Archives for October 2012

Shoplifting and Municipal Court Defense – Southern New Jersey

Recently, a 37-year-old woman was arrested for shoplifting $490 worth of baby formula at a Wegmans in Mount Laurel. She is now facing criminal charges in a New Jersey Municipal Court. Studies have shown that most adults do not shoplift out of personal need, but rather are acting out of pressures they are dealing with in their lives at the time of the crime.

New Jersey Law Prosecutes Those Accused of Shoplifting

For 1 in 11 people, shoplifting is an addiction, perhaps a coping mechanism. Was the woman arrested for stealing the baby formula at a Wegmans in Mount Laurel stealing out of need, or for some other reason? New Jersey law does not distinguish between a seasoned shoplifted and a person who acted with poor judgment just one time. If caught in the act and arrested, both individuals can be facing criminal shoplifting charges.

If you have been arrested for shoplifting charges in Mount Laurel or elsewhere in southern New Jersey, you will want to discuss your situation with an attorney skilled in defending clients against shoplifting charges.

You can expect that you will initially go through an arraignment. This is the time when you enter a plea of guilty or not guilty before a judge. Generally, this arraignment will take place in a Municipal Court. However, if the theft valued at higher than $200, you may be charged in Superior Court.

Shoplifting Conviction Problems

In either case, however, if you are convicted, you will have a criminal record. Having a record that shows you have been convicted for stealing may make it difficult for you to get a job. If you are applying for U.S. citizenship, you may not be allowed to become a citizen.

There are no diversion programs for shoplifting charges. However, in some situations, your charge could be lowered to a municipal ordinance, in which case, you would not have a criminal record. This type of conviction can also be expunged after two years.

Case Dismissals in Municipal Court

In New Jersey municipal courts, shoplifting charges can be dismissed for many reasons, including if the security guards or employee witnesses do not show up for trial. There are times when a case is dismissed simply because the employees of the company do not show up at court on the day of trial.

If you were arrested and charged for shoplifting, whether a bottle of hand lotion or a large ticket item, take action now to protect your rights and your right to a good future. Discuss your case with a criminal defense lawyer who has extensive experience successfully defending clients’ rights in municipal courts throughout southern New Jersey.

Defense Against Shoplifting Charges in Municipal Court: 800-404-5299 or 856-234-2233

To schedule a confidential appointment with a shoplifting defense attorney at Taylor and Boguski, in Mount Laurel, NJ, please call 800-404-5299 or 856-234-2233 or contact us online.

Construction Vehicle Accidents and Personal Injury – New Jersey

An average of 1000 construction workers die in accidents on construction sites each year. A full 15% of workers’ compensation costs are related to workers injured on construction sites. Construction vehicle accidents play a significant role in some of the most deadly of accidents on construction sites and on southern New Jersey roads.

Preventable Construction Vehicle Accidents

Sadly, a great percentage of construction vehicle accidents and ensuing injuries are preventable if safety rules are followed. Minor mistakes or carelessness can lead to serious accidents and injures such as:

  • A worker started walking between a backhoe’s swinging bucket and a concrete wall. The worker was approaching the area from the backhoe operator’s blindside. The backhoe operator did not see the worker and the big metal bucket struck the worker, crushing him against the cement wall.

    Had the employees been trained in minimal safety work procedures or had the area been fenced off as hazardous, the tragic construction accident would never have happened.
  • A bulldozer operator was driving at the top of a slope. The dozer started to slide sideways down the slope, which was ice-covered. It tipped over and pinned the driver under its roll bars. The driver had not been wearing a seat belt. The seatbelt may have prevented him from getting pinned.
  • A driver of a tractor was driving up a loading trailer. The driver had not centered the tractor and the wheels started sliding off the side and the tractor began tipping over. The driver jumped out, but the rollover structure that was supposed to protect him crushed him instead. Again, had the time been taken to center the tractor before attempting to drive up onto the lowboy trailer, tragedy may have been prevented.

Injured in a Construction Vehicle Accident? Speak With Experienced NJ Work Comp and Personal Injury Attorney

At the law office of Taylor and Boguski, we fight for the rights of the injured and those who have lost loved ones in construction vehicle crashes, work accidents, and other types of accidents. To discuss your concerns and learn how we can help, schedule a free, private consultation with an attorney in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, office today. Please call 800-404-5299 or 856-234-2233 or contact us online.

Fatal Crash in New Jersey Leaves Two Dead

Sunday October 1, 2012 started out as a glorious autumn morning, with clear skies and warm weather. Sadly, for one New Jersey family, the promise of the day turned into tragedy when a New Jersey father and his son were killed in a crash when their car collided with a jeep Cherokee.

The father, age 38, and his young son, died in the crash, while the daughter, age 4, is currently hospitalized. The driver of the other car did not suffer serious injuries.

2.2 Million Injuries From Motor Vehicle Accidents in U.S.

The cause of the fatal crash is under investigation and at this point it is unclear what caused the collision. This much is known, nearly 33,000 people were killed in car crashes in 2010 in the United States and over 2.2 million people were injured in car and other motor vehicle accidents throughout the nation. Statistics show that about one in eight people who lost their lives were passengers in the automobile.

Accidents happen all the time. No matter how safe and careful of a driver you are, you cannot always control the actions of other people on the roads. Dangerous drivers are out there. Texting drivers are out there, in increasing numbers. Roadway conditions in southern New Jersey, including construction areas, can distract drivers, just enough for them to make a mistake, sometimes with tragic results.

If you or a loved one has been injured or if you have lost a family member due to a fatal crash that was caused by someone else’s careless actions, you may have reason to file a personal injury or wrongful death legal claim. Speaking with an experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorney can answer your questions and help you have some understanding of your rights in situations like these.

Contact an Experienced Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorney in Southern New Jersey

At the law office of Taylor and Boguski, we fight for the rights of the injured and those who have lost loved ones in car crashes, work accidents, and other types of accidents. To discuss your concerns and learn how we can help, schedule a free, private consultation with an attorney in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, office today. Please call 800-404-5299 or 856-234-2233 or contact us online.

Michael A. Taylor was recently selected as a Top Attorney by SJ Magazine

Michael A. Taylor, a partner at Taylor and Boguski, LLC, was recently selected as a Top Attorney by SJ Magazine. Michael was chosen by his peers as a top divorce mediation attorney in Southern New Jersey.

Michael has over thirty-five years of divorce litigation experience and over fifteen years of divorce mediation experience. He employs a practical, hands on approach to help avoid the costs of divorce litigation. Mediation can help to resolve issues regarding the division of marital property, assets and debts, spousal and child support, and the other issues encountered during a divorce.

To schedule an appointment with a top divorce mediation attorney at Taylor and Boguski, in Mount Laurel, NJ, please call 800-404-5299 or 856-234-2233 or contact us online.