Mike Brandt Successfully Fights a Forfeiture for His Client

Mike’s client was a passenger in her own motor vehicle when another person was driving the car and was stopped for a DWI. Because of the driver’s prior record, the vehicle was subject to forfeiture. Mike attempted to negotiate a settlement with the State, but they would not deal so Mike took the case to trial.

A hearing was conducted in front of a Judge and several witnesses were called. Mike argued that his client (the vehicle owner) had no idea that the driver had prior DWIs and she was not aware that he was intoxicated, as she had been drinking herself. Mike was able to convince the Judge that those were the facts and the Judge agreed and ordered that the client’s vehicle be returned. The car was worth quite a bit of money and had it been forfeited, it would have been a huge financial setback for the client.