At Portner & Shure, our experienced criminal defense lawyers believe that everyone deserves a thorough and vigorous defense. Being accused of a crime can have serious consequences to your well-being, from damage to your reputation to criminal conviction. That’s why it’s important to have experienced attorneys to help you understand your rights.
DUI/DWI
In order to assist the growing Spanish community, we have a Spanish department—which includes Elizabeth, Norma, Claudia, and Will—to help with Spanish-speaking automobile accident victims and residents charged with DWI or other criminal offenses.
Wrongful Death
There are many causes of defective products, as nearly anything you buy can have a flaw in some way. Defective products can be extremely hazardous and may cause serious injuries or even wrongful death, all because the manufacturer was negligent in distributing a dangerous product.
Traffic Violations
Driving is a part of nearly everyone's daily lives. Whether commuting to and from work, picking up the kids from school or activities, or running errands, it's easy to spend a lot of time on the roads driving. While you may practice safe driving, traffic violations can still occur. Regardless if the offense is minor or major, a citation can come with consequences that cause you money, points on your license, and even jail time.
Sex Crimes
Fraud
Conviction of credit card fraud in Virginia results in various penalties, depending on the value of all money, goods, and services.
Robbery
In Maryland, robbery is the taking and carrying away of the personal property of another, from his person or in his presence, by violence or putting in fear of violence. Robbery is a felony, and if found guilty, penalties include up to 15 years imprisonment.
Burglary
Burglary offenses are broken up into four statutes: first-degree, second-degree, third-degree, and fourth-degree burglary. Maryland’s burglary laws often refer to "breaking and entering." The burglary statutes do not require that the defendant physically enter the home or building, just that the defendant crossed into a secure threshold into any area that you have no lawful right to be in.
Theft
Misdemeanors
Second-degree assault is generally a misdemeanor with a maximum potential sentence of 10 years. A second-degree assault will be charged as a felony if committed on a law enforcement or probation officer. There are three disjunctive factors for second-degree assault, which means the state only needs to prove one of the three in order to get a conviction.
Embezzlement
Embezzlement occurs when a person, who has legal access to, but not legal ownership of an asset, and misappropriates the asset for their personal use. Embezzlement is often viewed by the courts as one of the worst theft crimes because it involves a trusted person taking advantage of that trust and stealing for their own personal gain. Someone that is entrusted to manage money or property of another or of a company can be charged with embezzlement if they steal from that person or company for personal gain.
Drug Crimes
If you've been arrested for a drug crime in the Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. areas, contact our experienced lawyers online or by calling
Assault
Assault & battery, or an accusation of assault & battery, happens everywhere and every day. Whether you live in Baltimore City, Easton, Frederick, or anywhere throughout Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C., you are vulnerable to being charged with assault & battery - regardless if it’s a bar fight, a domestic argument, or an interaction with the police.
Probation Violation
Typically, a probation violation occurs when one refuses, ignores, avoids, or does not comply with the terms of probation at any time during their probation period.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is one of the most common offenses committed in the United States. The law is simple—a person may not knowingly, willfully, and with fraudulent intent obtain personal identifying information of an individual, without the consent of the individual, in order to use that information to obtain a benefit, credit, good, service, or other things of value.
Arson
Second-degree burglary is breaking and entering another’s building or storehouse with the intent to steal or commit a crime of violence or arson. Building includes watercraft, barn, stable, pier, wharf, storeroom, warehouse, public building, trailer, aircraft, vessel, schoolhouse, supermarket, or church but not a vehicle or tent. Second-degree burglary is a felony with a 20 year prison sentence maximum.
Shoplifting
Section 7-104 of Maryland’s Criminal Law Article replaced the Common-Law crimes of larceny, larceny by trick, embezzlement, false pretenses, shoplifting, and receiving stolen property.
Prostitution
If you've been arrested for prostitution in the Maryland or Virginia areas, contact the experienced lawyers at Portner & Shure today at
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured as a result unsafe premises or other property owner negligence, contact us today for a free initial consultation with our premises liability attorneys.
Property Damage
In an instant, a motor vehicle accident can turn your life upside down. Motor vehicle wrecks can cause severe injuries, permanent disabilities and even death. Mounting medical expenses, property damage and lost wages due to missed time away from work can be financially crippling for victims and their families. At Portner & Shure, we know the myriad of ways insurance companies try to avoid fair payments. With over 25 years of experience, our firm has helped more than twenty five thousand clients obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. Let us help you. Our top rated attorneys help accident victims in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. We have staff members who are fluent in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
Naturalization is the process used by a legal permanent resident to become a U.S. citizen. If you were not born a citizen of the U.S., you may become a U.S. citizen through the naturalization process.
Family Immigration
There are two categories for family-based immigration: “immediate relatives” and relatives who fall under the “family preference system.”
Employment Immigration
Approximately 140,000 employment immigrant visas are made available each year to qualified foreign workers. Employment immigration visas are granted to foreign workers under one of five preference categories...
Green Cards
Family Visas
If you are applying via an I-30 petition for a family visa, it can take some time to process your application and obtain your visa. Once a proper I-30 application has been filed, you will receive a confirmation of receipt of your application from the USCIS within 2 to 3 weeks.
Work Visas
The two main categories of employment-based visas are nonimmigrant and immigrant visas. Non-immigrant employment visas only allow foreign workers to enter and work in the U.S. for a certain amount of time. Immigrant employment visas allow a foreign worker to obtain a green card.
Removal Defense
Deportation is the most challenging and complex area of immigration law. If you have been placed in removal proceedings, it is crucial that you obtain an experienced immigration attorney that can evaluate your case to determine if there is a legitimate form of relief from deportation that may be available to you. There are common forms of deportation relief that can be used to prevent deportation, or at least extend the length of time you can legally remain in the U.S. Therefore it is important to seek consultation from an experienced immigration attorney who can help you understand your rights, eligibility and options that may be available to you.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO BATTLE FOR OUR CLIENTS. AS A RESULT, WE HAVE SECURED SOME OF THE LARGEST PERSONAL INJURY RECOVERIES IN SEVERAL VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND JURISDICTIONS. CLICK HERE TO VIEW SOME OF OUR RECENT RESULTS.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice errors account for nearly 100,000 deaths each year in the United States. In fact, more people die each year from medical mistakes than from car accidents.
Auto Accidents
Social Security Disability
If you slipped, tripped, or fell at a restaurant, store, hotel, or other property, you may be entitled to financial compensation for medical bills and possibly much more. Property owners, both residential and commercial, have a responsibility to maintain reasonably safe grounds for lawful visitors, customers, and invitees. If the manager or owner of the property where your slip and fall accident occurred failed to take reasonable care in maintaining the premises, you may have grounds for a case. Portner & Shure can look into the matter to determine how to take legal action, and what amount of damages you may be entitled to receive.
Dog Bites
Slip and Fall Injury
For 25 years, our slip and fall accident attorneys have served individuals and families in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. We strongly believe that justice is the right of every person and we fight tirelessly to right the wrongs suffered by the injured in civil court. By recovering a fair settlement or award for your slip and fall injuries, you have the opportunity to put the pieces of your life back together. Our goal is to help you work toward a brighter future.