PEOPLE V. E.R.

Defendant, an attorney, was charged with the violent assault with a deadly weapon against his girlfriend (captured on video) as well as a misdemeanor menacing charge. When Mr. Lichtman took over the case, prior counsel had secured a non-incarceratory felony assault plea offer – which would have resulted in the defendant’s immediate disbarment – only to have the prosecution pull the offer and promise additional charges, including numerous sexual assaults. Instead of begging for the reinstatement of the felony plea offer as prior counsel had done, Mr. Lichtman insisted upon a misdemeanor plea – or a trial. The District Attorney backed down and the defendant pled to a misdemeanor, saving his law license and avoiding a lifetime status as a felon.