We are Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers:
FLAHERTY FARDO, LLC identifies itself as a full-service civil litigation law firm. We a competently and routinely handle a wide variety of Pennsylvania civil litigation plaintiff and defense cases including personal injury litigation, medical malpractice litigation, trucking litigation, business litigation, and real estate litigation.
We are experienced Pennsylvania trial attorneys who expect each and every case to go to trial. We believe that unless we are fully prepared for trial, we cannot obtain the best verdict or settlement for our clients.
Civil litigation involves both the ability to research the law, as well as the skill and personality to explain the law to all kinds of jurors.
We are experienced litigators who appear before state and federal trial courts, administrative agencies, mediators, and arbitration forums. Our civil litigation department appropriately involves all areas of law listed elsewhere on this site, including but not limited to Pennsylvania personal injury, medical malpractice, business litigation, debt collection, civil rights litigation and employment related issues.
We offer free consultations on all civil litigation questions you may have via on-line and/or via telephone at 412.802.6666 or toll free 1.877.744.3476.
As experienced estate planning attorneys we help our clients prepare wills, health care directives and power of attorney documents.
Proper Estate Planning helps minimize taxes to beneficiaries and ensure less disputes and conflicts among family members.
We routinely draft power of attorneys so that children can make important health and financial decisions for elderly parents.
Understanding Magistrate Hearings:Pennsylvania has hundreds of Magistrate Offices throughout the entire state. Magistrates have enormous powers with regards to both criminal and civil litigation matters.
All criminal defendants arrested of a crime, first appear before a licensed Magistrate in the local community where the crime was committed.
The first step of the criminal process is called the preliminary hearing, and it is at this first very important stage that defendants can ask the Magistrate to have the charges against them dismissed.
The biggest difference at a Magistrate hearing is that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not have to prove that the defendant is guilty beyond any reasonable doubt. To the contrary, all that is necessary at this preliminary hearing is that the state put forward a prima facie case that has a crime has occurred. The standard is whether it is "more likely than not" that a crime occurred rather than "beyond any reasonable doubt".
It is important to have proper representation at Magistrate hearings and try to get any charges filed dismissed if possible. Bail can also be set at magistrate hearings.