Article Summary

  • Proving dog bite negligence in Arizona requires clear evidence of duty, breach, causation, and damages.
  • Strong evidence, such as prior incidents and medical records, can significantly increase compensation.
  • Working with an experienced Phoenix dog bite lawyer helps ensure your claim is properly supported and positioned for success.

Although Arizona has a strict dog bite statute, proving negligence in a dog bite case can substantially increase a victim’s right to compensation.
Evidence such as leash law violations or prior aggressive behavior can show negligence caused the attack, allowing recovery under both strict liability and negligence claims.
Punitive …
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The answer is money. The question is why is our health care delivery system so expensive and inefficient.

We are Number One. We are Number One in the world in the amount we pay per person for health care. Where we are not Number One is in our health care outcomes. Sadly, we are way down the list, despite how much we spend. The Commonwealth Fund, a non-profit dedicated to improving health care in the United States, is over 100 years old. It regularly compares our health care system to those of the rest of the developed world. One of …
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Arizona law makes it illegal for any person under the legal drinking age of 21 to consume alcohol in any quantity. The relevant statute is Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) Section 4-244(41). A criminal conviction under this minor in consumption (MIC) law is a Class 2 misdemeanor under ARS 4-246(A), which can lead to up to 4 months in jail, up to 2 years of probation, and a fine and surcharges.

AZ Defenders represents Arizona residents charged with alcohol-related offenses, including underage drinking charges. In this blog post, we discuss Arizona’s minor-in-consumption law. 

If you or your child…
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The State Bar of California has proposed amendments to comments accompanying several Rules of Professional Conduct addressing lawyers’ use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The proposed comments do not create new ethical duties.  Rather, they elaborate how existing rules apply to lawyers’ use of AI.  Although the proposed comments would apply only in California, they make explicit duties that are implicit in professional conduct rules in most jurisdictions.
The proposed comments repeatedly emphasize themes that should surprise no careful lawyer:  lawyers must understand the risks and benefits of relevant technology, protect confidential information, supervise subordinate lawyers and staff, communicate appropriately…
Continue Reading California’s Proposed Ethics Rules Emphasize Duty to Avoid AI Hallucinations

A dismissal without prejudice means a criminal case is closed for now, but the prosecutor can refile the same charges later. While it may feel like a positive outcome, it is not a final resolution of the case.
By contrast, a dismissal with prejudice permanently ends the case. Once dismissed with prejudice, the State cannot bring the same charges again.
Understanding this distinction is important because the term “dismissed” does not always mean the case is over for good.
Why Would a Criminal Case Be Dismissed Without Prejudice?
A case is often dismissed without prejudice when the prosecution is unable…
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Is it Possible to Negotiate with an MCA Funder Directly?

Intimidating?For many business owners with merchant cash advance debt, the idea of negotiating with the funder directly, regarding obtaining a new financial arrangement for repayment of the MCA, may feel overwhelming and stressful. The short answer is that a merchant can most certainly attempt to negotiate with the MCA funder directly.Stacking Multiple Positions Often Leads to the Need to Renegotiate Terms.  The need to negotiate with a funder about new terms or obtain a settlement, is most common in the MCA world, when a business originates multiple different MCA’s. As…
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Never assume the person you’re speaking with already understands what you want from the conversation or relationship. Dropping a hint or sending a vague email is indirect and unlikely to help you get what you’re looking for. You need to understand that nobody is inside your head. The colleague you casually mentioned a referral opportunity to is not sitting at home thinking about how to help you. If you did not say clearly what you wanted, needed, or were offering, you might as well have said nothing at all.

This plays out constantly in business development and networking, two areas…
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Dealing with overwhelming debt is rarely just a financial struggle; it is a profound emotional burden. It affects your sleep, your relationships, and your ability to plan for a future that feels secure. When letters from collectors start piling up, and the phone won’t stop ringing, many people look to bankruptcy as a potential exit strategy. However, one of the most common misconceptions about filing for bankruptcy is the idea that it acts as a “magic wand,” instantly and universally wiping away every type of financial obligation you’ve ever incurred. In reality, bankruptcy is a structured legal tool governed by…
Continue Reading What Debt Can Be Forgiven? Discharging Debt in Bankruptcy

Money laundering is the process by which illegally obtained funds are converted into “legitimate” funds. The term describes how “dirty” money is moved and disguised to appear “clean,” hence its origin. Both Arizona and federal laws make money laundering illegal.

In this blog post, we focus on Arizona’s money laundering laws. Specifically, we cover:

  • How Arizona defines money laundering
  • A comparison between Arizona and federal money laundering laws
  • Penalties for money laundering in Arizona
  • Possible defenses to a money laundering charge under Arizona law

AZ Defenders criminal defense attorneys represent persons charged in Arizona in state and federal court cases,…
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Key Takeaways

  • Arizona courts prohibit hats, shorts, tank tops, and sunglasses inside the courtroom.
  • Conservative, clean, and pressed business attire is the standard for men and women.
  • Appearance influences how a judge, jury, and opposing counsel perceive a plaintiff.
  • Distracting clothing, accessories, and fragrances can work against a personal injury case.
  • Most personal injury claims settle before trial, but formal dress standards apply at every hearing.

Knowing what should I wear for court can feel like a minor concern when navigating a personal injury case, yet the clothing choice shapes how a judge, jury, or opposing counsel perceives you the…
Continue Reading What Should I Wear for Court?

Article Summary

  • Highway and expressway accidents in Phoenix are especially dangerous because they often involve high speeds, heavy traffic, and multi-vehicle collisions.
  • These crashes often result in serious injuries, including brain trauma, spinal damage, and long-term disability.
  • An interstate accident lawyer can help victims recover compensation and, in some cases, hold multiple parties accountable.

Phoenix’s major highways—I-10, I-17, Loop 101, and Loop 202—are built for speed and heavy traffic, increasing the severity of highway and expressway accidents and the likelihood of multi-vehicle collisions.
On interstate highways, such as I-10 and I-17, high speeds and congestion increase the risk of serious…
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Key Takeaways

  • Federal and Arizona law establish the right to counsel, fair trial, and witness confrontation.
  • Earlier attorney involvement opens more opportunities to shape how a case develops.
  • Defense attorneys review arrests and evidence collection to identify procedural issues early.
  • Attorneys conduct independent investigations and may seek exclusion of unlawfully obtained evidence.
  • Defense attorneys guide clients through plea negotiations and handle every aspect of courtroom advocacy when cases proceed to trial.

A criminal charge demands an immediate response. The justice system moves fast, and defendants who navigate charges without representation may face serious disadvantages as the situation develops. At The …
Continue Reading What Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer Do

Intervention issues don’t arise often in Arizona probate Court.  Nichols v. Slavicek, No. 1 CA-CV 25-0272 PB (Ariz. App. May 4, 2026) (mem. decision), is a sharp reminder that the rules apply and probate courts cannot quietly sideline a surviving parent from cases involving her own minor children.  Even in an unusual procedural posture, and even when a guardian ad litem and a law firm say they have things under control. Division One vacated the superior court’s denial of a mother’s motion to intervene, holding that her constitutional and statutory parental rights, combined with the liberal construction of Arizona…
Continue Reading When a Probate Court Locks Out a Surviving Parent: Nichols v. Slavicek and Why Rule 24 Still Matters in Conservatorship Disputes

The AALS and West Academic sponsored a great CLE on AI tools for law faculty on April 15.  Here’s the description of the program and a link to the video.
How can artificial intelligence streamline course preparation, enrich classroom engagement, and support student learning?  This webinar brought together experienced legal educators who shared practical strategies for using AI to support law teaching.  They described how AI can assist with day-to-day teaching tasks such as generating hypos, refining rubrics, organizing course materials and presentations, and designing formative assessments, as well as how to evaluate AI outputs with a critical, professional…
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When a patient is admitted to the hospital, a lot of bad things can happen and often do. Many studies have been done to try and identify those factors that increase the risk of an in-hospital death. Some of the factors which have been identified are ones over which we have little control. For example, males have a higher risk of death as do lower income individuals. Older age and the presence of co-morbidities are also factors which increase the likelihood of an in-hospital death and over which we have no control. Perhaps unsurprisingly, being admitted to the hospital on…
Continue Reading Stay Out Of The Hospital This Weekend – Or Any Weekend, For That Matter

The landscape of higher education financing has become a minefield for the unwary. While much of the national conversation centers on government initiatives, millions of Americans are quietly struggling under the weight of private student loans. These loans, issued by banks, credit unions, and online lenders, lack the safety nets, income-driven repayment plans, and forgiveness options associated with federal debt. This vulnerability has created a massive opportunity for predatory “debt relief” companies to thrive. These companies target individuals who are desperate for a way out of aggressive private lending terms, high interest rates, and balances that never seem to shrink.
Continue Reading Warning Signs of Student Loan Scams: Fees & Fast Forgiveness?