Resolution of a case described below in greater detail, with a one-year commitment to state hospitals and an initial declaration that the client was incapable of proceeding due to mental illness. Client exited the hospital directly into in-patient treatment and his parents' home, and has recovered magnificently well. No additional jail, and NO PRISON, required of him, he will stay free so long as he stays on top of his medications and avoids re-arrest. This could easily have been an attempted murder and a sentence literally decades in length, had the wrong lawyer been responsible. A defining win for Mr. Adkins and North Star.

Dan and James worked together to not only resolve this matter via a continuance for dismissal--relatively rare for a crime wherein actual battery is verified--but executed a full and final expungement of the matter on the anniversary of the agreement. Client now moves forward with no record whatsoever, and the family he created can carry on without the burden of a criminal notation.

No formal charges. The client contacted North Star within hours of the alleged incident happening. Immediately, our team got on the phone to contact the prosecutor. In doing so, we bought time to provide additional information for the prosecutor's consideration when making a decision whether to charge our client or not. Based upon the information provided, the prosecutor gave our client the opportunity to earn the chance to never be charged with the domestic assault. Our client eagerly completed the requested proactive steps, leading to the prosecutor to formally acknowledge that she will never be charged. This was an absolutely critical outcome for a person in the nursing field, where even a charge of domestic assault can lead to the possibility of losing her career. What makes this outcome that much more impressive is that the prosecutor commented that he had never, in his several decades as a city prosecutor, done anything like this before. Needless to say, the client was thrilled that she immediately got the North Star team on her side.

Stay of Adjudication result out of Hennepin County. Tough facts, including damning photographic evidence, became less important than a thoroughgoing approach to counseling and reconciliation between the parties, and a thoughtful prosecutor. Remember, a victim doesn't control the charging decision any longer, if they ever truly did; even more important, the State retains full authority to take a case forward, including to trial. It takes a careful, highly experienced hand to manage a complex assault matter, even with a recanting or reluctant complaining witness/'victim,' so do NOT assume a case will be dismissed without extreme care and planning, and a lawyer from North Star.

Continuance for dismissal for 180 days. No fine, jail, community service, or lengthy conditions. The client had already completed 30 days of house arrest as a result of a probation violation stemming from these allegations. Using this as leverage and the new progress of the child in getting back on track in school and his personal life, Mr. Gempeler obtained this rare result - a dismissal.

Stay of adjudication to the disorderly conduct, with an agreement to expunge the record when eligible. With the client in the midst of a divorce with the alleged victim, obtaining a non-conviction result was critical. Even after obtaining this great result, Mr. Gempeler argued successfully against probation's recommendations for domestic abuse programming. Instead, the judge credited the client for having completed anger management and did not impose any additional terms of probation. The client is set up to succeed and get back on her feet.

Charges were never filed against our client. The client was diligent in retaining North Star on the day of the alleged incident. Because of this, it afforded an opportunity for Mr. Gempeler to contact the local prosecutor prior to charges being filed (in fact, he caught the prosecutor at the time he was drafting the Complaint). Credit to the prosecutor in allowing us time to provide some critical information that he promised to consider prior to filing charges. Based upon this and thoughtful and assertive negotiations, an agreement is in place for the client to never be charged with the domestic assault. This is an incredible and necessary result for a client that needs licensing through the Dept. of Human Services. Even the charge of domestic assault would likely lead to disqualification, regardless of how the criminal case would be resolved. This outcome had never been done before with the local prosecutor. Yet, Mr. Gempeler employed the proper approach and was persistent with negotiations to secure this outcome. A great start to the new year!

North Star has become literally the place to go for assistance via a furlough to inpatient dual-diagnosis treatment and therapies. Both of these clients--staring a months-long delay in custody with bail that simply could not be posted (or on hold-without-bail, worse yet), prior to trial and potential long prison sentences--received judicially-approved placement at treatment facilities that may well keep them out of any further custodial time, while North Star attorneys work feverishly on soft landings or a favorable trial strategy. No firm, literally no firm, has the record that North Star has created in this field.