GeneseeSun.com Courtroom Spotlight

I am honored to have been invited to participate in GeneseeSun.com's Courtroom Spotlight. The GeneseeSun.com is a 24/7 community news, sports, and broadcast site for Northern Livingston and Southern Monroe Counties in Western New York. In addition to breaking news, the site features also community events, sports coverage and human interest features. Recently, the Publisher, Josh Williams, approached me with questions regarding specific criminal charges which were making headlines. An idea was born to broadcast a weekly program to help the community better understand some of the complex legal issues in the news. All too often, misinformation and conjecture take the place of facts and understanding. Courtroom Spotlight is intended to clarify some of the issues and reveal the truth behind the buzzwords. The information provided in this program is not intended as - and should not be perceived to be - legal advice. Every case is different. Speak to an attorney about your specific legal issues.

Pardon our dust

We are making progress on our new primary home in Geneseo, NY. If only there were frequent flyer miles for the New York State Thruway! I continue to make appearances in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Lockport in addition to my work in Avon, Geneseo and Livonia. While we are not yet ready to publicly announce or new address yet, I expect to be up and running by October 1. In the meantime, I want to once again thank my colleagues who have generously offered to allowed me to share office space during this transition, especially Brandt, Roberson and Brandt in Lockport and Michalski Militello in Avon/Pittsford.

While I am logging a lot of miles, remember that my office line is always available and can even be forwarded to my cell phone if need be. If you ever need to speak to me, even after a late-night traffic stop, call (585)447-7597. In the unlikely event you don't reach a live person, please do leave a message, and I will respond to you. Of course, email is also available around the clock for less pressing matters at DavidHoffmannAttorney@gmail.com .

Free advice can be expensive

I receive a lot of phone calls from people who just have a quick question or are just looking for some advice. I always try to help, and I don't want to be rude, but it can be difficult and dangerous for a lawyer to give advice over the phone. Without taking the time to get all of the information, it can be very hard (and reckless) to give out legal opinion. If you call me, you'll probably hear me tell you to call the police, or some other agency uniquely positioned to handle your issue. Or you may hear me say something like "based on what I'm hearing" or "without more information" followed by general legal rules and principles. Just like general info available on a blog, you cannot take free advice given after a five minute phone call as binding legal precedent. Remember that you get what you pay for - especially when it comes to free advice. Any attorney (or accountant, or doctor) who is giving out professional advice without actually looking into the issue probably isn't worth paying for, anyway.

A new address, the same direction

You may have heard that I am expanding the geographic area that I will cover for my clients. To do so more efficiently, I will be relocating my primary office. I want to assure all of my clients in the Buffalo/Niagara region that they can expect to continue to receive the same quality of service. Those of you who have worked with me know that I am no stranger to travel, and have been known to drive more than three hours to make an appearance for a client. A slight eastern shift should not prevent me from continuing to provide excellent representation to my clients. I expect this transition to be seamless. Any appearances or appointments currently scheduled in Niagara Falls, Lockport or Buffalo will still be kept, and new appointments will continue to be made in the Buffalo/Niagara region. This move will simply be more convenient for my clients in the Genesee Valley. If you have any questions or concerns, as always, give me a call.

A safe and happy Fourth!

One Fourth of July when I was in high school, my family was in our backyard enjoying some very tame fireworks.  A police officer snuck up on us, expecting - I imagine - to bust a group of drunken teenagers.  Wasn't he surprised to discover my forty-something father lighting off "buzzing bees" and "sparkling lanterns" in front of mom, the kids and grandma all sitting quietly in lawn chairs?  We got off with a warning, but possession of even these seemingly harmless little pyrotechnics remains a misdemeanor in New York State.  If you and your grandma get arrested for possession of bottle rockets (or anything else) this weekend, remember to be polite and respectful to the officer and call me immediately at (585) 447-7597.

Dress to Impress

Remember that the judge you are going to appear in front of is human.  First impressions matter!  He or she cannot help but form certain opinions of people.  A criminal defendant wearing a shirt and tie presents a different image than one in an undershirt and ripped jeans.  Think about that while you are getting ready for court.  And get ready for court early.  Tardiness at court is not only rude and disrespectful, but could lead to an increase or revocation of bail.  It is worth your time to be on time and avoid doing time.

Information and Advice from David A. Hoffmann, Esq.

Try to stay out of trouble. But if trouble finds you, be respectful and polite to the police officer.  Let him or her know that you have an attorney and that you cannot answer any of their questions until you speak to me.  Then ask them to call (585) 519-4117 or ask if you can call me yourself.