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Case Results

Making the Right Call

September 2014

Last week, we had a hearing on our Motion to Suppress.  The evidence went in pretty well, with two officers testifying that the only thing they knew about the car before they stopped it was that it had a flat tire.  Our argument was that a flat tire is not a basis for a traffic stop.  The judge didn't rule immediately on our motion.

Following the hearing, Tom discussed possible pleas with the State.  As Tom says, "Uncertainty is the lubricant of the legal system."  The prosecutor agreed, and on the day of trial, reduced the charge to Reckless Driving, with adjudication withheld.

After the plea was entered, we asked the judge whether we would have won our motion if we had continued the fight.  The judge smiled and told Tom, "You made the right call."

In other words, we would have lost our motion, and so taking the negotiated plea saved our client a DUI conviction.

Practice area(s): DUI / DWI

Court: Sarasota County

Tom Hudson

Known nationwide as a leading DUI defense lawyer, Tom has tried over 350 jury trials, including numerous death penalty cases. He now limits his criminal practice to DUI defense. His civil practice is devoted to getting fair compensation for the victims of negligence. Tom has attained multiple verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million, and is a Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. In 2008, Tom Hudson passed the National Board Certification Test for DUI Attorneys in Honolulu, Hawaii. NOTE: The State of Florida does not yet recognize DUI defense as a Specialty.

Why We're Different

Board Certification as a DUI Specialist by the National College for DUI Defense. Formal NHTSA Certification as an Instructor of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests given by police in DUI cases. Formal training as a NHTSA Drug Recognition Evaluator. ("Drug Evaluation & Classification") Formal training to operate the Intoxilyzer 8000, Florida's official breath test instrument. Extensive experience in teaching other attorneys how to handle DUI cases. Hundreds of jury trials both as defense lawyer and as prosecutor.

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