Our Words Put Into Action

The 14th Amendment to the Constitution guarantees that no one can be deprived of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness without due process. But what about your most cherished asset: your home? Can it be taken from you without due process? Well, that depends. And that is why we are here. When we borrow money to purchase a home, we all know we will be required to make monthly payments until the debt has been paid back. What we often do not fully realize is that life can often throw us curve balls that result in us getting behind on our bills, most importantly, our mortgage. It could be a job layoff, an injury that keeps us from working, or a sick child. The possibilities are many and varied. A generation ago, people borrowed money from a Savings & Loan and local bankers were there to help you in these tough times. But now, with nationwide banks and mortgage companies, there is no one to talk to when these events happen. And quite frankly, there is no one at these huge banks who care. It is just a file number and a past due amount to collect. To make matters worse, these same gigantic financial institutions have influenced the legislatures to pass laws allowing them to foreclose on your home without ever having to take the matter to court. All that is required is that certain notices be mailed to you, but there is no Judge or court overseeing the process to ensure that it is being done properly. No one is there to ensure that you have the due process guaranteed to you by our system of laws. At The Law Offices of Paul Ford, we have learned that the giant banks, and the large law firms they hire, often fail to follow the law before taking someone’s home. We are here to hold them accountable. We are here to answer your questions. If you are in the middle of this process, do not wait any longer. Call today! There are things that can be done to save your home and compensate you for having your rights violated.

Language is important. Do you remember the debate years ago about the need to tax the estates of people with wealth over a certain sum? The details are not important; rather, it is how the debate was won that matters. Estate taxes are something paid by only the very wealthy. So, 99% of the population, likely including you, doesn’t really care because it doesn’t apply to you. But, when they began to call it a death tax, everyone cared, because everyone will one day die. What does this have to do with someone who is hurt after a fall in a business or store? Language. Some people call this type of case a “Slip & Fall.” In reality, it is a “Trip & Fall.” The difference is significant, even though the interchanging of similar-sounding words may not seem that way. Calling an injury a “slip and fall” is intended to make customers wrongly believe they are at fault. Today, people shop in dollar stores more and more as such stores become more common and pop up in highly convenient locations. Oftentimes, these dollar stores place extra inventory in the shopping aisles, not in a storage room. And this is done by design. The perpetual existence of merchandise on the floor, and the management choice of having a limited number of employees, create an environment where someone TRIPPING over merchandise deliberately left on the floor is just a matter of time. Particularly when what people trip over was deliberately placed in the floor—or allowed to remain there—by the store management. Trip and fall injuries can be severe and life-threatening, especially in the elderly population. Broken shoulders, fractured hips, and even head injuries can occur when customers trip over merchandise left in the floor. Healthcare statistics indicate more than 800,000 people are hospitalized from a fall injury each year, most often because of hip fracture or head trauma. Some 86% of hip fractures occur in individuals 65 years and older, and this same age demographic has a 14%-58% 1-year mortality rate after sustaining a fractured hip. When you realize that the customer tripped over merchandise intentionally left in the floor as part of the store’s business model, it becomes clear who is at fault—and who should be responsible for the often irreparable harm caused. If you have been injured as a result of tripping in a store or restaurant, or other places of business, the harm you have suffered may very well be the fault of the company that invited you into their place of business to make money from you, yet chose not to provide you with a safe place in which to conduct your shopping, dining or other buying activity. At The Law Offices of Paul Ford, we take these cases very seriously and would be honored to help you hold the wrongdoers accountable for the harm they have caused.

If you have been arrested for and/or charged with a DWI in Arkansas, you face serious penalties such as jail time, fines, and license suspension. However, there are certain actions you can take to either get your charges reduced or your entire case dismissed. Many people make mistakes that typically jeopardize their chances of obtaining the best results possible. The following are the most common mistakes that may have a negative impact on your pending DWI case: Assume that you are guilty. Perhaps the most fundamental error that people often make in their DWI case is pleading guilty. Remember, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the prosecution. Make incriminating statements. No matter how much you try to explain your situation, nothing will help your case. Rather, all of the information you provide may help police gather more evidence against you. Keep in mind, you have the right to remain silent after arrest. Fail to reinstate your driving privileges. Without your driver’s license, it can be difficult to commute to work, attend classes, drive to important appointments, and conduct your day-to-day life. Within seven days of receiving a notice of suspension/revocation after your DWI arrest, you can schedule an administrative hearing in order to contest the suspension and regain your driving privileges. Driving on a suspended license can lead to additional penalties. Fail to obtain experienced legal representation. To avoid committing any type of mistake after an arrest, it is imperative to hire a DUI attorney. Make sure your lawyer is trained to handle DWI cases and does them regularly with successful outcomes. If you have been arrested for DWI in Arkansas, request a consultation with our Jonesboro criminal defense lawyer at The Law Office of Paul Ford today.

If you find yourself being arrested by the police, it’s easy to become stressed and overwhelmed. In this frantic state, particularly if you have never been arrested before, you could very easily make a mistake that can significantly harm your case and impact your ability to obtain a successful outcome. And the worst part, you may not even recognize that you made this mistake. Here are three tips for handing your arrest smoothly without jeopardizing or placing your case at risk. Don’t Resist Arrest Are you 100% innocent? Do you feel as though your arrest is completely unwarranted? It doesn’t matter. Do not resist your arrest. Do not run away, fight, argue with the officers, or attempt to harm them in any way. Resisting arrest is a criminally-punishable offense, which will land you behind bars even if you are entirely innocent of the crime of which you were initially accused and arrested. Likewise, those who resist arrest are usually treated with a lot less respect from the police. Cooperate, for now, remember these tips, and save the fight for the courtroom where you have an attorney by your side to help you through it. You Have the Right to Remain Silent, Use It As a U.S. citizen, you have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer any questions until you have an attorney present. It’s strongly suggested that you utilize this right to the fullest extent. Once police read you your Miranda rights (which begin with “you have the right to remain silent”) anything you say becomes admissible in court and will be twisted and used against you. The best way to avoid this is to simply say nothing at all until you have experienced counsel present to help you through any questioning sessions. If you wish to have an attorney present, law enforcement must allow you to contact one before they may continue questioning you. You May Refuse a Search The Fourth Amendment also gives you the right to privacy of your possessions, whether they are on your person, in your car, or in your home. Therefore, if you have not been placed under arrest, law enforcement may not search you without either obtaining a search warrant from a judge or your consent. This means you have the right to refuse to allow the police to search you, and it’s strongly advised that you exercise it. If you give the police consent, any evidence against you they may obtain is admissible in court and will be used against you. If police do not have cause to arrest you and you refuse the search, then they must drop the matter. The most important step to take after your arrest is to retain the services of an experienced Jonesboro criminal defense lawyer to guide you through your case. The Law Office of Paul Ford are dedicated to protecting individuals from the harshness of the criminal justice system. We believe that laws exist to protect us all, including those who are wrongly facing criminal accusations and a prosecutor seeking maximum possible penalties. Let us put our experience and knowledge to work for you and fight to protect your rights. If you are facing criminal charges in Jonesboro, call The Law Offices of Paul Ford Today. 870-359-8710