When new clients arrive at my office, they are sometimes hopeless. They have heard horror stories about the legal system. Part of my job is restoring hope and convincing clients that the system is not going to eat them alive. I am fond of telling clients when they first walk into my office that I'm sorry they are here. I understand that most people would prefer to lead lawyer-free lives. My middle name is Earl and that is what my friends call me and that is what I want my clients to call me. If you want to hire me and I think enough of you and your case to accept the representation, I will be your highly educated friend, wise confidant and fierce advocate who will fight for your full recovery or vindication. My practice consists mostly of the following types of cases: Personal Injuries, Divorce, Child Custody, and Criminal Defense. PERSONAL INJURY: As a first year law student, I went to work for a law firm preparing personal injury cases for trial. During my last year of law school, I accepted employment with State Auto Insurance as a Claims Adjuster...in many ways, the exact opposite role! I did this because I wanted to know how both sides of a personal injury case worked and thought. Since then, I have dedicated a substantial portion of my career to keeping abreast of personal injury law and trial strategies for people who have been hurt in car, truck and motorcycle accidents. I'm sorry you've been hurt and I will do everything I can to make it right. I love fighting for clients I believe in. DIVORCE AND CHILD CUSTODY: I am a 49 year old father of four kids...11, 13,18 and 21. I am divorced from the mother of my oldest two kids. I am not particularly proud of that, but I am not ashamed of it either. I understand that marriage is unbelievably difficult in even the best of circumstances. My oldest kids were about 2 and 5 when the divorce occurred. By that time in my career, I had successfully tried a number of divorces, but in retrospect, going through my own probably taught me the most about this area of the law. I empathize with my clients because I know what's at stake. I am now happily married to the mother of my youngest two and am proof that rainbows sometimes do follow rain. Chances are that no matter how unique your own circumstance is, if I have not seen it before in a case I have tried, I have lived through it personally. I have the knowledge and experience that can help you through it too. CRIMINAL DEFENSE: What can I say? I went to college! I have always cheered for the little guy...the underdog. Make no mistake about it... in a criminal prosecution, the Defendant is the underdog. The government has a full staff of lawyers who sometimes believe the police can do no wrong and that the word "defendant" is equivalent to the word "criminal". Every criminal defendant needs a champion with the heart of a teacher...to teach the government the difference. DUI convictions have devastating consequences and you cannot afford NOT to have an experienced lawyer in your corner when facing such charges. I can, and will, help.