why did dawn drexel hire a criminal defense lawyer

What was Bradshaw accused of?

The State Bar first attempted to take action against Bradshaw about a decade ago, accusing him of “corruption, dishonesty, and gross negligence.”. The six counts of misconduct allege Bradshaw charged "grossly exaggerated fees" that "shook the conscience.".

What company did Bradshaw hire to do work on the elderly woman's home?

The State Bar accuses Bradshaw of funneling money from that trust into a company he helped create, Bay Construction. Bradshaw hired Bay Construction to do work on the elderly woman’s home while she was suffering from dementia.

Did Bradshaw have a credit card?

Court documents show Bradshaw, his wife, his son, and his receptionist all had company credit cards in their names for Bay Construction. Bradshaw said the arrangement helped the construction company get a 5 percent discount at Lowe’s.

Does Bradshaw own Bay Construction?

He says he’s never had any financial interest in Bay Construction, nor does he own any part of the company. Bradshaw’s signature, however, appears on documents filed with the Secretary of State’s Office to form Bay Construction.

Is Bradshaw losing his license?

Since this is not a criminal trial, the worst discipline Bradshaw faces is losing his license to practice law. However, the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit has learned Bradshaw, his former handyman and Bay Construction may now all be the subject of a criminal investigation, led by the Contractors State License Board.

Did Bradshaw collect money from Gosey's trust?

Bradshaw said he had never collected any money from Gosey’s trust. The State Bar’s case against Bradshaw is expected to wrap up by mid-February. The judge in the case will then make a recommendation that would need to be approved by the California Supreme Court.

Is Drexel Bradshaw barred from practicing law in California?

San Francisco attorney Drexel Bradshaw built his career in the courtroom, but he now finds himself at the center of his own trial that threatens to leave him barred from practicing law in California. The State Bar, which investigates complaints concerning attorneys, charged Bradshaw with five counts of misconduct, ...

What did Judge Bradshaw do?

In the latest ruling, the judge found Bradshaw guilty of three counts of misconduct: Engaging in the scheme to defraud his client, breaching his fiduciary duties while managing that same client’s trust, and making misrepresentations before a court.

What percentage discount did Bradshaw get at Lowes?

Bradshaw said the arrangement helped the construction company get a 5 percent discount at Lowe’s. In court documents, Bradshaw said it was a “favor” to help his former handyman “succeed in his business.”.

Will Bradshaw be disbarred?

The California Supreme Court will get the final say on whether to disbar Brad shaw, however, beginning next week, the State Bar has ordered that he stop practicing law until a final decision is made. Bradshaw declined to comment on the State Bar’s ruling. A spokesperson for the attorney said Bradshaw plans to appeal the decision.

Did Bradshaw take a dime from Gosey's trust?

Bradshaw denies the allegations and says he never took a dime from the client's trust. Previous reporting by the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit, revealed Bradshaw helped create a construction company, that he later hired to work on Gosey’s home while she was suffering from dementia.

Did Bradshaw pocket Gosey's money?

A spokesperson for the attorney said Bradshaw plans to appeal the decision. Bradshaw has previously denied any wrongdoing. In February, he sat down with the Investigative Unit for an exclusive interview just before his trial began and said he has never pocketed any money from Gosey’s trust.

How long does it take to get a job at Drexel University?

Through Drexel's renowned cooperative education program, criminal and justice studies students experience six-months of full-time employment, exploring their career options, strengthening their résumés and building a professional network in the process.

What is the Department of Criminology and Justice Studies?

The Department of Criminology and Justice Studies at Drexel University features hands-on career experience, community-based courses, and one of the only curriculums in the U.S. to integrate crime mapping, hot-spotting and intelligence analysis.

Who received Gilman Scholarships 2021?

We are pleased to announce that four CoAS students have received Gilman Scholarships to support study or co-op abroad in 2021. Congratulations to Manmeen Kaur, Elana Sargent, Jade Umstead and Brenda Vong!

What is the difference between criminal justice and criminology?

What is criminal justice studies — and what’s the difference between criminal justice and criminology? Criminology refers to the study of crime and justice in society. It uses sociological, psychological, technological and legal perspectives to theorize the causes and effects of crime and justice policy. Criminal justice generally refers ...

Litigate in Federal Court Before You Graduate

Our in-house Federal Litigation and Appeals Clinic enables students to practice law before appellate courts. With guidance and supervision from the clinic director, students handle constitutional, criminal and immigration matters, gaining firsthand experience making arguments with state and federal appellate courts.

Improve the West Philadelphia Community

The Andy and Gwen Stern Community Lawyering Clinic allows students to help Drexel’s neighbors in the Mantua and Powelton Village communities address problems they face with employment, housing and other legal issues.

Clinics in Partnership with Legal Institutions

Our year-long Field Clinic Program allows students to represent civil clients and criminal defendants at hearings and trials through partnerships with Defender Association of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Legal Assistance Family Law Unit.

Why can't a prosecutor pursue a criminal case?

A prosecutor may choose not to pursue a criminal case for several reasons. Political pressure. Prosecutors are attorneys employed or contracted by federal, state, and local governments to prosecute suspected criminal offenders on behalf of the community they represent.

What happens if a prosecutor decides not to pursue a criminal case?

Alternatives Available to a Victim. In many jurisdictions where a prosecutor decides not to pursue a criminal case, the victim will have little recourse. Public pressure, aided by social media, may cause a prosecutor to reconsider the decision not to pursue a criminal case.

What is the concept of prosecutorial discretion?

In any criminal investigation, a prosecutor chooses which charge or charges to file or seek from a grand jury. A prosecutor also has the discretion to refrain from filing any charges at all.

Why do prosecutors face political pressure?

Because the role of top prosecutor is an elected position in many juris dictions, prosecutors may face political pressure to prosecute or refrain from prosecuting a person suspected of committing a crime. Limited resources.

Why do prosecutor decline to press charges?

Prosecutors may decline to press charges because they think it unlikely that a conviction will result. No matter what the prosecutor's personal feelings about the case, the prosecutor needs legally admissible evidence sufficient to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

What are the duties of a prosecutor?

Prosecutors must carry out their duties to the public they represent , but like most public agencies and private businesses, resources are finite. A prosecutor may decide to make prosecution of certain offenses a priority, while offenses that are deemed lower priority might not be as vigorously pursued.

What is a writ of mandamus?

This approach involves using a legal tool called a "writ of mandamus.". Usable when a public official fails to take official action, a private person may seek this writ, which asks for a court order directing an official to perform a duty that the official is under a legal obligation to perform. A writ of mandamus, however, is not available in most ...

What is the defense against duress?

This defense involves someone else threatening to use force or violence to get you to do something against your better judgment. Essentially, it means you were forced to commit a crime. Many Hollywood movies about organized crime families – The Godfather, Goodfellas, The Departed – all focus on the mafia using coercion to entangle people in their criminal activities, by threatening to harm them or their families. These types of situations provide a potential duress or coercion defense.

Why is insanity defense used less than you might think?

A third reason insanity defenses are used less than you might think is that a successful insanity defense generally results in institutionalization. 5.

What is the insanity defense?

The first is the insanity defense is another affirmative defense, which requires that the defendant prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he or she was suffering a severe mental disease or defect at the time the crime was committed.

What is mistake of law?

Mistake of Law / Mistake of Fact. Sometimes, a defendant may have been unaware of a fundamental element of a crime that the prosecution has charged him with. For example, if a defendant is charged with stealing a car, but believed his family member or friend wanted to give him the car, a mistake defense would exist.

What is the defense to criminal liability?

1. Innocence. One of the simplest defenses to criminal liability is the defense of innocence. This defense is raised when you did not commit the crime. Remember, the prosecution has to prove every element of the crime charged against you and prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. To be innocent you do not have to prove anything.

What are the types of defenses in criminal law?

3. Alibi. Certain types of defenses in criminal law, such as the alibi defense, are affirmative defenses. This means the defendant (you) must prove the defense, and in the case of an alibi, it means that the defendant must prove ...

What is the defense of involuntary intoxication?

Involuntary intoxication is a lack of intent defense. If the defendant was in a state where he or she did not know what they were doing due to intoxication, this defense cancels out the intent aspect of most crimes.

How to get a good lawyer to take your case?

“If you want to improve your chances of securing the best lawyer to take your case, you need to prepare before you meet them,” advises attorney Stephen Babcock. “Get your story, facts, and proof together well before your first meeting.” This not only ensures that you understand your own needs, but it helps a good lawyer to ascertain whether he or she can actually help you. “We want the best clients too. Proving you’re organized and reliable helps us.”

Why is it important to approach a lawyer with honesty?

“ Winning cases can be lost because of a client who lies or exaggerates just as easily as because of a lawyer who tells the client what the client wants to hear instead of what is true.” So when dealing with attorneys, don’t just look for honesty—be honest.

What is a potential money pit?

When hiring an attorney, a potential money pit is “expenses” outside of the lawyer’s billable hours. Expenses include everything—copying and faxing costs, hiring expert witnesses, and even traveling via private jet, points out attorney Justin C. Roberts. Some lawyers don’t just pass the charges along; instead, they charge an additional percentage fee. Whatever their method, you need to know it up front so there won’t be any surprises when the bill arrives.

Do you need a lawyer to write a demand letter?

On reading a demand letter, the other person will often say, “this isn’t worth the trouble” and they quickly settle. But here’s a secret from Knight: You don’t need a lawyer to write a demand letter. You can do it yourself. Just make it look as formal as possible, and you may find your dispute goes away—no charge to you.

Can you appeal a disability denial?

If you feel helpless when faced with an insurance denial, please know that you might be able to appeal with the help of a qualified lawyer, says David Himelfarb, attorney. Insurance companies routinely deny long-term disability claims, for example, particularly because it’s assumed that most people don’t have access to reputable attorneys to challenge the denial. “This is where intricate knowledge of the legal and insurance process, as well as the right team of experts to prove the claim, can reverse the odds.”

Should a lawyer stay out of court?

In fact, a lawyer should try to stay out of court. “In my experience, a good lawyer always finds every opportunity to keep a case from being decided by a judge, and only relents on trying a case before the bench when all alternatives have been exhausted,” attorney, Jason Cruz says.