Ms. Dodson has won several domestic violence cases.  Many of her clients have benefitted from her skill and experience by getting their cases dismissed, or being allowed to plea to a much lesser charge.  On the civil side, she has been successful in getting restraining orders denied. 

Furthermore, if you need a restraining order against someone who gives you cause to fear for your safety, Ms. Dodson will immediately file papers to get a temporary restraining order issued and appear for a hearing which can result in a permanent order being granted.  Please do not hesitate to seek police protection, however.  If you are being threatened, report all criminal activity to police immediately.  Document all harassment and preserve all evidence of such.

When you are charged with domestic violence, an order of protection will often be issued.  This occurs with no civil restraining order being requested by the victim.  Without a skilled lawyer representing the accused, an order may require a person to move out of the home, have no contact with the victim and remain 100 yards away from the victim’s residence and work place.  There are many cases where the “victim” is a loved one who does not want an order of protection against the accused.  In those cases, it is important to have a good defense lawyer who will argue that no order of protection is necessary.  Ms. Dodson has been very successful in convincing judges to issue no orders, or an order that states the accused cannot “annoy, harass, threaten, or physically harm the victim.”  In other words, the accused cannot do anything that is already considered illegal to do.  This allows the accused to remain in the home and have a relationship with the alleged victim. 

Recent Victories

Client was arrested and charged with domestic violence.  Ms. Dodson convinced the prosecutor that the “alleged victim” was actually the one who attacked the accused and the case was dismissed.  Since her client was still threatened by the “alleged victim,” Ms. Dodson filed a civil restraining order to protect her client.  At the hearing, the “alleged victim” testified against Ms. Dodson’s client, but Ms. Dodson’s cross-examination of this witness resulted in the judge issuing a permanent restraining order in favor of Ms. Dodson’s client, awarding custody of the couple’s child to Ms. Dodson’s client, and ordering the “alleged victim” to pay child support.

Client was arrested and charged with felony domestic violence.  The alleged victim had a black eye that police photographed.  After hiring Ms. Dodson, the client had no charges filed against him.  The victim filed a civil restraining order against Ms. Dodson’s client.  Ms. Dodson appeared at a hearing where she cross-examined the alleged victim and conducted direct testimony of her client.  The judge determined that no restraining order was necessary and denied the alleged victim’s petition.

Client was arrested and charged with domestic violence.  The alleged victim was ready to testify and pushed hard for a conviction.  Furthermore, Ms. Dodson’s client and the alleged victim had a son in common who also wanted to testify against Ms. Dodson’s client and was encouraging prosecutors to proceed with their case.  Ms. Dodson’s client had a high-security job and would lose it if he suffered a conviction of domestic violence on his record.  After interviewing defense witnesses and lengthy negotiations with the prosecutors, Ms. Dodson’s client was allowed to plea to a charge of disturbing the peace and served no jail time.

In a chance meeting, Ms. Dodson encountered one of her former clients while she was in court on another matter.  This client was about to appear as a defendant in a restraining order hearing.  He was nervous and scared that he would have a restraining order issued against him and suffer the stigma of having that on his civil record.  The alleged victim was present and ready to testify, as well as the alleged victim’s witnesses.  Although Ms. Dodson would have preferred to have more time to prepare, she appeared for her client at his insistence.  After Ms. Dodson conducted cross-examination of the alleged victim and her witnesses, and direct examination of her client, the judge determined that no restraining order was necessary, and denied the alleged victim’s petition.

Client was accused of violating a protective order that was in place after he suffered a conviction for domestic violence when he had another lawyer.  He was on probation at the time for domestic violence, so the probation violation was also a problem.  Violating a protective order on its own is a tricky charge to defend, since it requires no intent to violate it, or even harm to occur to the victim.  In fact, a protected person can initiate the contact and the accused can still be convicted.  The offer was 365 days in jail.  Ms. Dodson’s client was not a citizen and faced suffering an immigration hold and deportation if sent to jail.  Ms. Dodson presented several witness statements to the city attorney that outlined several mitigating factors.  The city attorney allowed Ms. Dodson’s client to complete community service instead of jail.  At sentencing, the city attorney wanted to ensure that Ms. Dodson’s client understood the seriousness of no future violations and stated on the record, “If it were not for the excellent work of your attorney, you would be going to jail today.”

Client hired Ms. Dodson during the investigatory phase of assault with a deadly weapon.  She was accused of assaulting the alleged victim with a knife.  Ms. Dodson spoke with police and convinced them to not arrest and charge her client.  Client was still in fear for her life from the alleged victim.  Ms. Dodson and her client spoke with police and prosecutors and the alleged victim was arrested for domestic violence.  After bailing out, the “alleged victim” continued to harass Ms. Dodson’s client.  Ms. Dodson presented the evidence of this continued harassment to prosecutors.  At the next court hearing, the prosecutor managed to convince the judge to remand the defendant into custody and Ms. Dodson’s client was safe and no longer in fear for her life.