Law Offices of Robert J. DeGroot

A civil right is an enforceable right or privilege, which if interfered with by another gives rise to an action for injury. Discrimination occurs when the civil rights of an individual are denied or interfered with because of the individual's membership in a particular group or class.

Discrimination refers to the treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit. Discrimination can be the effect of some law or established practice that confers privileges on a certain class or denies privileges to a certain class because of race, age, sex, nationality, religion, or handicap.

An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.

Criminal defense law consists of the legal protections afforded to people who have been accused of committing a crime. Law enforcement agencies and government prosecutors have extensive resources at their disposal. Without adequate protections for the accused, the balance of power within the justice system would become skewed in favor of the government. As it is, fair treatment for criminal defendants often depends as much upon the skill of their defense attorney as it does the substantive protections contained in the law.

In criminal law, a felony is a category of crimes that are often classified as the most serious types of offenses, and they can be either violent or non-violent. The main characteristic of a felony is that being found guilty of a felony will result in incarceration for at least one year. Also, the imprisonment will be served in a prison facility rather than a county or local jail establishment.

Since the stakes are so incredibly high in terms of potential punishment, a charge of homicide requires the skills of a licensed attorney. From the minute that you are arrested, it is imperative to have a lawyer on your side - and that you use that lawyer to communicate with the authorities as needed. We have the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to achieve the best possible outcome in criminal defense case. When you need a lawyer who will fight hard to defend you and make sure your rights are respected, look no further than The Law Offices of Robert J. DeGroot.

Federal or state law enforcement may spend months or even years conducting investigations before a financial crime charge is leveled against someone. All that time is used to gather evidence and build a case against the person to be accused. If you believe you have been targeted by an investigation or if you have already been charged with a white collar crime, you should immediately seek advice from a skilled, experienced white collar crime lawyer.

At the first sign of an inquiry by an administrative agency for healthcare fraud is when you should obtain legal representation. Even if you believe you did nothing wrong, state or federal investigators may think otherwise. These agencies are often regulatory boards through the state of New Jersey or federal DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). The sooner you obtain the help of an experienced Newark healthcare fraud lawyer, the better your chances in a successful outcome.

Being charged with tax fraud can be a long term nightmare if it is not handled correctly. It can take years to undo the damage of these charges, along with the extensive costs of back taxes, penalties and interest. If you have been charged with or are under investigation for tax fraud, it is in your best interest to speak to an experienced tax fraud lawyer about your case. If you or your business is facing IRS fraud charges, you need to make sure your case is handled properly by a seasoned federal criminal defense attorney.

As a thoroughfare state, New Jersey is home to a significant number of drug trafficking cases each year. If you are being investigated or have been arrested for a drug trafficking case in the greater Newark area, it is important to have a skilled criminal defense attorney protecting your interests. Whether you were cited for trafficking a metric ton of cocaine, 30,000 pounds of marijuana or two grams of heroin, your rights and reputation are on the line. In addition to fines and prison time, you could be facing difficulties in finding employment and housing opportunities for years as a result of having this significant felony conviction on your record. With so much at stake, we will fight aggressively to have evidence suppressed. In many instances, evidence is obtained through illegal searches without probable cause, making it invalid. But you won’t know that unless you hire an experienced drug possession lawyer.