If you are the subject of a criminal investigation, have been arrested or charged with a crime, you need counsel immediately. It is not an overstatement to state that once you have been arrested or charged, you cannot adequately handle the situation on your own, and it is not in your interests to make statements without first hiring a lawyer who can best protect your rights and interests. Joseph Burke are experienced in pre-indictment negotiations, arguing suppression and other pre-trial motions, negotiating plea bargains and when necessary, jury trials. In addition, Joseph has many years of experience in criminal appellate work.Civil Litigation
Civil litigation is a broad term which includes civil cases adjudicated in any court in the State of Ohio, including local municipal courts, common pleas courts, courts of appeals, the Ohio Supreme Court and the various federal courts. It involves the filing of a compliant, and answer, discovery, mediation, arbitration and in some cases a judge or jury trial. Joseph Burke represents both Plaintiffs and Defendants in such cases. It is important to know that each particular court may have different ways of handling cases, advancing a docket, and resolving disputes.
Always retain counsel who has practiced in the Court and before the various judges in that court. Familiarity breeds experience, trust and a solid reputation. An attorney unfamiliar with a particular court is at a serious disadvantage to one who regularly practices before the court.
Joseph Burke has favorable experience in representing Plaintiffs and Defendants in breach of contract, collection and construction problems and insurance claims. Joseph is also a certified arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau involving lemon law claims.
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Real Estate
Real estate law involves a number of different practice areas including the preparation of contracts, deeds or other instruments, land use, neighbor disputes and zoning issues to name a few.
No two pieces of real estate are the same, therefore, you want to make sure your transaction is handled properly. Laws regarding real estate transactions are highly technical and in certain areas, rapidly change. Real estate law involves a mixed bag of issues ranging from dealing with government offices and officials to banking regulations and construction and tax law, among others.
Joseph Burke regularly represents construction companies, developers, buyers, sellers, landlords and sub-contractors in all areas of real estate law. In addition, Joseph has experience in zoning law and formerly served as Chairman of the Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of North Olmsted. He also receives referral from the Cleveland Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service.
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Probate / Estate Planning
Joseph Burke serves clients with estate planning needs and has represented many clients in probate court in the administration of estates trust, and guardianships.
It is never too early to plan for the future. Cookie-cutter estate plans and wills are not a good way to plan and will usually lead to undue expense. Joseph Burke listens to your financial situation and life goals and advises you on the many different routes you can take to control your family’s future. He explains all of your options, answer your questions about those options, and then efficiently draft the appropriate documents that fit your situation.
The probate process is complicated and technical. As a general rule, a client who must invoke the jurisdiction of probate court should retain experienced counsel who is also familiar with the recent tax laws. Joseph Burke employs a paralegal who assists him with the preparation of these cases and administration throughout the probate court process.
Personal Injury / Wrongful Death
Personal injury law is a body of law that deals with just that - - injuries to a person. Examples of personal injury cases include truck and car accidents, slip and fall and dog bites. The law allows you to recover your medical expenses, lost wages and compensation for pain and suffering. However, most cases are more complicated than simply collecting insurance money and insurance companies are increasingly less likely to offer fair settlements without the threat of a lawsuit. When you are injured, you have a limited amount of time to file a claim and will almost never maximize your recovery without an attorney. Furthermore, you probably are not aware of many legal matters that must be tended to in pursuing your case, such as uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage and subrogation issues. When selecting An attorney to handle your case, you should be comfortable talking to your lawyer, not afraid to be a bother, feel free to ask any questions you might have, be able to clearly understand the contingency fee contract and know that you can call your attorney at any time to get updates. Joseph Burke ensures your case is aggressively, professionally and thoroughly pursued with the insurance companies, and keep you updated throughout the process. If the case cannot be settled, Joseph Burke is able to file a lawsuit in any Ohio court and prepare your case for jury trial with the best experts and most advanced legal research available.
Wrongful death cases are extremely emotional for everyone involved and are usually complicated legal matters. Wrongful death cases are similar to personal injury cases in many respects. The law allows a decedent’s estate to recover money damages because of someone else’s negligence. These cases implicate legal issues involving probate, insurance, subrogation and tax issues. If a friend or family member has died because of someone else’s conduct, you should contact an attorney immediately.
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