Best Criminal Lawyer in San Diego County, CA
David L. McCarthy, Esq.
Criminal Lawyer
Since 2008, my sole focus has been on Tenant (Renter) defense within the San Diego area. My expertise lies in offering defense for eviction cases involving residential, mobile home, and commercial properties.
My dedication is to assist California tenants by delivering impactful and affordably priced services to support them.
In the realm of landlord-tenant dynamics, landlords typically wield more influence. I strive to restore equilibrium by safeguarding and upholding tenant rights, educating tenants about their choices, and pursuing necessary measures.
I operate on a transparent flat fee structure, clearly communicated to clients beforehand. All my services are conducted remotely for convenience.
David P. Shapiro
Criminal Lawyer
Arrested for a crime he, admittedly, did commit in 2004, David experienced firsthand the same fear, uncertainty, and concern for his future and freedom so many of his clients undergo when arrested or under investigation for allegedly committing a crime. That experience motivates him each and every day to provide the best representation possible to any and all who entrust his Firm to handle their criminal defense matter in their time of need.
Practicing exclusively criminal defense in San Diego since 2007, David has built one of San Diego’s most respected criminal defense firms since opening its doors in 2010. His firm has recently been recognized as one of the nation’s fastest growing law firms in the United States by LawFirm500, was a 2022 Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Ethics Winner and was recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as the 17th Fastest Growing Private Company in San Diego from 2019-2021. Personally, David was a 2022 SD500 Winner as One of San Diego’s 500 Most Influential People per the San Diego Business Journal.
Revered in both New York (where he grew up) and New Orleans (where he lived from 2003-2006), David moved to San Diego in 2006. He is a self-described “pillar of the community” and is a proud criminal defense attorney, father, and husband.
Samantha Greene
Criminal Lawyer
With over a decade of experience in representing clients in criminal defense cases, attorney Samantha Ashley Greene of Sevens Legal Criminal Lawyers in San Diego is passionately committed to her client’s success. Samantha Greene is recognized in the state of California as a criminal law specialist. With great heart, Samantha brings to her clients an unsurpassed level of integrity and commitment that has won her countless successes in the courtroom. Having received her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law, Mrs. Greene began her career as an attorney with a passion for criminal defense, representing a wide spectrum of clients and cases. Having honed her skills over the course of a decade, she was voted as a Top San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney in 2012.
Having been in private practice since 2011, the bulk of Samantha’s case wins have revolved around felony and misdemeanor criminal charges. Prior to opening her own private practice, she worked as Deputy District Attorney for San Diego County, a Certified Law Clerk for the Public Defenders Office and was a Senior Associate for one of San Diego’s top trial law firms. Entirely committed to her own family, Samantha A. Greene knows how criminal charges can negatively impact the fabric of the family structure, affecting one’s emotional, psychological and financial well-being, as well as one’s personal sense of freedom. With a superb AVVO rating of 10.0, numerous client endorsements and positive acknowledgements from her colleagues within the field of criminal defense law, Samantha has been heralded for her professional and warm approach to representing her clients. Samantha recently won the Client Choice award from AVVO and the Top Attorneys award from San Diego County. She is respected within her field and has earned the admiration of her clients for aggressively taking on their difficult criminal defense cases. With a natural ability to put her clients at ease and to effectively communicate convoluted legal terminology and processes, Samantha A. Greene is 100% committed to the empowerment and education of those whom she represents. Known for her prompt communication with clients and her extensive knowledge of California specific laws pertaining to criminal defense cases, she comes highly recommended by both clients and fellow attorneys. With thorough analysis of case specifics and dedication to maintaining the freedom and reputation of her clients, Samantha A. Greene is one of San Diego’s premier criminal defense attorneys.
Dod Ghassemkhani, ESQ.
Criminal Lawyer
With over two decades of experience practicing criminal defense law, Dod Ghassemkhani and his law firm Dod Law, in Downtown San Diego, Orange County, and Vista California, have worked on more than 6,500 criminal cases in and out of the courtroom in the San Diego area. This experience includes nearly every type of criminal case, including more than 100 jury trials and 400 preliminary hearings. Mr. Ghassemkhani also is uniquely qualified by the California State Bar to handle serious capital offenses, including murder charges for clients who have multiple convictions. More about Dod Ghassemkhani
Felony cases are difficult, but Mr. Ghassemkhani’s case record includes three consecutive “not guilty” verdicts in such serious charges. One case resulted in an acquittal for a client facing 25 years to life in prison. That client also had two prior convictions. After we obtained a favorable verdict, the client was free to go that day. Mr. Ghassemkhani has been able to convince juries of self-defense to get “not guilty” verdicts. As a result, our law firm has obtained multiple wins for clients.
Brandon Naidu
Criminal Lawyer
Brandon Naidu is the lead attorney for RJT Criminal Lawyer. He has dedicated his entire career to the practice of criminal defense in the San Diego and Southern California community. Mr. Naidu has handled over a thousand criminal defense and DUI defense cases throughout his career. He has represented clients in all forms of criminal cases that range from misdemeanor offenses to serious and violent felonies such as rape, attempted murder, murder, child molestation, child pornography, domestic violence, DUI, among many other categories.
Born and raised just outside of Seattle, Washington, Mr. Naidu graduated and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to pursue a career in the United States Marine Corps Officer Training Corps at the University of Utah, where he simultaneously pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. Following a medical release from the military, Mr. Naidu then obtained his Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Utah in 2010. Upon graduation, Mr. Naidu realized that his skills at problem solving and seeking creative solutions could be better utilized elsewhere. He made the decision to move to San Diego, California where he obtained his law degree from California Western School of Law with a strong emphasis on criminal law.
Mr. Naidu has devoted his career to only one area of practice: criminal defense. He is a firm believer that an attorney should focus his strengths on one aspect of law in order to ensure the best possible results for his clients; rather than splitting his time between various areas of practice such as personal injury, family law, or other forms of civil litigation.
Mr. Naidu has been continuously awarded by the legal community for his commitment to his clients and to the practice of criminal defense.
Peter Blair
Criminal Lawyer
Elaine M. Colavito is a Partner with the firm, primarily handling matrimonial and family Law matters. She also handles immigration and trusts and estates matters. She is admitted to
Attorney Peter Blair is the lead and founding attorney of Blair Defense Criminal Lawyers. He has worked solely in criminal defense in San Diego as well as the neighboring counties throughout southern California. Mr. Blair has litigated thousands of cases and has taken cases to trial ranging from murder, attempted murder, robbery, rape, child molest to domestic violence.
Mr. Blair was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He grew up playing sports year round and ultimately received multiple baseball scholarships for college. He attended the University of Washington and graduated with a 3.7 grade point average while working full time.
practice in the State of New York and before the U.S. Supreme Court. She graduated summa cum laude from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and magna cum laude from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in the top 6% of her class.
Ms. Colavito is active in local bar associations. She is a past president of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association. She joined the organization in 2012 as a Member of its Board of Directors and has also served as its Treasurer, Vice President, President-Elect, and a delegate to the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York. At various times, she has also chaired several committees for the bar association including Finance, Membership, Matrimonial and Family Law, Nominations Committee, Installation, and Working Parents. In 2013, she received the group’s Bessie Ray Geffner, Esq. Memorial Award for her demonstrated interest in improving the justice system, professionalism of the bar and service to the community at large and in 2023, she received the group’s Virginia C. Duncombe, Esq. Award, presented annually to foster and enhance ongoing legal education.
In 2005, Mr. Blair decided to moved to San Diego to pursue law and become an Attorney for the sole purpose of helping people. During Law School, Mr. Blair held a number of clerkships, but worked primarily at a prestigious criminal defense law firm where he developed great a passion for helping people in unfortunate situations.
After graduating, Mr. Blair took on a position as the single associate in an extremely high volume law firm handling some of the most serious violent crimes and major narcotics cases in in San Diego.
Anna Yum
Criminal Lawyer
Anna Yum is a nationally recognized and premier criminal defense attorney in San Diego. Ms. Yum is licensed to practice law in state and federal courts in both the Southern and Central Districts of California. She is also licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois.
Ms. Yum has successfully represented clients on various criminal charges ranging from serious and/or violent offenses such as sexual assault, domestic violence with great bodily injury enhancements, child molestation, murder, attempted murder, “criminal street gang” cases, robbery, felony offenses with firearm enhancements, etc. to lower-level offenses including driving under the influence, theft-related offenses, narcotics cases, commercial burglary, insurance fraud, assault and battery, and much more. During the course of her career, Ms. Yum has successfully tried a multitude of jury and bench trials to verdict.
Many of her high-profile cases have been recognized and highlighted by the media. Ms. Yum is called upon and trusted by Fox News, HLN/CNN, Discover ID, Court TV, Law & Crime, and many more to provide legal commentary for the top headline cases. Due to her years of experience, she has also been called to serve as a guest lecturer in providing continuing legal education (MCLE) to other attorneys with respect to domestic violence.
Prior to opening her law practice, Ms. Yum gained invaluable experience as a prosecutor at the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. During her tenure at the District Attorney’s office, Ms. Yum was promoted very quickly and she conducted dozens of jury trials. She prosecuted a wide variety of complex criminal matters including Domestic Violence, General Felonies, Grand Theft Auto, Career Criminal, Criminal Street Gangs, and Sexual Assault/Child Abuse. Ms. Yum’s hard work and talent did not go unnoticed as she garnered several accolades including a nomination for Misdemeanor Deputy District Attorney of the Year and Employee of the Month on several occasions.
Bradley R. Corbett
Criminal Lawyer
Bradley Corbett grew up in Los Angeles County attending Glendora High School. In high school, Bradley excelled playing both basketball and tennis making it to C.I.F. in both sports. As a senior in High School Bradley was called to jury duty at the Pomona Courthouse where he was chosen to sit on a criminal case as a juror. That experience was so moving, that Bradley decided he wanted to be a trial attorney.
He chose to attend Brigham Young University in Provo Utah where he majored in Print Journalism. Bradley wrote articles for the school newspaper and was a managing editor of a major college football recruiting website. Bradley graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2004.
Following his undergraduate education, Bradley enrolled at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. While in law school Bradley was selected to participate in a prestigious internship program with the Los Angeles County Public Defender where he worked on serious murder cases.
Bradley was hired out of law school by San Diego’s largest criminal defense firm where he was entrusted with hundreds of cases. Bradley has taken numerous cases to jury trial and has won Not Guilty verdicts in EVERY courthouse in San Diego County and in Long Beach.
Bradley has handled over 2,000 cases from small misdemeanor petty theft cases to felony manslaughter cases. He is known in the legal community for being passionate and a tireless worker. Bradley is a “true believer” in the criminal justice system and takes pride in helping his clients take control of their future by fighting back against those who want to see his clients in jail.
How Automotive Industry Professionals Can Benefit from a Criminal Defense Attorney in Auto Insurance Fraud Cases
In the automotive industry, professionals often face various challenges, including the risk of being accused of auto insurance fraud. This type of fraud can have serious legal and financial implications, making it essential for automotive professionals to understand how a criminal defense attorney can assist them in navigating these complex situations.
Understanding Auto Insurance Fraud
Auto insurance fraud occurs when individuals or businesses intentionally deceive an insurance company to gain financial benefits. Common forms of this fraud include:
- Staging Accidents: Creating a fake accident scene to claim damages.
- Exaggerating Claims: Inflating the extent of damages or injuries.
- Falsifying Information: Providing false details about a vehicle’s condition or history.
The consequences of such actions can be severe, including hefty fines, loss of professional licenses, and even imprisonment. Given these risks, having a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney is crucial for automotive industry professionals.
The Importance of Legal Representation
When faced with allegations of auto insurance fraud, automotive professionals may feel overwhelmed and unsure about their next steps. Here’s how a criminal defense attorney can provide valuable support:
- Expert Legal Guidance: A seasoned attorney understands the intricacies of insurance law and can offer tailored advice based on the specific circumstances of the case.
- Protection of Rights: An attorney ensures that the rights of the accused are upheld throughout the legal process. This includes protecting against unlawful searches and seizures, as well as ensuring fair treatment during interrogations.
- Building a Strong Defense: A competent lawyer will investigate the details surrounding the case, collecting evidence and identifying any weaknesses in the prosecution’s claims. This can include gathering witness statements or obtaining expert opinions that support the accused’s position.
Navigating Legal Procedures
The legal system can be daunting for anyone, particularly those unfamiliar with criminal proceedings. A criminal defense attorney can help automotive professionals navigate these complexities by:
- Explaining Legal Terms and Procedures: Many individuals may not fully understand the legal jargon or processes involved in their case. An attorney will clarify these aspects, making it easier for clients to comprehend their situation.
- Representing in Court: If a case goes to trial, having an experienced attorney is invaluable. They will advocate on behalf of their client, presenting evidence and arguing against the charges effectively.
- Negotiating Plea Deals: In some cases, it may be advantageous to negotiate a plea deal with prosecutors. A skilled attorney can negotiate terms that minimize penalties or even lead to reduced charges.
Mitigating Consequences
The ramifications of a conviction for auto insurance fraud can be devastating, not only legally but also professionally. Here’s how an attorney can help mitigate these consequences:
- Reducing Sentences: If convicted, an attorney may work to secure a lighter sentence through effective representation and negotiation.
- Restoration of Reputation: A strong defense can help protect an individual’s professional reputation. This is particularly important in industries like automotive sales or repair, where trust is paramount.
- Future Employment Opportunities: A conviction can severely limit future job prospects. By working diligently on a defense, an attorney may help avoid a conviction altogether or reduce its impact on future employment opportunities.
Understanding Insurance Company Tactics
Insurance companies often have extensive resources and legal teams dedicated to investigating claims for potential fraud. Automotive professionals should be aware that:
- Insurance Investigations Are Common: When claims are filed, especially large ones, insurance companies conduct thorough investigations. Understanding this process helps professionals prepare for potential scrutiny.
- Documentation Matters: Accurate documentation is critical in defending against fraud allegations. An attorney can assist in organizing necessary paperwork and ensuring that all claims are substantiated with evidence.
Common Defenses Against Fraud Charges
A criminal defense attorney will explore various defenses based on the specifics of each case. Common defenses include:
- Lack of Intent: Proving that there was no intention to commit fraud is often a key aspect of defense strategies.
- Mistake or Misunderstanding: Sometimes claims may be based on honest mistakes rather than fraudulent intent. An experienced attorney can argue this point effectively.
- Insufficient Evidence: If the prosecution lacks concrete evidence to support their claims, an attorney can challenge the validity of the charges.
Conclusion
For automotive industry professionals facing allegations of auto insurance fraud, enlisting the help of a criminal defense attorney is not just advisable; it is essential. The complexities of legal proceedings combined with the serious implications of fraud charges necessitate expert guidance and representation.By understanding their rights and working closely with an experienced lawyer, automotive professionals can navigate these challenging situations more effectively. The right legal support not only protects their current interests but also safeguards their future within the industry, allowing them to maintain their reputation and continue their careers without undue disruption.