remainder of the lease terms.

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 Posted on February 15,2022 in Criminal Defense

When facing any type of criminal charges, your immediate concern is likely to be avoiding arrest or potential jail time and minimizing the amount in court costs and fines you may have to pay. While these are vital issues in any criminal defense, it is also important to consider the future impact your charges and conviction could have on other areas of your life. A criminal conviction could pose issues in seeking employment in certain areas of profession, qualifying for student loans, and even obtaining housing. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to have an experienced Connecticut criminal defense attorney advocating for you.

Potential Impacts of a Criminal Conviction

Some people believe that only serious criminal convictions (such as rape, murder, or other violent crimes) have a detrimental effect on a person’s future. The truth is, however, that even misdemeanor charges can impact your personal and your professional life. For example, if you are convicted of DUI and have your license suspended, you may not be able to get back and forth to work and that could have a very real impact on your employment.

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 Posted on February 07,2022 in White Collar Crimes

It is that time of year again, where people will begin the sometimes-arduous process of gathering up all of their financial records from 2021 in order to file their taxes by the dreaded April 15th deadline. While some taxpayers are lucky enough to file their taxes and get a refund, many others are not as fortunate and end up owing Uncle Sam money. While it may be tempting to try to skirt around the tax laws in order to minimize what you owe – or increase the size of your refund – doing so could leave you one day finding a notice in your mailbox from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

That notice could mean an audit or investigation has been opened in your case, or they may simply be requesting some further information. Whatever the reason for the notice, the prospect of tax fraud charges is a frightening one, with the potential for serious criminal penalties as well as fines and seizures or liens on property. If you have been notified of an investigation being conducted by the IRS, you should contact a Stamford, CT defense attorney immediately.  

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 Posted on January 28,2022 in Driving Under the Influence

In the state of Connecticut, a driver is considered legally drunk if they are operating their vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. If the driver is operating under a commercial driver’s license at the time of the arrest, the BAC level is 0.04 percent. If the driver is under the age of 21, the BAC level is 0.02 percent.

Under the state’s driving under the influence laws, even a first-time offender will lose their driving privileges. Subsequent offenders face longer periods of revocation and may even be sentenced to jail.

However, it is important to understand that a DUI conviction has even further-reaching effects and can have a significant impact on the person’s personal and professional life. The following are just some of the ways a conviction can wreak havoc on your future.

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 Posted on January 21,2022 in Real Estate Law

It is no secret that the real estate market exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued that momentum. If there are any doubts about the condition of the market, all one has to do is take a look at the number of mortgages that have been taken out. According to national data, the year 2021 was a record year, with more than $1.6 trillion granted in mortgages, the majority of those mortgages to first-time home buyers. This number surpasses the last record set, in 2005 of $1.15 trillion, and surpasses the second-highest record set just in 2020, where lenders gave out $1.5 trillion in mortgages.

Housing Boom

Although the prices of homes increased by more than 19 percent during 2021, there are a number of reasons cited by economic analysts for the phenomenal increases in the housing market. The labor market is still going strong, including increases in pay – which grew more than 4.5 percent nationwide. The market is also being driven by low interest rates, leading many first-time home buyers to sign on all those dotted lines required during a property closing. It is estimated that almost 70 percent of people purchasing new homes in 2021 were buying their first homes.

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 Posted on January 14,2022 in Criminal Defense

In December of 2018, former President Trump signed into law The First Step Act. The Act had two goals to meet: improving the conditions for prisoners incarcerated in federal prisons and cutting unnecessarily long federal sentences. This week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a new rule it is implementing that will begin the release process for thousands of federal prisoners currently sitting in prison.

The First Step Act

Under the First Step Act, federal inmates were granted the chance to earn up to 15 days of time credits for every 30 days of completed participation in prison programs that were developed to reduce recidivism rates. Qualified programs include those that address educational work, drug treatment, anger management, and social skills.

The new rule is more specific in how many credits are actually earned. Inmates can earn 10 days of time credit for every 30 days they participate in programs, however, if an inmate is able to stay in a “lower-risk category,” they will earn an additional time credit of five days for each of those 30 days.

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 Posted on January 11,2022 in Criminal Defense

Being charged with any kind of theft crime in Connecticut is serious, but when the charge is robbery, the penalties, if convicted, can be harsh. Robbery is defined as taking an item from an individual with the use of force or threat of force. If you have been charged with robbery, you need an experienced criminal law attorney defending you.

Robbery Charges

Robbery is considered a violent crime, which is why the penalties can be so severe. Grabbing property from a victim, threatening them with harm, hitting, kicking, or using any kind of physical force to take an item, or making the victim believe they are at risk of serious injury are all acts that will likely result in a charge of robbery.

Under Connecticut law, the crime of robbery is charged as a felony and the potential penalties depend on which degree of felony the conviction is for:

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 Posted on December 28,2021 in Drug Charges

 UPDATE: It has been a decade since Connecticut decriminalized marijuana, but in 2021, lawmakers voted to make additional changes to the law. Some of those changes have already taken place, while others will be taking place in 2022 or later.

In July, the law was changed so that adults who are 21 years of age or older are now able to possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis on their person or up to five ounces in a locked container in their home or a locked glove compartment or trunk in their vehicle.

As of October, any adults 18 years or older who have been issued medical marijuana cards are allowed to grow up to six marijuana plants inside their residence. Beginning in July 2023, any adult who is 21 years or older will be allowed to grow up to six plants indoors.

Another change to the law takes effect on July 1, 2022. Individuals with prior marijuana possession arrests can petition the court to have those records erased. According to the law, if a person was charged with possession of four ounces of less before January 1, 2000, or charged between October 1, 2015, through June 30, 2021, they can petition the court to have those charges arrested from their records.

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 Posted on December 24,2021 in Real Estate Law

The new year usually means new laws for Connecticut citizens. Many of the bills that are enacted into laws during the prior year usually go into effect on January 1st of the new year. The year 2022 is no different. One of the new laws taking effect next week addresses the legality of accessory apartments in the state.

What Are Accessory Apartments?

The real estate market has been booming in the United States for the past few years. Sellers definitely have the upper hand, setting high prices for their properties that often result in bidding wars between buyers and “under contract” signs within days of the property being put on the market.

This housing boom has also had a significant impact for renters, as well. Not only have the prices of rental units skyrocketed, but many landlords have also decided to take advantage of the current market, selling their rental properties and leaving renters with few options for finding affordable housing.

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 Posted on December 20,2021 in Driving Under the Influence

The month of December brings with it many gatherings and parties. For a lot of people, this also means alcohol may be enjoyed. Unfortunately, it also means that some people may find themselves facing a drunk driving charge as we ring in the New Year. If you find yourself facing DUI charges in Connecticut, there may be some viable defense options that a skilled criminal defense attorney can use to defend you.

Chemical Tests

When a driver is stopped on suspicion of driving under the influence, there is a strong possibility that the officer who has pulled the driver over will insist on some kind of chemical testing. In many cases, the officer will conduct a breath test at the scene, however, there are also scenarios where law enforcement will obtain a warrant for a blood test.

Both tests will show what the driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) is. In Connecticut, a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher means that the driver is legally driving under the influence and will be arrested. However, it is critical for a person who has been charged with a DUI to understand that there are circumstances where their attorney may be able to challenge the validity of those test results in court.

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