Catfishing is the act of one person using a false identity online to mislead or trick others. Sometimes it’s just a prank, but in other situations it can cause real harm. If someone uses a fake profile to commit a crime, such as stealing money or threatening another person, the act may then be considered a crime in Arizona.
There isn’t one state law that directly bans catfishing. Instead, prosecutors use other criminal laws (like fraud, identity theft, and harassment) depending on what happened. The main question is intent: what did the person intend to do, and was anyone…
Continue Reading Is Catfishing a Crime in Phoenix, Arizona?

Today’s Wall Street Journal features an interesting piece on the use of “judges for hire” — Inside the Little-Known World of Private Judging.
When I first saw the headline, still a bit blurry-eyed, my mind immediately went to Judge Judy and other courtroom-style TV shows — which, of course, are really just arbitration dressed up for entertainment. But that’s not what this article is about.
Though not well-known even in the legal profession, it is true: In many states you can hire a private party to serve as a judge. And unlike arbitration or mediation, the proceedings are typically …
Continue Reading Private Judging – An Introduction

We’ve all heard countless times that listening is a lost art, an undervalued skill that could transform our businesses and relationships if only we’d slow down and truly hear what others are saying. Management books devote chapters to the practice of being present and attentive. And they’re right to do so—listening matters enormously. But while we’ve been busy diagnosing one side of the communication equation, we’ve completely overlooked its equally essential counterpart, which is candor.

We worry about hurting feelings, damaging relationships, or creating legal exposure. We’ve built entire industries around softening our words, from HR compliance training that teaches…
Continue Reading Candor is the other half of communication that is often forgotten

When people talk about being incarcerated, the words “jail” and “prison” are often used interchangeably, as if they mean exactly the same thing. In reality, there are differences between the two. Understanding these differences and when a person can be sentenced to one or the other is important for defendants and their families. 
Who Goes to Jail?
Understanding exactly who may spend time in jail helps families and defendants know what to expect: 
Recently Arrested Individuals
Individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting their first court appearance typically remain in a local jail for processing and booking. Whether for…
Continue Reading What Are the Differences Between Jail and Prison in Arizona?

That’s the question that Nancy B. Rapoport and Joseph R. Tiano, Jr., discussed in Fighting the Hypothetical:  Why Law Firms Should Rethink the Billable Hour in the Generative AI Era.
This article provides a deep analysis, summarized in the abstract (with added blank lines to enhance readability):
As the legal profession continues to grasp the contours of how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) will change the practice of law, it is already well-versed in many of the ethics issues involved in using GenAI to assist in legal work.
It is significantly less well-versed in the financial effect of GenAI on…
Continue Reading How Will AI Affect Legal Practice and Education?

I have represented many families in birth injury cases. I have reviewed many, many potential birth injury cases that I did not accept. In every one of those cases, the fetal heart monitor strip was an essential piece of evidence. Just how reliable is it?

Birth injury cases have resulted in many of the largest medical malpractice verdicts. These cases are incredibly sad and usually involve very badly damaged infants or babies who died during or shortly after birth. If the infant survived, she or he was usually in need of a lifetime of expensive care. Verdicts exceeding $10M are…
Continue Reading How Reliable Are Fetal Heart Monitors?

Wondering whether to accept a plea bargain is one of the most common questions defendants face when charged with a crime. Prosecutors often offer a deal early on in the case, promising less severe penalties in exchange for your guilty plea. 
This offer may seem tempting — especially if you’re worried about a trial or just want to put the whole incident behind you. However, accepting a plea deal is a big decision with lasting consequences. Knowing the basics can help you make an informed choice and avoid regrets down the road. 
Reasons Prosecutors Offer Plea Bargains
Many defendants wonder…
Continue Reading Should I Accept a Plea Bargain?

Understanding the Harsh Reality of the Criminal Justice System
One of the more difficult questions we receive at R&R Law Group is: “Why do innocent people take plea deals?”

It’s a heartbreaking question and one that sheds light on some of the toughest realities of our criminal justice system. While it might seem unthinkable that someone would plead guilty to something they didn’t do, the truth is that this happens far more often than most people realize.
The Pressure of Harsh Legal Penalties
In Arizona, criminal penalties can be severe especially for felony charges. Mandatory sentencing laws mean that if…
Continue Reading Why Do Innocent People Take Plea Deals?

Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold, LLP, a leading Arizona-based law firm, is pleased to announce that it has been recognized regionally in six practice areas in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms®. Frazer Ryan earned Metropolitan Tier 1 (Phoenix) status in the categories of Closely Held Companies and Family […]
The post Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold Ranked by Best Law Firms® for 2026 appeared first on Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold, LLP.
Continue Reading Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold Ranked by Best Law Firms® for 2026

Confidence is the most valuable currency in business, but most people trade in counterfeit bills. It’s easy to mistake volume for conviction and swagger for certainty, and later watch that same person crater when the pressure actually arrives. Real confidence isn’t about never showing weakness. It’s about knowing your value so thoroughly that you don’t need to perform it every minute of every meeting or day.

People with confidence show themselves in how someone handles status. I’m talking about people who can laugh when they’re the punchline, who can take a younger co-worker’s criticism of their strategy without getting defensive,…
Continue Reading The Currency of Confidence in Real Leaders

At the recent AALS ADR Section WIP Conference, I led a focus group to explore how faculty are using – and thinking about using – AI in their courses.  The participants shared a range of thoughtful insights, revealing both enthusiasm and caution.  Their responses offered a snapshot of what experimentation with AI looks like now, especially in communication-heavy and skills-based courses.
Here’s the summary of the findings:  Teaching with AI: Insights from a Faculty Focus Group.  It describes how faculty are:

  • Designing bots as conversation partners for simulations
  • Requiring students to submit chat transcripts to make reasoning visible
  • Exploring

…
Continue Reading Teaching with AI: Faculty Reflections and a Preview of Professors’ Dilemma

The internet can be a powerful tool for connection, but it also creates new risks for personal privacy. One of the most concerning threats in the digital world today is doxing—a form of online harassment that can quickly escalate into real-world consequences. 
Whether you’re a private individual, a public figure, or just someone with a social media account, understanding what doxing is—and how to protect yourself—is more important than ever.
Doxing Defined
Doxing (also spelled “doxxing”) is the act of publicly revealing personal, sensitive, or identifying information about someone without their consent. The term comes from “dropping docs,” referring…
Continue Reading What Is Doxing?

Getting into a car accident in Peoria is stressful enough without having to worry about insurance companies, medical bills, and whether you’ll get fairly compensated. Between the I-10, Loop 101, and the busy surface streets around town, accidents happen more often than any of us would like.
If you’ve been in a crash recently, you’re probably wondering what happens next and how to make sure you’re protected. Let me break down the car accident claim process in a way that actually makes sense. If you need guidance or want to make sure your rights are protected, contact The Law Offices …
Continue Reading Understanding the Car Accident Claim Process in Peoria

The United States is awash in vaccine skepticism. It has become a political football and a culture war casualty. Many states have either eliminated the requirement that school children be vaccinated before being allowed in the classroom or have so weakened the requirement that almost any parent can opt out for almost any reason or no reason at all. The result is an increasing number of unvaccinated children attending school which has led to outbreaks of communicable diseases vaccines can prevent.

You don’t have to go very far back in history to see what the world was like before the…
Continue Reading Vaccines: Victims Of Their Own Success

If your charges were dismissed in Arizona, you might assume the issue is behind you. But unfortunately, that’s not always true—dismissed charges can still appear on your criminal record and may be seen by employers, landlords, and others during a background check.
This surprise often comes at the worst time: when you’re applying for a new job, trying to rent an apartment, or seeking a loan. Even if you were never convicted, the lingering mark of an arrest can affect your opportunities. Fortunately, Arizona law provides a process to help protect your reputation.
What Happens When You Seal a Record…
Continue Reading Will Dismissed Charges Show Up on My Record?

Holding Vacation Rental Homes in an LLC: Liability, Insurance, and Tax Considerations
Owning a vacation rental home can be a rewarding investment, but it also comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to liability, insurance, and tax implications. Unlike these little turtles who will grow their own protective shell, vacation rental homes titled in your personal name or revocable trust do not have their own protection in Arizona.
As an owner of real estate in Arizona, you assume certain risks associated with such ownership and have a duty to properly repair and maintain the home and…
Continue Reading Holding Vacation Rental Homes in an LLC