State v. M.K.L.

Continuance for dismissal. The City Attorney took a firm stance on the offer being a stay of adjudication - a great result that the client would have been pleased with. But, Mr. Gempeler knew a better outcome was obtainable with the proper approach. After counseling the client about ways to be proactive in a manner that could lead to a better result, Mr. Gempeler aggressively negotiated the better result for the client - a continuance for a dismissal. For a client that must disclose her criminal record for her job, the distinction is significant in that she no longer has to state she pled guilty to the offense. The client is relieved that her mistake won't impact her future due to the aggressive approach by Mr. Gempeler.