Case Results

Resolution: Dismissal. The client is alleged to have brandished a firearm during a road rage incident. He was arrested and kept in custody for several days on the possibility of facing felony charges. Ultimately, the County did not pursue them and the city pursued the assault charge. Even though it was a misdemeanor, it was a very serious one, considering the involvement of a firearm. The client is a veteran and retired law enforcement officer. Through this service, he developed PTSD that he had not addressed prior to the incident and was a major factor in it. Post-incident, he achieved sobriety and finally addressed his PTSD through therapy and EMDR (a wonderful therapeutic service that can work wonders). Through his hard-work and therapy, he finally started to get clarity in his life that had been missing. Mr. Gempeler and the North Star team then pushed for the incredible outcome of a dismissal - not via plea negotiations, such as a stay of adjudication - but an outright dismissal to ensure this incident would not hinder him moving forward. Thankfully, the local prosecutor was receptive to hearing about our client, his struggles, and then his proactive efforts. And, rightfully, he agreed with what we were after - a clean dismissal. Such a fantastic outcome was earned and just, considering the overall circumstances. This is why we do what we do - to get justice and help our clients get their lives back on track.

Resolution:

Dismissal and acquittal. The reckless driving charge was dismissed during pre-trial litigation after Mr. Gempeler correctly argued that the facts were insufficient to support such a baseless claim. And then, after not receiving any plea negotiation offers other than plead as charged, Mr. Gempeler won a court trial on the 117 mph speeding ticket. That's two trial wins in a row for this exact type of charge - which is nearly unheard of, considering how easy it truly is for a prosecutor to prove a speeding case. Undeterred, Mr. Gempeler is diligent in his approach, knowing the nuances and statutory requirements, and then how to effectively incorporate them into a successful cross examination and closing argument. Such a win not only prevented a criminal record, it also avoided a six-month loss of license that would otherwise come from a conviction for driving in excess of 100 mph.

Resolution: Plea to an amended count of careless driving. Client had no legal defenses, but wanted desperately to avoid a DWI conviction and the stigma associated with it. Mr. Gempeler had a pre-existing relationship with the prosecutor that paid off in achieving a non-DWI conviction and only one-year of probation. The North Star team achieved exactly what it set out to do, again.

Resolution: Plea to an amended count of careless driving. Client was facing a gross misdemeanor refusal charge that was not beatable. But, Mr. Gempeler found a legal issue worth raising and then leveraged that into persistent plea negotiations that resulted in a non-DWI outcome - a truly remarkable outcome when facing a gross misdemeanor DWI charge. It goes to show that, even when facing daunting charges, the North Star team knows how to get creative and aggressive in implementing a unique strategy that nets these fantastic outcomes.

Resolution:

Continuance for Dismissal. Two clients were charged with School Bus Stop Arm Violations each. After carefully reviewing the discovery materials, there were no defenses to either charge, as the crime was caught on squad video and the violation was clear as day. Mr. Gempeler was undeterred and strategically negotiated with the State by humanizing his clients and providing important context about the violations. The State relented and agreed to resolve both cases with Continuances for Dismissal. As long as the clients remain law-abiding for one year and pay the applicable fines, the charges will be dismissed. This resolution prevents criminal convictions and negative driving records, representing a significant victory for the clients.

Resolution:

Plea to a petty misdemeanor careless driving. Client was charged with a DWI despite blowing a .07. The State could have tried to prove impairment based on her overall conduct, including a decent, but not great, performance on standard field tests. The combination of a test result just under the legal limit with the other facts presented a challenge, but one that the North Star team was ready to fight at trial. Mr. Gempeler knows how to try cases and what facts to lean on when combatting these overzealous charges. On the doorstep of trial, the State finally relented and agreed to a petty misdemeanor traffic ticket. A petty misdemeanor is not a crime under Minnesota law. So, the end result is a non-criminal record, non-DWI, no probation, and no loss of license. This is a fantastic result for a client that was very nervous and anxious about the criminal process.

Resolution:

Continuance for Dismissal. At first, there was no offer on the table to resolve this case. But, with Mr. Hoppe's persistence, he secured the best outcome for the client under the circumstances. As long as the client stays law-abiding for a year and pays the applicable fine, the case will be dismissed. To avoid a criminal record, let along a traffic record, is fantastic for the client and yet another example of the talent this young man has under our watch.

Resolution:

Continuance for Dismissal. The client was charged with stealing merchandise from local Target stores that totaled $550.95. Our young law clerk, Mr. Hoppe, with just a little oversight from the veteran attorneys on the team, was able to achieve an incredible outcome that resulted in the client essentially receiving a second chance - fine, no entry at place of theft, and no same or similar incidents. Assuming the client stays law-abiding for a year under unsupervised probation, the case will be completely dismissed and will stay off their record. Besides an outright dismissal, this is the best possible result a client can achieve in their case. A pretty damn great result achieved by our clerk, who managed this while balancing a full school schedule. He has bright future, to say the least.