Appeals/Post-Conviction
Cheating/Plagiarism
Child Pornography
Civil Rights
Drugs
Employment Discrimination
Federal Court Practice
Firearms
Murder and Violent Crime
Police Misconduct
Property Crimes
Sex Crimes
Sexual Harassment
Suspension and Expulsion Hearings
Wage and Hour Law
Wrongful Termination
Appeals/Post-Conviction
When a trial is lost, it is devastating to the defendant and his or her family. But is important not to give up hope and to know that cases lost at trial can often be won on appeal or in a motion for new trial. In both state and federal court appeals, the defendant has an opportunity to argue legal issues that the trial judge may have gotten wrong. In some instances, an appellate court may find that the facts themselves do not support the charge.
It is important to hire an attorney who knows the appellate system inside and out, knows where and how to concentrate resources, and can craft polished, creative, detailed, exhaustively researched and, most importantly, winning appellate briefs. You also need an attorney experienced in art of oral appellate advocacy, as appeals can be won and lost at the argument stage as well. The Boston law firm of Hedges & Tumposky, LLP is experienced in appeals and motions for new trial, having successfully handled these matters in both state and federal court. If you or someone you know needs an attorney for an appeal or motion for new trial, call us at 617-722-8220.
Cheating/Plagiarism
An allegation of cheating or plagiarism can have a dramatic effect on your future. It can severely limit your ability to graduate, pursue further education and even start a career. If an educational institution is accusing you or your child of cheating or plagiarism, it is important to have strong legal representation on your side. The Boston law firm of Hedges & Tumposky, LLP is experienced in defending cheating and plagiarism cases. If you or someone in your family has been accused of cheating or plagiarism, call us at 617-722-8220.
Child Pornography
Being charged with possession or distribution of child pornography can be a daunting, humiliating experience. Such charges can invite unwanted attention from the press and public, can call for harsh sentences, and can result in significant collateral consequences such as registration as a sex offender and difficulty finding jobs and housing. When charged with such a crime you need an aggressive attorney who is not deterred by the public stigma associated with such offenses, who will aggressively challenge the evidence in the case, and who will immediately begin working with you to mitigate the consequences of simply being accused of a crime that carries profound social stigma.
The firm of Hedges and Tumposky, LLP has the experience and the skill to advocate for the best results in such cases. We understand that such cases often involve the use of computer forensics experts and others professionals, and have developed strong and valuable relationships with a team of such experts who are leaders in their fields. We will explore and challenge the vulnerabilities in law enforcement investigation and in the prosecutor’s case, and leave no stone unturned to arrive at the best result. If you or someone you know has been charged with crime involving child pornography, call us at 617-722-8220.
Civil Rights
Citizens interact with their government on a daily basis and rely on them to perform basic functions and to provide essential services. When a government official acts improperly, you are entitled to pursue legal action. The Boston law firm of Hedges & Tumposky, LLP is experienced in civil rights cases, having successfully brought such cases in state and federal court with great results. If you have suffered a violation of your civil rights, call us at 617-722-8220.
Drugs
Drug prosecutions may be commonplace, but neither the defendant nor the attorney can afford to regard them as routine. Any skilled practitioner understands that defending a drug case can be complex, calling for creativity, determination and experience. The stakes demand a focused and diligent defense: drug crimes can call for long sentences, often involve mandatory minimum sentences, and are subject to a variety of enhancements that give prosecutors considerable leverage. In addition, convictions can have disastrous collateral consequences, reaching far outside the courtroom, including disqualifying a defendant from subsidized housing and student loans or resulting in driver’s license suspension.
Given the resources that law enforcement and prosecutors put into drug prosecutions, you need an attorney who has the knowledge and resources to develop the best defense and who is not afraid to stand up to powerful prosecutors. The Boston law firm of Hedges & Tumposky, LLP has years of experience handling everything from complex drug conspiracies, alleging high volume drug sales via sophisticated networks, to minor distribution and possession offenses. Whether a person is facing federal prosecution for international drug smuggling, or a local district court case alleging simple possession, the firm will dedicate the same degree of attention and rigor to defending the case.
Similarly, the firm has handled cases involving a variety of illegal drugs — marijuana, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms, methamphetamine, and illegal use of prescription drugs and in each one of these cases has provided cutting edge representation. No matter what the charge, you need an attorney who knows that drug cases require a thorough investigation, a detailed analysis of whether law enforcement respected constitutional limitations, the aggressiveness to demand that the Government comply with its discovery obligations, the creativity to file pre-trial motions, and of course the experience and skill to litigate the case expertly through trial or disposition. If you or someone you know needs an attorney for a drug case call us at 617-722-8220.
Employment Discrimination
The workplace can often be a difficult environment. Federal and state laws are designed to protect the rights of employees. If you have endured or are enduring discrimination or harassment because of your race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability or other protected characteristic, you have the right to pursue legal action against your employer. The Boston law firm of Hedges & Tumposky, LLP is experienced in employment discrimination cases, having successfully brought such cases in state and federal court. If you have suffered a violation of your workplace rights, call us at 617-722-8220.
Federal Court Practice
By the time the Federal Government charges someone with a crime, it has already devoted tremendous resources to the initial investigation and prosecution. The proverbial “federal case” against a defendant can involve search warrants, wire taps, and thousands of pages of evidence and reports prepared by federal and local law enforcement agencies over months of investigation. Federal sentences can be severe, and the prosecution may seek not only a conviction, but also to seize a defendant’s home, vehicles, and property through forfeiture actions.
Because the federal system is entirely different from state systems, if you are charged with a federal crime you need an attorney who is deeply experienced in the federal courts, and who is well versed in the constantly evolving body of federal criminal law. It is important to work with an attorney who is not merely dabbling in federal criminal defense, but rather who has a proven record of successful results in this area.
The Boston law firm of Hedges & Tumposky, LLP has years of experience of successfully handling a wide variety of federal cases, including wire/mail fraud, international money laundering, drug conspiracies, gun possession and sale, child pornography and more. Our attorneys are familiar with the federal bench, federal prosecutors, and federal law. We have worked at all phases of the federal case to achieve optimal outcomes. If you or someone you know needs an attorney for federal criminal case call us at 617-722-8220.
Firearms
Massachusetts has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation and prosecutors and police who enforce these laws aggressively. Important distinctions between state and federal law, as well as cooperative efforts between local and federal law enforcement, have created a prosecution-friendly system where a baseless firearms charge in state court can evolve into a federal indictment threatening a lengthy mandatory prison sentence. Given this risk, defendants accused of gun crimes cannot gamble on attorneys who are either inexperienced in this area of criminal law, or are unprepared to devote their full attention to litigating their client’s case.
Firearms defendants with a criminal history face a particular risk. In both state and federal prosecutions, prior convictions can expose a defendant to Felon in Possession or Armed Career Criminal charges that carry mandatory minimum sentences ranging from three to fifteen years in prison. Successfully defending against these charges can hinge upon vacating one or more prior convictions, or challenging the government’s legal basis for treating the prior offense as a foundation for the enhanced sentence. Fighting these “cases within the case” requires diligence, skill, and strategic insight.
Prevailing in gun crimes can also depend on attention to subtle details – the year the gun was manufactured, whether it traveled across state lines, or whether the weapon was operational – as well as knowing in which courts such distinctions matter. The attorneys in this firm have experience in investigating the provenance of firearms, relationships with ballistics experts who can be vital to preparing a defense, and significant experience practicing firearms defense in the state and federal courts. The Boston law firm of Hedges & Tumposky, LLP has the experience, creativity, and familiarity with state and federal gun law to advocate for the best result in these difficult cases. If you or someone you know has been charged with a firearm offense, call us at 617-722-8220.
Murder and Violent Crime
The defense of murder cases and other violent crimes should never be entrusted to anyone but the most experienced and dedicated of attorneys. Whether you are charged with murder, assault and battery, domestic abuse, or another violent crime, you need a skilled attorney committed to taking every measure necessary to achieve results.
The Boston law firm of Hedges and Tumposky, LLP has experience defending serious, high profile, and complicated violent crimes. The firm will leave no stone unturned – challenging the law enforcement investigation, demanding complete discovery disclosure from the Government, developing creative and persuasive pre-trial motions, and skillfully and tirelessly litigating the case through trial or disposition.
Violent crimes often attract media attention, heaping additional stress and unwanted attention on the defendant and the defendant’s family. While it is nearly impossible to deflect media interest, our attorneys are practiced in using the press exposure to help, rather than hinder, clients’ interests. In addition, these cases often require investigators, scientific experts, and medical experts. DNA, ballistics, fingerprints, and other forms of crime scene analysis can be often a vital aspect of criminal defense in such cases. Our attorneys work with teams of well-respected experts to challenge the prosecution’s claims. If you or someone you know needs an attorney to defend charges of murder or violent crime call us at 617-722-8220.
Police Misconduct
As citizens, your rights are protected by state and federal laws and the federal and state Constitution. When anyone, even police officers, violates these rights, you are entitled to take legal action against them. The police have a great deal of power, and our lawyers see it as part of our duty to protect individuals from misuse of this power. The police are entrusted with protecting and serving the public – when they use their power to harm it can have devastating consequences for individuals, families, and communities.
No one, no matter what their socioeconomic status or criminal history, should suffer mistreatment at the hands of the police. When an officer violates your civil rights by illegally searching your person or home, falsely arresting you, using excessive force against you, causing a wrongful conviction, or conducting a malicious prosecution — you need lawyers with a deep working knowledge of strategies that get results in these cases.
The Boston law firm of Hedges & Tumposky, LLP is highly experienced in police misconduct cases, having successfully brought such cases in state and federal court, resulting in substantial judgments and settlements for the client. We have also represented police officers who have been retaliated against by other officers for breaking the “code of silence” and reporting abuses. We respond to police abuse with clear and appropriate outrage, in the form of skillful and aggressive litigation. We will seek to see that those injured by police misconduct are compensated, will seek to have those responsible held accountable, and where possible will push for meaningful institutional change. If a police officer has violated your civil rights call us at 617-722-8220.
Property Crimes
Property crimes – such as breaking and entering, larceny, embezzlement and malicious destruction of property, require counsel who will thoroughly investigate and creatively respond to the charges against you. The firm of Hedges and Tumposky, LLP has years of experience handling such cases, from misdemeanors to felonies, in both state and federal courts.
Whether you are facing misdemeanor charges in state district court, or serious felony charges, our lawyers understand the importance of litigating every angle of every case based upon the unique facts. We will tirelessly investigate your case, craft creative pre-trial motions where called for, and aggressively challenge the prosecution’s case at every turn. If you or someone you know has been charged with a property crime, call us at 617-722-8220.
Sex Crimes
Being charged with a sex crime – such as rape and statutory rape, indecent assault and battery, and enticing a minor – can be overwhelming. Sex crimes call for some of the harshest sentences in the criminal justice system. In addition, they can result in a whole host of collateral consequences, such as civil commitment, registration as a sex offender, and difficulty finding work and housing. Such crimes can also often attract unwelcome media attention. Proper defense of such crimes requires a deep understanding of the body of law governing these offenses, experience managing media attention, and a knowledge of the forensic issues and experts needed in such cases.
The Boston law firm of Hedges & Tumposky, LLP has the experience, creativity, and compassion to advocate for the best result in these difficult cases. We are not afraid to zealously advocate for the rights of those accused of such crimes, no matter what the crime, and no matter what the public perception of the crime. Our lawyers will learn everything there is to know about the case, by listening to your story, investigating the facts, and demanding discovery from the prosecutor. We will explore and challenge the vulnerabilities in the police investigation and in the prosecutor’s case, and leave no stone unturned to arrive at the best result. If you or someone you know has been charged with a sex crime, call us at 617-722-8220.
Sexual Harassment
Even in the 21st century, some people simply have not learned that it is inappropriate to tell unwelcome sexual jokes, make unsolicited sexual comments, request sexual favors or engage in a pattern of sexual harassment in the workplace. In addition, some employers do not take complaints of such behavior seriously, and may even retaliate against an employee who complains about in appropriate workplace conduct.
For victims of sexual harassment, the emotional toll can be devastating. Instead of seeing the workplace as a professional environment to grow and succeed in one’s career, victims often dread their jobs and fear any interaction with the employees and supervisors who engage in or condone inappropriate behavior. The Boston law firm of Hedges & Tumposky, LLP is experienced in handling sexual harassment cases, having successfully brought such cases in state and federal court. If you have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, call us at 617-722-8220.
Suspension and Expulsion Hearings
When you, or your parents, have spent a substantial amount of money on a high school, college, or graduate education, the stakes are extremely high when your school brings charges against you. The right attorney representation in a suspension or expulsion hearing can make all the difference. The Boston law firm of Hedges & Tumposky, LLP is experienced in suspension and expulsion hearings. If you or your child is faced with a suspension or expulsion hearing, call us at 617-722-8220.
Wage and Hour Law
The law requires your employer to pay you for every hour worked. Often, you are entitled to overtime for more than forty hours worked per week. Your employer is prohibited from taking any of your tips and must treat you as an employee, rather than an independent contractor, if you do the work of an employee. If your employer has violated wage and hour laws, you are entitled to pursue legal action and can sometimes recover triple damages. The Boston law firm of Hedges & Tumposky, LLP is experienced in wage and hour cases. If you have suffered a violation of your workplace rights, call us at 617-722-8220.
Wrongful Termination
Although the law gives the employer a great deal of discretion in deciding whether to let someone go, in some instances a termination may be unlawful. For example, if you have an employment contract (either express of implied) or if your employer is attempting to avoid paying you earned commissions, you may be entitled to pursue legal action. The Boston law firm of Hedges & Tumposky, LLP is experienced in wrongful termination cases. If you have been wrongfully terminated from your job, call us at 617-722-8220.