Com. v. J.R. (Careless Driving)

Com v..J.R. (CARELESS DRIVING)

Attorney Paletta represented Client who was charged with Careless Driving.  Before contacting Attorney Paletta, Client plead Guilty to this traffic offense, but was not aware that he would lose his license if he did so.  Client received notification of suspension from PennDot & immediately contacted Attroney Paletta.  A license suspension for Client meant that he would also lose his job.

 Since Client had already plead Guilty, and the 30 day appeal period was up, Attorney Paletta filed a Nunc Pro Tunc Petition with the Court requesting permission to file an untimely appeal of Client’s Guilty Plea.  Attorney Paletta’s Petition was Granted and an Appeal of Client’s Guilty Plea was immediately filed.  A Summary Conviction Appeal, Hearing was schedued before Judge Gallo of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.

CASE DISPOSITION :  

Attorney Paletta negotiated a plea bargain with the State Trooper to a lesser charge of Violation of Vehicle Equipment Standards and the original Careless Driving charge Dismissed.  This meant no Driver’s License Suspension for Client. & no loss of job!!

Commonwealth v. M.S. (Driving without License)

9/19/12

Commonwealth v. M.S. (Summary Conviction Appeal)

Charge/Violation:

                        75 §1501 §§A – Driving w/o License  - Summary

Disposition:

Attorney Paletta filed a Conviction Appeal for the above charge.  If found guilty, Defendant could face the possibility of incurring a 6 month suspension of their drivers license.  In order to avoid a license suspension, a plea bargain was made in exchange for pleading to 75§1511, the original charge would be Withdrawn.

Commonwealth v. E.I. (Exceeding Speed - Summary Trial)

7/30/12

Commonwealth v. E.I. (Summary Trial)

Charge/Violation:  75 §3362 §§A2-22 Exceeding Speed Limit by 22 MPH

Case Summary:  Defendant (who was employed out of state) was stopped for exceeding the speed limit by 22 miles per hour, If convicted, Defendant would incur  4 points to their Driver's License.   Defendant contacted Attorney Paletta to resolve the hearing without having to attend. 

Disposition:  Attorney Paletta arranged a plea bargain (without Defendant having to appear) to a lesser charge, 75 §3111 §§A which carried a lesser fine and no points.

Commonwealth v. D.D. (Speeding-School Zone)

5/8/12

Commonwealth v. D.D. (Summary Trial)

Charge/Violation:  75 §3365 §§B - SPEEDING IN SCHOOL ZONE

Disposition:  

Defendant accepted a Plea Bargain to violating § 3111 - Obedience to traffic-control devices, which carried no points.  In exchange, the violation at §3365§§B was Withdrawn.            

Commonwealth v. D.H. (Traffic Violation)

4/17/12

Commonwealth v. D.H. (Summary Trial)

Charge/Violation:  75 §3331 §§A - IMPROPER RIGHT TURN

Disposition:  

                        ALL CHARGES AGAINST DEFENDANT WERE WITHDRAWN

Commonwealth v. K.M. (Speeding)

4/9/12

Commonwealth v. K.M. (Summary Trial)

Charge/Violation:  75 §3362 §§A3-31 Exceeding Speed Limit by 31 MPH

Case Summary:  Defendant was stopped for exceeding the speed limit by 31 miles per hour, which if convicted, would carry 5 points to their Driver's License in addition to a Departmental Hearing and Sanctions provided under Section 1538(d). 

Disposition:  Defendant entered a Guilty Plea to a lesser charge, 75 §3362 §§A3-5 Exceeding speed limit by 5 MPH, which carried a lesser fine and no points.