TIPSY TUESDAYS: Tip of the day: Always error on the side of caution (As Sexy as the officer may be..) when it comes to search and seizures even when it comes to your home or vehicle. Consider how many people are in your car or home who may have left things there you do not know about. They just might have left something that will get you in trouble. For example, someone may forget their medication in your vehicle. You don’t believe you have anything to hide and allow the poli

TIPSY TUESDAY: Most people do not fully understand the implications of being a party to a protective order. The most common misunderstanding is that a no contact order is a sword only wielded by the ”protected party” allowing the protected party to act as they please while the defendant is retrained. In reality a no contact order is just as restrictive on a protected party as a defendant. Should either party make contact with the other, they are in violation of a court order

TIPSY TUESDAY: Under Iowa Statute, suspects are entitled to confidential communication with legal counsel. It is always in one’s best interest to utilize this right. In OWI cases, a suspect should insist upon contacting an attorney prior to performing any tests or making any statements. Furthermore, a suspect should request privacy from the officer even if the officer objects. You have the right to speak to your attorney without the officer listening to you. Just remember th

TIPSY TUESDAY: When police approach you, say as little as possible. Because 1) You will NOT talk your way out of this; 2) You probably will convince the police to arrest you even more; and 3) “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law” is NOT them just trying to scare you. To the best of your ability, keep quiet and ask to call the Bergmann Law Firm (319) 385-8527. #DUILAWYER #burlington #iowaattorney #burlingtonlawyer #burlingtonattorney #iowacityat

It’s so easy to simply throw away what most of us think of as ”junk mail” because we don’t want to be bothered by it. This should not be the policy with mailings or service of papers from courts or attorney’s. These papers could contain very valuable information regarding allegations, filings, and dates that are necessary to learn of and address potential legal actions against us brought by the state or other private individuals. Should you or someone you know receive such

TIPSY TUESDAY – Police will lie to people in order to get them to say things against their own interests. The Iowa Supreme Court has taken a major step toward protecting defendants last month in the case of State v. Howard (suppressing a confession gathered through false promises of leniency by police.) Police will still try to convince a person that they are better off talking to them. Remember, police DO NOT have the authority to make deals with defendants. People being que