END OF THE ROAD FOR REDFLEX IN CHICAGO

On behalf of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in News on Thursday, October 23, 2014.

Former Redflex Traffic Systems CEO Karen Finley was indicted August 13 th2014 on nine counts of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, three counts of bribery, and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Finley along with former city official John Bills were accused of using the traffic camera business to bribe the city between 2002 and 2012. The program has brought almost $500 million to Chicago where it operated thanks to traffic tickets which had been suspected of not functioning properly.

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CONCERN AND ANXIETY OVER MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW

On behalf of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in News on Thursday, November 6, 2014.

Officials like Kendall County Assistant State’s Attorney Nemura Pencyla are expressing apprehension regarding the opening of 60 medical marijuana dispensaries throughout Illinois. Pencyla believes that legal consumption of marijuana is directly connected to an increase in crime in his observation of crime statistics in states with similar medical marijuana laws.

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PATIENTS SUFFER AS MEDICAL MARIJUANA REMAINS UNAVAILABLE

On behalf of Timothy P. Martin of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in News on Thursday, March 26, 2015.

Illinois residents suffering from serious medical conditions initially rejoiced when the state voted to legalize medical marijuana. But after a year and a half, that excitement has almost entirely worn off and has been replaced with despair.

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TIM MARTIN SELECTED AS SUPER LAWYER, 2018

By Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in News on Thursday, January 18, 2018.

Our team at Martin & Kent, L.L.C. is proud to announce that attorney Tim Martin was selected as a 2018 Super Lawyer. Super Lawyers is an annual nomination given to exceptional lawyers. Its purpose is to provide a list of excellent legal counsel options for people who need an attorney.

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DO I NEED A SHOPLIFTING ATTORNEY?

On behalf of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in Theft Crimes on Thursday, January 15, 2015.

Some criminal charges may seem so minor that you may be hesitant to bother hiring a lawyer. Shoplifting charges could fall under this category. The penalties for shoplifting-or “retail theft,” as it’s known in Illinois-can be quite minimal, but some cases could be more devastating than you would think.

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Felony Theft: Revealing 7 Critical Legal Differences You Must Know

On behalf of Timothy P. Martin of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in Theft Crimes on Wednesday, January 11, 2017.

Before starting the defense process, it is vital for people to understand the exact nature of the charges that they’re facing. Without this understanding, it will be more difficult for individuals to communicate with their attorneys about how best to defend against outstanding charges. 

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Domestic Abuse and Firearms Ownership: 6 Urgent Questions Answered

On behalf of Timothy P. Martin of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in blog on Tuesday, May 9, 2017.

A recent Supreme Court case has upheld a federal law stating that it is illegal to own firearms if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor domestic abuse charge. The determining Supreme Court case involved two men who had been convicted of misdemeanor assault charges against their romantic partners in Maine. Years after their conviction, the men were found to have both guns and ammunition in their possession, which violated the already established federal law that those who have been convicted of a misdemeanor domestic abuse charge cannot own firearms.

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Selling Prescription Drugs on Campus: 7 Unforeseen Ways It Can Devastate Your Life Today

On behalf of Timothy P. Martin of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in blog on Friday, June 16, 2017.

Illegally selling and using prescription drugs is becoming an almost normalized part of American culture. Increasingly, students are using these drugs to help them cope with the pressures and anxieties of school. But students often don’t consider the serious legal repercussions they could potentially face from selling prescription drugs like Xanax, Ritalin, and Adderall.

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PEOPLE WHO NEED MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN ILLINOIS STILL FACE CHARGES

On behalf of Timothy P. Martin of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in blog on Wednesday, August 2, 2017.

illinois has taken steps to allow state citizens safe and legal access to medical marijuana. Those with a wide range of medical conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, cachexia, cancer, Crohn’s disease, Lupus, Interstitial Cystitis, HIV/AIDS or even post traumatic stress can qualify. The law does not require that a doctor specifically recommend marijuana as medicine, as many malpractice insurance companies currently refuse to allow recommendations because of federal law. Instead, a doctor only has to provide documentation of an ongoing relationship and a debilitating condition.

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Falsely Accused? Unveil 7 Powerful Ways to Defend Yourself and Reclaim Your Life

On behalf of Timothy P. Martin of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in blog on Tuesday, September 5, 2017.

There is nothing much worse than finding out that someone you care about has claimed that you did something you didn’t or blown a situation out of proportion to get you into trouble with the law. Sometimes, when people fear getting in trouble themselves, they actually take the first step and blame the other party, so that person has to be on the defensive.

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Marijuana Laws: 9 Astonishing Penalties You Need to Be Aware Of in Illinois

On behalf of Timothy P. Martin of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in blog on Thursday, November 30, 2017.

As someone who has tried marijuana and used it in places where it’s legal, you may think that the rest of the United States is becoming less offended by its use. You might think you won’t face charges if you’re caught, since other people wouldn’t.

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Shoplifting in Illinois: 5 Alarming Consequences You Must Know Now

On behalf of Timothy P. Martin of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in blog on Tuesday, January 9, 2018.

Many people scoff at shoplifting as a minor form of crime that is barely theft. Young adults, such as college students, may be likely to think that shoplifting isn’t a serious issue. That, combined with poor impulse control or understanding of potential consequences, could lead to people making a life-altering mistake.

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Plea Bargaining: Discover the Astonishing Benefits in 8 Simple Steps

On behalf of Timothy P. Martin of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in blog on Wednesday, February 21, 2018.

On television and in the movies, criminal defendants will usually want to go through the jury trial to resolve the case. In reality, only a small portion of cases are resolved in this manner. The vast majority are handled through plea deals.

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Criminal Records Expungement and Sealing: 8 Powerful Reasons to Clean Your Slate in Illinois

On behalf of Timothy P. Martin of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in blog on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.

Getting convicted of a crime is one thing. Having that crime follow you for the rest of your life on your public criminal record is an entirely different thing altogether. Fortunately, though, for some criminal defendants, they can get their criminal record expunged or sealed.

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Misdemeanor Offenses: 7 Startling Facts That Will Change Your Perspective

On behalf of Timothy P. Martin of Martin & Kent, L.L.C. posted in Misdemeanors on Thursday, April 19, 2018.

Some people in Illinois who are charged with misdemeanor offenses may not treat them as seriously as they should. If you are facing misdemeanor charges, it is important that you understand that a conviction will mean that you have a criminal record, which can impact your ability to find a job. You may also face spending up to one year in county jail and the assessment of a fine.

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