Law Offices of Philip P. DeLuca, lawyers in Long Beach, CA, California

Prosecutions for State Insurance Fraud

Most states have statutes governing the issue of insurance fraud. One may be charged with insurance fraud if: The individual prepared or presented a false or fraudulent written statement; the individual aided, solicited, or conspired in presenting a fraudulent written statement; the individual had the specific intent to defraud the insurer. More...

FEDERAL HABEAS CORPUS RELIEF

A state prisoner who has been incarcerated for a criminal offense by a state court may challenge his or her conviction by filing a petition for habeas corpus relief in a federal court. The federal court has jurisdiction over the prisoner's custody in a state correctional institution if the incarceration constitutes a violation of the United States Constitution or the laws of the United States. The prisoner's federal habeas corpus petition seeks to secure the release of the prisoner from an unlawful custody. However, in order to be able to file the federal habeas corpus petition, the prisoner must be in custody, the custody must be unlawful, and the prisoner must have exhausted his or her state remedies. More...

WAIVER OF THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL

Even though a defendant is guaranteed the right to counsel under the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, the defendant is entitled to waive such right. However, the defendant's waiver must be voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. More...

Closing Arguments During a Criminal Trial

The defendant is entitled to present a closing argument in a criminal trial. The defendant's right to give a closing argument has been deemed by the United States Supreme Court as a basic element of the adversary factfinding process. More...

Criminal Violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) is an Act that regulates the generation, regulation, storage, disposal, and transportation of hazardous waste. Hazardous waste is defined as specific chemicals contained on EPA lists. Hazardous waste also includes waste that is ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic. The Act requires that hazardous waste be treated, stored, and disposed of only at facilities that have an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waste permit. More...