- Criminal DefenseFallgatter Farmand & Catlin, P.A. is a criminal defense law firm that serves clients in Jacksonville and throughout the surrounding communities in Florida.
- DUI/DWINassau County, with its unique blend of both rural and urban communities, including Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island and Yulee, are Florida’s first cities along the eastern seaboard. For many years, this quaint area has been attracting both tourists and vacationers, many of whom have relocated, adding to a population count in 2018 of just over 85,000 residents. Like many Florida towns that border the Atlantic, this economic expansion over the past few years is not without its consequences of increased crime and arrests. Nassau County ranks as the ninth fastest-growing county in Florida contributing to its increased crime rate. According to the State of Florida records, Nassau County ranks high among arrests per capita with 4156 adult arrests and 189 juvenile arrests per 100,000 people in 2018. Leading the list of arrests for suspected crimes committed were: Drug Arrests: 721, DUI Arrests: 593 and Assault Arrests: 451. These numbers are significant when you compare them to urban areas like Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville with 2600, 3500 and 3100 arrests per 100,000 people, respectively.
- Wrongful DeathNo monetary settlement can replace the loss of a loved one. However when the negligence of others causes a loss, a compassionate Jacksonville wrongful death attorney at our firm can help you pursue compensation that can help you move forward. Learn more about Wrongful Death.
- Traffic ViolationsMany times, police issue other traffic tickets along with a citation for DUI. Or else it may be that you simply got traffic tickets and no DUI. We can help there, too. Tickets can mean points on your license, and like a DUI, they can mean more expensive (or unavailable) insurance — often for years. If you got a ticket for being in an accident, a conviction may prevent you from denying fault if you are sued.
- Sex CrimesSex Offenses: At Fallgatter, Catlin & Varon, P.A., we have extensive experience handling all types of sex offenses including sexual battery, rape, child pornography, internet sex crimes, failure to register as a sex offender and sex crimes against children. If you are being investigated for a sex offense, you are in serious danger of losing your freedom and of being required to register as a sex offender or sexual predator for the rest of your life. Even consensual sexual activity with minors is prosecuted vigorously. Because of the nature of sexual offense allegations, you need to seek legal advice immediately. At Fallgatter, Catlin & Varon, P.A., we will work to get the charges either dismissed or reduced to a lesser charge. When your livelihood, family, reputation, and freedom is on the line, you need legal assistance with a proven track record for handling these types of sensitive matters.
- FraudWhite Collar Crimes: At Fallgatter, Catlin & Varon, P.A., we have the knowledge and experience to handle white-collar crimes, including embezzlement, bribery, counterfeiting, forgery, RICO, workers’ compensation fraud, insurance fraud, mail fraud, securities fraud, public corruption, tax evasion, and internet fraud. White-collar crimes are complex and require legal expertise to defend. Federal and State prosecutors are usually aggressive when they feel they have enough evidence to prosecute white-collar crimes. The stakes are high because these offenses usually carry strict penalties and fines if proven.
- RobberyIf you have been arrested for a crime anywhere in Clay County, including Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, Fleming Island or Middleburg, you need the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney. The Fallgatter Catlin & Varon, P.A. team have over 50 years of combined criminal trial experience handling all types of crimes from DUI arrests, to murder, and armed robbery. Our staff includes a Former Chief Assistant Federal Prosecutor, Curtis Fallgatter, a Former Assistant Public Defender, Lisa Varon, and a Former Assistant State Attorney, Alex King. These attorneys have a tremendous amount of criminal trial experience representing both the state and defendants in a wide variety of criminal charges. You will want that experience on your side if you are accused of, or under investigation for, a crime. The criminal defense team at Fallgatter Catlin & Varon, P.A. handle all types of misdemeanor and felony charges, including, DUI, drug crimes, sex crimes, assault and battery, domestic violence, white collar crimes, murder and aggravated felony charges. Being charged with a crime can be an extremely overwhelming ordeal for most people. Many arrested defendants believe they have been found guilty even before their case is heard. Curtis Fallgatter and his team of highly successful and experienced criminal defense attorneys will conduct an independent investigation and help plan a defense to give you the best chance for a successful outcome. When the stakes are this high, it’s important to retain the most experienced attorneys available. Being found guilty of most criminal offenses can have lasting repercussions on your future, including employment, education, securing loans for housing and even your ability to travel outside the United States.
- Burglary
- White Collar CrimesTypically, white-collar crime is non-violent, usually committed by intelligent and educated individuals using sophisticated means for financial gain. Depending on which court has jurisdiction, federal or state prosecutors may bring white-collar crime charges. Various federal agencies including the FBI and the IRS investigate white-collar crime. According to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a research organization at Syracuse University, the government reported 787 new white-collar crime convictions in August 2012 alone. FBI reports show that billions of dollars are lost in the United States every year as a result of white-collar crime — so the FBI typically vigorously pursues these cases. But then they often target the innocent or violate the rights of those they investigate. Either way, you have a Constitutional right to require the government to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Theft
- MisdemeanorsRepresenting clients accused of any crime, whether misdemeanors or felonies, is very serious business, and one that should not be left up to less experienced attorneys. Fallgatter Catlin & Varon, P.A. have tremendous experience in both State and Federal Court, having handled 1000’s of criminal cases. Below are some of the most common cases we defend...
- EmbezzlementThe average home prices in Ponte Vedra top $750,000 dollars and the median family income is over $109,100 per year. Additionally, The St. Johns County School System, and especially the Ponte Vedra Beach schools, have been recognized as some of the best public schools in all of Florida. Ponte Vedra Beach is also known for its excellent sporting programs and the many public and private sports clubs are some of the most competitive in the South. For these and many other reasons, Ponte Vedra Beach officials wish to have a low crime rate and low incidences of juvenile arrests. According to The Florida Department of Law Enforcement's 2019 Uniform Crime Report, St. Johns County reported 4,511 total arrests, with crimes ranging from assaults to vandalism. Leading the list of suspected crimes committed were: 742 Drug Arrests, 596 DUI’s, 595 Simple Assaults, 32 Sex Offenses and over 100 white-collar crimes, including extortion, fraud, embezzlement, and counterfeiting.
- Drug CrimesDrug Possession and Distribution: State and Federal courts consider any drug offense, including possession and trafficking, to be very serious offenses, carrying long prison sentences. Possessing even small quantities will constitute a misdemeanor. Additionally, The State of Florida considers heroin, cocaine, and LSD to be narcotics. If you have been arrested for a drug crime or are under investigation for a drug related offense, you need to seek assistance from an experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense attorney. Fallgatter Catlin & Varon, P.A. has handled hundreds of drug crimes, ranging from simple possession to distribution and trafficking.
- AssaultAssault and Battery: Assault and battery are crimes involving the intentional injury inflicted by one person against another. In Florida, assault is defined as the threat of an action or an attack against someone, and battery is the actual physical contact. One can actually exist without the other. Aggravated assault means that a weapon of some type was used in the threat, and aggravated battery means the weapon inflicted harm upon the individual.
- MurderLisa Varon is a former Assistant Public Defender in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Lisa’s criminal defense experience has ranged from defending individuals accused of misdemeanors to murder. Lisa worked as an Assistant Public Defender for 11 years, where she represented juveniles and adults charged with misdemeanors and felonies. She also worked in the Special Defense Unit, where she handled all exclusively sex crimes. She served as a Felony Division Chief, where she supervised attorneys in felony court. Lisa has worked with Curtis for the past 14 years, handling all manner of criminal cases. She also served as President of the Northeast Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the premier criminal defense association in Northeast Florida.
- ForgeryWhite Collar Crimes: At Fallgatter & Catlin, P.A., we are experienced in handling all aspects of White-Collar Crimes, including Embezzlement, Bribery, Counterfeiting, Forgery, Healthcare Fraud, Insurance Fraud, Mail Fraud, Securities Fraud, Public Corruption, Tax Evasion, and Internet Fraud. These types of cases are usually complex and require a significant amount of legal experience to properly defend. State and Federal prosecutors, who believe they have sufficient evidence to bring these types of cases to trial, are usually aggressive in seeking financial penalties and jail time. Our law firm has the extensive experience in handling White-Collar Crimes to assist you in getting the best outcome.
- Money Laundering
- KidnappingDomestic Violence: Domestic violence by a partner, spouse, ex-spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend can include charges filed for aggregated assault, battery, aggregated battery, stalking and even kidnapping. When the police are called for a domestic dispute and there is evidence a crime has been committed, someone is likely to be arrested. At Fallgatter, Catlin & Varon, P.A. we have handled many domestic disputes that have escalated into charges filed and arrests made. We will listen to your side of the story, review police records and try to find some common ground where charges may be dropped or lessened.
- Internet CrimesSex Crimes: At Fallgatter Catlin & Varon, P.A., we have extensive experience handling all types of sex crimes, including sexual battery, rape, child pornography, internet sex crimes, failure to register as a sex offender and sex crimes against children. If you have had a sex crime filed against you, or even if you are just under investigation, you are in serious danger of losing your freedom. Due to the nature of sexual offense allegations, you need to seek legal advice immediately. At Fallgatter Catlin & Varon, P.A., our office will work with investigators and prosecutors right away, to attempt to get the charges either dismissed or reduced to a lesser charge. When your livelihood, family, reputation and freedom is on the line, you need legal assistance with a proven track record handling these types of sensitive matters.
- ProstitutionSex Crimes: If you have been arrested for any type of sex crime, including sexual battery, rape, child molestation, possession of child pornography, indecent exposure/lewd conduct, internet sexual offenses, or prostitution, you need an experienced attorney immediately. Curtis Fallgatter has extensive experience in handling cases involving sex crimes. Defending your innocence can be a complicated ordeal. If you have been accused of perpetrating a sexual crime of any nature, you need to seek immediate legal counsel and advice on your best course of action. Negating the damage caused by false accusations is paramount to a successful outcome.
- Extortion
- Business Disputes
- Business TransactionsDuring the course of business transactions and when managing commercial enterprises, disputes arise, facts change and duties go unmet. Damages and harm take many forms, including lost profits, uncompensated expenses and seemingly squandered investments of time, labor, goods and money.
- Trade Secrets
- Antitrust
- Employment LitigationBut then we have the skills and experience to pursue civil litigation in Florida for employment issues or virtually any type of conflict you need to resolve for your business.
- Construction Litigation
- Personal InjuryWhen the failure of others to exercise due care results in personal injury to you or your family, the law allows you to obtain compensation and to set right the wrongs inflicted upon you by the negligence of others.
- Medical MalpracticeEvery unwanted medical result is not a valid case of medical malpractice. Then again even valid cases involve many hurdles and procedural rules that can block legitimate claims. Our malpractice lawyers in Jacksonville have the skills and medical resources to pursue these highly technical claims. Learn more about Medical Malpractice.
- Auto Accidents
- Probate
- Bankruptcy