We are licensed in New York and Pennsylvania. As we are a professional corporation dealing with DWI, criminal defense, divorce, personal injury matters, and bankruptcy. You can expect nothing less than a compassionate, respectful, and ethical approach.
Are you considering divorce and have questions about understanding New York divorce law? Contact dedicated Jamestown divorce lawyer Scott F. Humble for a free confidential consultation. Let his 30+ years of experience work for you.
Child Support
Are you dealing with a child support issue and have questions about understanding New York child support law? Contact experienced Jamestown child support lawyer Scott Humble for a free consultation. Let his experience work for you.
Child Custody and Visitation
Are you going through a child custody matter and want help understanding New York child custody laws? Contact experienced Jamestown child custody lawyer Scott F. Humble for a free confidential consultation. Let his experience work for you.
Paternity
Premarital Agreement
New York is among the 41 states that incorporate equitable distribution in divorce cases. Equitable distribution refers to the specific way in a divorce case in which property and finances are divided between the two former spouses. A key takeaway is that equitable distribution is not always the same thing as equal distribution; instead of a 50/50 split of marital assets, a judge or mediator will divide money, personal effects, and real estate according to each spouse’s particular circumstances. Time spent raising children, contributions to marital property, educational support, and earning ability are factors that can play a major role in determining which spouse receives what assets. Unless both spouses signed a prenuptial agreement that explicitly covered the distribution of marital property in the event of divorce, the court will have to decide how to divide assets. Though this distribution will likely be fair, it may not be equal.
Spousal Support
I had an elderly client come in the other day. She was not the bread-winner. There were definite factors that she really needed a divorce and wanted a divorce, but her concerns were whether or not she could afford it. Her husband makes a lot of money and she doesn’t, and she was concerned whether or not she could afford to actually get a divorce. The answer is yes, because the court is going to impose on her husband paying some of her attorney’s fees. It’s an equitable type of idea that the court imposes. It would be fairer for him to pay for her attorney’s fees, at least in part, so that she could get the divorce. An extension of that is that we’re going to look at a support issue of marital support, and there’s going to be a definite alimony situation in that case.
Are you being charged with a criminal defense in New York? You need an experienced New York criminal defense attorney on your side. Contact dedicated Jamestown criminal defense lawyer Scott F. Humble for a free consultation. Let his 30+ years of experience work for you.
DUI/DWI
Were you or a loved one charged with driving while intoxicated in New York? Contact experienced Jamestown DWI lawyer Scott Humble for a free consultation. Let his 30+ years of experience help protect your rights.
Traffic Violations
Were you issued a traffic violation in New York? Contact experienced Jamestown traffic ticket lawyer Scott F. Humble today for a free consultation. Let his experience work for you.
Sex Crimes
The state of New York calculates its annual crime rate by taking into account a mere seven discrete types of criminal activity: aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, murder, rape, and robbery. Over the past ten years, six of these seven major crimes decreased in frequency and overall number across New York State. Following the FBI’s expansion of the legal definition of rape in 2015, the number of cases of this crime did in fact increase, but it is unclear whether this rise is due to the change in definition, a genuine upsurge in occurrences, or some combination of the two. While violent crime (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) decreased a mere 2.6 percent between 2007 and 2016 within New York City itself, there was a more pronounced downtrend of 15.2 percent throughout the rest of New York State. Though the majority of these seven types of crime are more frequent in upstate New York and Long Island, at least half of all violent crimes in the state of New York occur in the five boroughs alone.
Fraud
Even though all the above count as criminal activity, they are not all treated the same in a court of law. There are three levels of criminal acts under New York State’s laws: violations, misdemeanors, and felonies. Though violations are subject to criminal cases, they are not necessarily considered crimes. As such, the maximum sentence for a violation, such as vandalism or exposing another person’s intimate parts, is 15 days in prison and a fine of up to several hundred dollars. Misdemeanors, in contrast, are crimes in the eyes of the law, and the three kinds of misdemeanors (class A, class B, and unclassified) all have different penalties. Common examples of misdemeanors include first-degree harassment and some forms of credit card fraud. Similar to a misdemeanor, a felony comprises several categories (A-I, A-II, B, C, D, and E), and penalties can range from one year to life in prison. Felonies vary widely in scope, including both violent actions such as first-degree murder as well as non-violent offenses such as possession of certain illegal drugs.
Robbery
Burglary
Theft
Misdemeanors
Embezzlement
A great many illicit acts fall under the umbrella of criminal activities under New York law. Fraudulent activity is a major category, with embezzlement, extortion, forgery, and money laundering all common cases of criminal deception. Inappropriate actions in public, which include disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and indecent exposure, also count as breaking the law. While it comes as no surprise that murder and manslaughter, both voluntary and involuntary, are considered crime, there are numerous illegal acts that are non-fatal but still of equal weight; textbook examples include battery, domestic violence and spousal abuse, sexual assault, stalking, and mistreatment of minors (abuse, neglect, and pornography). The cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, trafficking, and possession of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and marijuana are all criminal acts under New York law. Additional examples of criminal activity according to the state penal code are arson, corruption, hate crimes, perjury, and trespassing, among many others.
Each slip and fall case is a conflict between an individual who was injured on a property (the plaintiff) and the owner or manager of that property (the defendant), both of whom will be represented by personal injury or premises liability attorneys. The plaintiff’s attorney is usually responsible for showing that a dangerous condition existed on the property and that it would have been difficult for the plaintiff to avoid the condition. The defendant’s attorney, on the other hand, must demonstrate that the dangerous condition did not exist, that the condition was in the process of being resolved or repaired, and/or that the plaintiff acted in a way that caused the injury. Both attorneys may provide photographs of the site where the injury occurred, and videos of the plaintiff walking through the property at the time of the injury may feature as well. The plaintiff can provide medical documents to illustrate the extent of the injury, as this evidence may sway the judge to grant compensation for medical expenses. The plaintiff may win if her or his attorney shows that it was largely or entirely an unavoidable hazard on the property that led to the injury.
Real Estate Transactions
Scott did an amazing job in resolving liens in a recent real estate transaction in which I was representing the other party. He is well able to resolve sticky financial matters to the best interest of his clients.
Property Damage
Driver of Vehicle – Bus accidents involving cars, trucks and other motor vehicles are often horrific and can result in significant injury or property damage. If you were driving a car or motor vehicle that collided with a bus, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact an attorney right away to protect your rights following an accident.
For over 30 years, attorney Scott F. Humble has represented clients in the general practice of law with emphasis of financial restructuring and personal injury accidents.
Medical Malpractice
Dog Bites
Between 2005 and 2017, there were 433 fatalities across the United States due to dog bites, 39 of which occurred during the year 2017 alone. Almost two-thirds of these deaths followed an attack by a pit bull, a breed with a notorious reputation. However, because “pit bull” is often used as an umbrella term for all dogs descended from both terrier and bulldog breeds, and because it is common for mixed-breed dogs resembling real pit bulls to be labeled as pit bulls, it remains unclear whether the pit bull breed is in reality statistically more likely to be involved in dog bite attacks. Despite measures such as breed-specific legislation gaining in popularity as a means of limiting attacks by breeds seen as inherently more of a threat to public safety, the American Veterinary Medical Association strongly encourages against the labeling of particular breeds as more dangerous than others. The National Canine Research Council (NCRC) has further found that breed-specific legislation is ineffective, recommending responsible pet ownership as the most humane path towards curbing and preventing dog bites.
Slip and Fall Injury
The laws governing slip and fall injuries differ across state and even municipal boundaries, and if you were injured in a slip and fall incident in the state of New York, you should consult a dedicated Jamestown slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible. If you have any additional questions about slip and falls, experienced Jamestown slip and fall lawyer Scott F. Humble would be glad to assist you as you recover from your injuries.
Bankruptcy should be used as a last resort. Though it has major benefits, bankruptcy also carries with it several significant drawbacks, and the consequences of declaring bankruptcy can linger for years, if not for the rest of a person’s life. If you meet specific criteria, you may qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is the most common form of bankruptcy. Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy means you intend to sell many of your assets in order to pay off as many of your eligible debts as possible, but you will still be responsible for maintaining regular payments to certain accounts and individuals. Speaking with an experienced bankruptcy attorney is the most efficient way to navigate the bankruptcy process, and if you still have any questions after reading the following, consider contacting our New York law office for further guidance.
Foreclosure
There are also other factors that can persuade a person to choose Chapter 13 over Chapter 7. Unlike Chapter 7, which has a proportionate maximum income limit for filers, Chapter 13 is available to those from a wider range of income brackets. Chapter 13 can aid in preventing or delaying a car repossession or home foreclosure, and this form of bankruptcy is better designed for those who already have a steady income. While Chapter 7 bankruptcy tends to impact individuals’ credit scores for a full decade after filing is complete, Chapter 13’s effects last instead for seven years, and that three-year gap can make a lifetime of difference.