CMGPA represents clients in civil and criminal appeals, as well as post-conviction cases, in both state and federal court. Our attorneys have represented clients in appeals to Florida’s Circuit Courts, to the District Courts of Appeal, to the Florida Supreme Court, and to the Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal.
We bring our extensive knowledge and understanding of civil and criminal trial matters to our appellate cases.
Our trial experience helps our attorneys to quickly identify potential appellate issues. Not only are our attorneys adept at identifying errors in the procedures employed prior to and during trial, but our knowledge of multiple practice areas allows us to recognize substantive errors of law made at trial. The proper appellate presentation and argument concerning such errors may lead to reversal of the trial court’s final judgment.
Whether your case is civil or criminal, it can be devastating to have a final judgment entered against you.
It can mean that the opposing side has the right to collect vast sums of money from you or your business, or that you have lost your home, or even that you will serve time in prison. These and many other potential outcomes can be life-changing. Our attorneys are dedicated to helping those parties whose rights are threatened or impaired because of some trial court error, in order to “right the wrong” and protect the rule of law.
Moreover, our firm considers the big picture. Some errors made during trial are best presented on direct appeal, while others are more properly presented in a post-judgment, collateral attack in the trial court. Our experience in appellate and post-conviction matters allows us to evaluate and employ different strategies in different cases. We do not take a “cookie cutter” approach. We consider the best course of action for every client on an individual and case specific basis with one essential goal in mind: winning.
CMGPA is dedicated to finding and presenting the best legal arguments for our clients.
We use our passion for justice to help put our clients in the best position possible to obtain a reversal of a wrongly entered judgment. We are here to help parties understand that a final judgment does not have to mean that the fight is over.
Criminal Appeals
A final judgment of conviction can be devastating to you and your loved ones. Whether you are sentenced to an extended term of imprisonment or a term of probation, a criminal conviction can wreak havoc on your future. It is therefore critical that every reasonable effort be made to attack the conviction on appeal.
Thus, we represent clients in a wide variety of criminal appeals, from misdemeanor cases involving probationary sentences, to felony cases involving life sentences. No matter what the charge or what the sentence, we understand that every case is unique. We take the time to research and debate potential legal issues. We try to explore every avenue possible to get relief for our clients.
Not only do we use our knowledge and experience to advance legal arguments on appeal, we also involve our clients in the process. From the outset, we thoroughly discuss the case with our clients, so that we understand the facts, and so that they understand the strategies and options available to them. Ultimately, it is our clients who decide how to proceed.
Post-Conviction Matters
Some arguments cannot be made on direct appeal. Instead, they are properly raised in a post-conviction or collateral attack of the final judgment and sentence. Having an attorney who understands the sometimes subtle distinctions between these separate challenges is critical to ensure that a party’s time, energy and money is not wasted litigating the wrong claim in the wrong court, through the wrong process. Our attorneys understand the critical differences between appellate arguments and post-conviction arguments and the types of legal arguments it takes to win at each level.
We handle criminal appeals, post-conviction matters, and matters involving federal review of state court judgments, including federal petitions for writs of habeas corpus. Our experience in these areas helps us to protect our clients’ rights to the fullest extent possible. We understand the time frame applicable to each stage of review. We also understand that substantive arguments must be preserved in order to be raised at the next level. We consider the bigger picture when attacking a judgment and sentence, and strive to ensure that our clients have an opportunity to challenge the judgment and sentence at every possible stage.
Civil Appeals
At CMGPA, our civil appeal cases have the benefit of being overseen by a board certified Civil Trial expert, Charles M. Greene. We combine our experience in appellate litigation with Mr. Greene’s civil trial expertise to identify errors of law made at trial.
We handle appeals of Commercial and Business dispute cases, Securities cases, cases involving Trade Secrets, Employment Law cases, Landlord and Tenant dispute cases, Real Estate dispute cases, Products Liability cases, Agri-Business cases, as well as many others. We represent parties who have won at the trial court level by defending the final judgment, and parties who have lost at the trial court level by attacking the final judgment. We represent new and existing clients, and offer trial and appellate support to other law firms with less experience in appellate litigation.
