Darren Finebloom, ESQ., holds the highest rating by Martindale-Hubbell (AV Preeminent), has been recognized as a rising star in the criminal defense world by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2010 and he has a superb rating from the independent legal rating service Avvo. Darren has been defending the rights of those accused of a crime for over 10 years. I always said ”the poor deserve as good as a defense as the wealthy” and that is what I sought to do in my early days as Public Defender. Darren Finebloom has a tried over 70 cases in the State of Florida. In fact he has won over 64% of his cases that were tried to a jury.
Originally from Miami, Florida. Darren received his Bachelors Degree in Criminology from Florida State University in 1996. Thereafter, Darren attended law school at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where he graduated with Honors in 2000, upon graduation from law school and passing the Florida Bar, Darren relocated to Sarasota, Florida and accepted a job at the Public Defender’s Office for The Twelfth Judicial Circuit.
Over the years he has personally represented clients who have been charged with serious felonies and misdemeanors in both State and Federal Courts throughout the State of Florida. When someone is accused or charged, regardless of whether it is a DUI, child abuse, sexual assault, drug possession, theft, or homicide, no one possesses more motivation than Mr. Finebloom in zealously protecting his client’s rights under the law and seeing to it that they are afforded a fair trial. He combines his trial experience with a personal commitment to his clients in order to offer competent representation in a supportive, hands-on environment.
Darren is a member of The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National College of DUI Defense, and The Sarasota County Bar Association. In addition, Darren lectured at The Florida Breath Testing Conference for Law Enforcement in 2004 and is a volunteer Judge for the Sarasota County Teen Court Program.
Darren is admitted to practice before all Florida State Courts and Federal Courts including the Middle, Southern and Northern Districts of Florida.
David Haenel was recently named the 2004 State of Florida DUI Prosecutor of the Year. David has extensive experience litigating DUI and traffic issues and has spent over three years training prosecutors and law enforcement to deal with all aspects of traffic related crime. In addition, David has given presentations to the International Association of Chemical Testers on issues involving evidentiary breath testing. Recently, David lectured during the annual Florida Breath Test Conference sponsored by the Institute of Police Technology and Management.
David has successfully completed the Laser Operators Course for the State of Florida, a course designed to train law enforcement to effectively operate Laser speed measuring devices.
David graduated in the top third of his class from Widener Law School in 1999 and then received a Master’s of Law Degree (LLM) from SUNY Buffalo School of Law in 2000. David is a member of the Sarasota County Bar Association, the Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court, and the International Association for Chemical Testing.
David is admitted to practice before the State Courts of Florida and New Jersey as well as the Federal District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Stephen C. Higgins, Esq., originally from Essex, Connecticut, joined the firm in 2006 after practicing law in New Jersey. Prior to joining the firm, Stephen worked at Brown & Connery, LLP as a civil attorney, focusing primarily on employment law and business litigation. In his capacity as a civil attorney with Brown & Connery, Stephen worked on cases involving employment discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliatory termination. Stephen also participated in business related matters including cases involving antitrust, monopolization and unfair competition.
As an attorney with Finebloom & Haenel, Stephen has already become known as a zealous advocate for his clients, representing individuals charged with DUI, violations of probation, battery, theft and driving while license suspended. Stephen is intimately familiar with traffic ticket defense in Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota and Pinellas counties and will work hard to represent each client individually to achieve the best result.
In June 2000, Stephen received a Bachelor of Science degree with a minor in Sociology from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. During law school, Stephen served as an extern for the Honorable Freda L. Wolfson, U.S.D.C.J, District of New Jersey, Camden Vicinage. In January 2005, Stephen received a dual degree, earning a Juris Doctorate degree from Rutgers Law School and a Masters in Business Administration Degree with a specialization in law, from Rutgers Graduate School of Business.
Stephen is a member of the Florida, New Jersey and Pennsylvania bars. He is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts of Florida, state courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the District Courts of New Jersey.
Stephen is also a member of the Hillsborough and Sarasota County Bar Associations, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
AnneMarie Rizzo is a former Assistant State Attorney with extensive trial experience in the State of Florida. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, Magna Cum Laude. She graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law with her Juris Doctorate. During law school, AnneMarie was trying criminal traffic and domestic violence cases as lead prosecutor during her internship with the State Attorney’s Office in Gainesville, Florida. During her tenure as an Assistant State Attorney she specialized in prosecuting DomesticViolence and Criminal Traffic cases. She assisted hundreds of victims involved in Domestic Violence relationships in criminal prosecution and assisted victims at hearings seeking protective injunctions. AnneMarie leaves a legacy of winning four separate, consecutive criminal traffic jury trials in the same trial week. She was appointed as a Special Prosecutor by the Governor of Florida to represent the State of Florida on a DUI case in Lee County in 2007 which resulted in another favorable jury verdict for her at trial. She has quickly gained the reputation of being an aggressive and zealous advocate.
AnneMarie has trained law enforcement officers and prosecutors across the state specifically in the areas of evidence based prosecution and trial advocacy in Domestic Violence and Criminal Traffic. She also has trained medical doctors at SHANDS UF and Child Protective Investigators with the Department of Children and Families in the area of domestic violence and family dynamics. AnneMarie has successfully completed the Advanced DUI School hosted by the Florida Prosecutor Attorney Association. She also has successfully completed the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Course sponsored by the Institute of Police Technology and Management, a course designed to train law enforcement to effectively identify impairment in individuals suspected to be driving under the influence. (A field sobriety exercise regularly used on the roads today) AnneMarie also attended and successfully completed the Trial Advocacy School at the National Advocacy Center held at the Department of Justice in South Carolina.
Locally, AnneMarie serves in the community as Chair of Sarasota County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Law Week Committee where she recruits attorneys to teach high school students about the legal system. She also has served as a Guardian ad Litem since January 2004 and continues to help children involved in dependency cases have a voice in court. In addition, she spends time serving as a presiding judge over Teen Court proceedings in Sarasota County. AnneMarie is involved in other local organizations such as Florida Association of Woman Lawyers, Young Professional Group of Sarasota, and Junior League of Sarasota.
Desoto County
DeSoto County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Hillsborough County
Criminal Cases-Felonies and Misdemeanors (excluding Traffic and DUI)
Traffic Infractions (including speeding tickets, careless driving, and all non-criminal traffic violations)
Lee County
All Cases (Criminal and Traffic)
Manatee County
All Cases (Criminal and Traffic)
Orange County
All Cases (Criminal and Traffic)
Pinellas County
Clerk of the Circuit Court, Pinellas County, Florida
Polk County
Clerk of the Courts, Polk County, Florida
Sarasota County Clerk of Court Link
Criminal Case (all misdemeanor and felony cases)
Traffic Infractions (including speeding tickets, careless driving and all non-criminal cases)
If you are interested in completing a driver improvement course online, visit a Florida Traffic School.
Finebloom & Heanel are experienced Criminal Defense Lawyers and they are here to help you.
Finebloom and Haenel, P.A.
Sarasota Office (main office)
200 N. Washington Blvd.
Sarasota, Florida 34237
(941) 953-2622
Click here for a map and directions
Tampa Office
3426 West Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33609
(813) 649-8690
Click here for a map and directions
Pinellas County Office
4500 140th Avenue North
Suite #101
Clearwater, FL 33762
(727) 217-9795
Click here for a map and directions
Orlando Office
189 S. Orange Ave.
Suite #1850S
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 472-1912
Click here for a map and directions
Email:
david@fightyourcase.com
Finebloom and Haenel, P.A.
Sarasota Office (main office)
200 N. Washington Blvd.
Sarasota, Florida 34237
(941) 953-2622
A DUI arrest is a frightening and daunting experience. You, like many of our clients, may never have been involved with the law before, much less charged with a crime. At Finebloom & Haenel, we pride ourselves in catering to your needs and easing your anxiety, by providing premier legal representation and guiding you through the complexities of your DUI case to reach a desirable result. While your case is pending, we strive to provide personalized and efficient representation, utilizing our team of lawyers and support staff to keep you updated as to your case progress, informed as to the outcome of court dates and knowledgeable as to the potential outcomes. We firmly believe that every client is an asset to our firm. Once we have spoken with you and explained the DUI process and the method of our defense, you will be confidently reassured that we are on your side, every step of the way. A DUI conviction can have long lasting effects on your life – and it is our job, our passion, to fight every element of your case to reach a desirable result
Many lawyers and Judges throughout Florida agree that a DUI charge is a very complex case. There are a myriad of issues involved, including (1) reasons for the stop of your vehicle; (2) performance (or lack thereof) of field sobriety tests; (3) breath or blood test results; (4) involuntary intoxication; and (5) wheel witness issues. Our job, as your team of lawyers, is to evaluate the facts of your particular case and determine the very best defense strategy for your case. We believe in the team approach the more sets of trained eyeballs on your case can lead to a better result. We are comprised of former prosecutors, including David Haenel, the former State of Florida DUI Prosecutor of the Year in 2004, and public defenders, which gives us a unique and unparalleled advantage to see both sides of the argument and find and exploit any loophole in the case to your advantage. Our experience, integrity in the legal community and relationship with the prosecutors and judges could make the difference on your case. We have the resources, the manpower and the aptitude to challenge your DUI charge.
Those of you looking for a traffic attorney to handle your speeding, careless driving or suspended license citation, look no further than our firm. Many people don’t realize the serious consequences that can result from just paying your citation. Aside from points on your license and possible insurance increases, you risk serious and long license suspensions as you get more convictions.
Commercial Drivers
Typically drivers who receive a non-criminal traffic infraction are able to elect traffic school to keep points off their license. In 2005, the Florida Legislature passed a law that forbids drivers who have an A, B, or C class commercial license from electing traffic school. Does that mean we can’t keep the points off your CDL license? The short answer is absolutely NOT. Please call our office and speak to one of our qualified attorneys who will explain that depending on your driving record, we are very successful at keeping points off your license by going to court and explaining your situation to the Judge and the police officer. Keeping points off your license is something that we do everyday, in most instances without our clients needing to come to court.
Suspended License/Habitual Traffic Offenders
Many people have license issues and our firm strives to keep you on the road while representing you on your criminal case. Many people who come into our office are unaware of the ramifications of paying traffic tickets. As an example, if you receive three (3) driving while license suspended/cancelled/revoked within a five year period, you will lose your license for FIVE years. The worst part about the system is that you could be facing a felony as a result of paying off your previous tickets. Please call our office for a free consultation so we can review your individual case and explain to you your options.
Out of State Drivers
Unfortunately a large number of people who receive tickets while in Florida, do not actually live here but have the same concern as our Florida clients: POINTS and INSURANCE INCREASES. Many states do not honor our state based driving schools, and as a result the only option you have is to fight the ticket. Please call our office so we can explain to you how we can fight that ticket and keep those points off your license and prevent any insurance increase.
Adolescents are prone to make a variety of mistakes as they near adulthood. Unfortunately, these mistakes may be illegal in nature, which can lead to severe legal punishments and a damaged criminal record. Regardless of their age, a damaged criminal record can negatively impact a minor’s future employment and educational opportunities.
Juvenile crimes are illegal activities that are committed by people who are below the legal age of 17. Criminal activity among adolescents is continually on the rise. In an effort to limit juvenile crime, Florida Law Enforcement has become stricter on juvenile crime matters. Common Florida Juvenile Crimes include, but are not limited to:
While legal consequences for adults are for punishment purposes, juvenile crime consequences are geared toward the treatment and rehabilitation of the minor.
Just like adults, minors have individual rights and they can protect and defend themselves against their criminal charges. Juveniles have the right to remain silent when questioned by law authorities, the right to cross examine witnesses who are testifying against them, and the right to an attorney.
If your child is being charged with a juvenile crime, the best thing you can do for them is retain an experienced criminal defense attorney. By retaining the services of a skilled Florida attorney, you are ensuring that you child will receive the legal representation, advice, and information they need to defend themselves against their charges.
At Finebloom & Haenel, P.A., our attorneys can help your child by negotiating with prosecutors. By working with prosecutors, we can possibly have your child’s charges reduced or dismissed entirely. With our help, your child can move forward with their life without having to worry about their past mistakes hindering their future possibilities.