The Thompson Law Firm, PLLC

04/08/2024

For everyone waiting for the moon and the stars to perfectly allign to complete a task, it might just not be your day.

03/26/2024

Trial Lawyers College has already showed improvement in my skills. A very favorable result today on a domestic violence case where my client was extremely provoked and tried to walk away before an unpleasant set of circumstances unfolded.

When you get to know and understand your client and their role in the drama we call life you can advocate for them better. While violence is never acceptable there is often a back story many lawyers refuse to learn about their clients.

We walked into court expecting a jail sentence after several problems occurred durung the case. The result: A 300 dollar fine, all other fines and costs waived, no criminal record and they are required to stay out of trouble for a year. This will be the easy part. Discovering the trama experienced by the whole family will be where the real healing begins.

03/10/2024

When I walked across the stage at graduation from law school I felt greatful that years of schooling were finally behind me. I was done with that very long chapter in my life.

After representing hundreds of people in the last 6 years I have seen some incredible lawyers in practice. I regularly co-counsel cases with expert lawyers when I feel the issue is outside my comfort zone. Comfort zone means: am I going to be able to provide the best possible representation to my client. I refuse to settle for less then a good outcome. I have achieved incredible results I never dreamed I could achieve so early in my career.

I have seen so many clients put in the hard work to rise above their deamons, addictions and setbacks and most of all to grow. It's time I do the same.
Because of this, I'm going back to school! Only for 5 days of intense lecture and hands on training.

I want to continue to be the best lawyer to my clients. That means being my best self that continues to grow and learn. Stewart B. Johnson said it best, "Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves, to
break our own records, to outstrip our yesterdays by our today, to do our work with more
force than ever before."

It’s not what law school you graduated from, or how deep your knowledge of legal theory goes. Also it’s not really about how long you have practiced law or how many cases you have tried.

12/04/2023

Client had 3 probation violations for failure to report for 60 days to probation, dropping out of a 12-week anger management and missing a scheduled probation meeting.

My argument at a sidebar (no plea entered). Your honor my client is in full compliance, paid all fines and costs, enrolled in the "self-paced" 12 week anger management program and has 20 more weeks to complete the remaining 8 sessions. He was given a new probation officer who told him they would soon be using an online reporting system. My client goes on wirh his life thinking he was not being asked to come in to report to probation. His prior probation officer would write down his next meeting on a piece of paper.

The result: while the court is not impressed you didn't pick up a phone for months i am going to dismiss these violations, you are to complete the 8 weeks of anger management in the next 8 weeks and in January we can see about terminating probation 4 months early. This certainly beat the 90 days of jail he was facing when we walked into court this morning. 3 violations is not often taken lightly by a court. Especially when the bailiff is standing behind you.

I repeatedly tell my clients probation is like a game of chess. If you don't know how to play it, learn. Stay a step ahead of a probation officer who's job is to catch you not doing what you are suppose to do. These violations can become very technical and the more of them a defendant receives the worse you look to the court. Even if they are excusable technical violations, the mere numbers speak volumes on paper. Stories are not remembered when you come back to court months later.

If your probation officer doesn't violate you or his other clients he is not doing his job which is to catch violations. Do these probation officers get clever with their violations-absolutely. What happens when you don't do your job in any job, you don't have it very long. Any time you add an incentive in any job humans will find a way to master obtaining fulfilling that incentive. Sometimes looking past what is right, wrong and reasonable under the circumstances.

I recently had a case where someone was on probation and picked up another case (they clearly have a substance abuse problem). The probation officer violated them for saying they self reported that they drank on the day they picked up another case. I questioned the officer under oath. What was this current violation for? His answer, "for telling me he drank while on probation." I said, "ok so he may get another violation for being charged on the second case? In which he responded, "Yes." And if he is convicted or takes a plea on the 2nd case that is yet another 3rd violation. The probation officer started salivating and said loudly as he learned forward, "oh no THAT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION." I looked at the judge who I swear was doing everything he could not to laugh when he said I'm going to suspend sentencing to see the outcome on the second case. At least now my client won't be repeatedly punished for the one wrong act. I'm guessing there are 2 more violations comming down the pipe.

Many reading this would say who cares. If you are on probation it is because you are bad and have been convicted for something. Do life right or pay a price, correct? Should doing it right after sentencing be a reasonable request based on the crime and circumstances? One that requires a reasonable degree of skill and competence to complete? Or a complicated chess game of tactic and foresight of understanding how to beat an over jealous probation officer at their own game they are learning to master? I have found my most valuable skill as a lawyer is the technical ability to understand a process and arguing my client's position within that process.

At The Thompson Law Firm, PLLC we will prepare you for this sometimes very difficult time of paying your debt to society and help you prove to the court you are rehabilitated despite a probation officer who is trying to prove the opposite.

While many lawyers solely focus on "beating charges" you rarely hear any advertising about keeping you out of jail after sentencing. Convictions happen and we certainly fight hard to prevent this. What happens after sentencing is often more important to ensuring someone's freedom.

02/11/2023

It was a great week at the Thompson Law Firm, PLLC.

Monday we obtained a $500,000.00 civil judgment after trial for a young client who was sexually assaulted by a child ra**st. This is the 2nd of these types of cases we have handled. The last one resulted in over 1 million for our client. Our office takes hurting children very personally and we will fight like hell to get our young clients justice.

Tuesday after a tough Oakland County judge informed us he was planning to give our 19-year-old client 3 years in prison for a fistfight over a girl, was finally granted a deviation by the prosecutor's office. This came one day before we were going to hold a jury trial. We were required to submit a proposal to the prosecutor showing why this young man deserved a break in the charges. Our proposal was written after hours of research and peeling back the layers of our client's life that led to the behavior landing him in court. The prosecutor heard our plea, dismissing the two overcharged (in my opinion) felony counts. Now he faces only a possible 93 days of incarceration for a misdemeanor assault charge.

Also Tuesday morning, another client, whose probation recommended 90 days in jail, received no jail at sentencing. This came only after a successful allocution about this young man's coming to Jesus with his ways and self-enrollment in anger management and mental health treatment months earlier.

Wednesday and Thursday we buckled down and prepared for a bench trial on Friday. We spent hours refreshing on objections, trial strategies, and tactics and framing our arguments.

Friday morning came and first up on the schedule we were able to convince a judge to allow a client into sobriety court instead of a prison cell. This was after submitting deviation requests and coordinating a transfer of jurisdiction to another court that had a sobriety court program in the client's jurisdiction.

Friday afternoon, just moments before a bench trial began in front of a very well-respected and honorable judge, I was able to point out and describe critical video surveillance evidence to the prosecutor that vindicated my client. That prosecutor dismissed all charges.

Holding a bench trial on a criminal case is a very technical and educated decision. One based on experience and knowing your judge. There are probably 3 judges in Metro Detroit I feel comfortable doing this with. I know this judge would have applied the law and judged the facts fairly without the influence of police, politics, or other outside influences. My client didn't leave the court happy because he wanted his case heard on the evidence but dismissal of a criminal case is still a win right?

Friday afternoon we successfully helped a gentleman argue his case in a DAAD (formally called DLAD) hearing. This client went 15 years without a driver's license due to 2 drunk driving convictions. This man hasn't touched alcohol since the offense, 15 years ago, but spent his life working, supporting his family, and raising now very successful children.

This attorney is planning to sleep all weekend.

03/29/2022

Will Smith committed an assault and battery. The local prosecutor must charge him with a crime. Anything less would be injustice and show that the elite in society are immune from prosecution. There is evidence of a crime that was committed (video of the offense). Chris Rock's desire for Will Smith to be prosecuted (what some incorrectly call pressing charges) should have little bearing on whether the prosecutor files a complaint. Cooperation by the victim helps the prosecutor but evidence of a crime is what determines if charges are brought. Just like domestic violence (an assault between domestic partners) victims often decided they do not want their partners prosecuted. Prosecutors can and often do go forward charging the offender if they have some evidence of the assault. This idea that the victim decides if they want to "press charges" is not accurate. The LA Police Department sent a very wrong message to the public by saying Chris Rock did not wish to press charges. They have evidence that a crime occurred. The police have a duty to uphold the law not just when people agree it should be upheld for some.

Comedian Chris Rock will not be pressing criminal charges against new Oscar winner Will Smith.

02/24/2022

Just finished 7 days of taking testimony in a LARA licensing board case with my co-counsel Carol Holmes. We have vigorously defended a nurse that had their license wrongfully suspended. Carol far exceeded my expectations of competency, dedication and precision of her skill. What she brought to this case was unprecedented and inspiring to me.

Having worked for over 140 law firms before becoming a lawyer has opened a door to allow me to now work with some of the best lawyers in the profession. It is important for a lawyer to realize their limitations and get help when needed. This was my first LARA case. I am truly blessed to have a network of lawyers I can team up with to provide my clients the best possible representation.

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue. Get free legal information. Ask lawyers for advice. Solve your legal problem.

01/12/2022

An out-of-state client who had absconded from the law for 13 years on an OWI case hired my firm to assist her. She lived for years wondering if today would be the day she was arrested. Her original case was handled by an attorney who only told her to take a plea deal. My client wanted to tell her story and be listened too. She even refused to show up to trial believing the court would just lock her up. I listened and discovered she potentially had some defenses that we raised. This cases ended today with a small monetary fine only. Listening to someones story and taking the time to show some compassion has allowed my client to move on with her life, her dignity and freedom.

11/03/2021

Incredible 7 days at The Thompson Law Firm. Started with 4 trials scheduled and ended with 3 cases dismissed and a OWI High BAC 2nd offense plead down to a non-drinking offense with a Cobbs agreement to no jail, no probation and no community service. Looking for a lawyer willing to fight for your freedom to the end give us a call.

The Thompson Law Firm, PLLC is your one stop to assist you, your family and friends in finding a lawyer in your time of need.

10/02/2021

Taking the legal practice back Up North and glad to announce the jury returned a not guilty verdict. Our client after being date r***d and having her nose fractured, fled a violent assault, called the police for help and was then arrested herself for operating a vehicle. The prosecutor actually argued she should have called 911 from the place she was r***d. The assailant walked away because no investigation was ever conducted. After a two day OWI jury trial where we had to admit to intoxication (impaired operation from involuntary drugs and alochol) with a duress defense, the jury saw the injustice and acquited her. I can't thank my co-counsel enough for traveling to Lake City Michigan with me to get justice for our client. We had an amazing well educated judge I wish I could practice before more often. It was a stressful yet fun two day. The Thompson Law Firm, PLLC

12/09/2020

I love my people.