Represented a client accused of a 2nd Offense DWI violation arising out of a motor vehicle accident in Irvington, New Jersey. The defendant, John W., was exposed to a mandatory 2-year loss of his driving privileges as well as 2 to 90 days in the Essex County Jail. While DWI cases are ordinarily mandated by the Courts to be resolved within sixty (60) days from the date of violation, highly technical supplemental discovery demands and motions to exclude the State’s proffered breath test results (nearly twice the legal limit), prepared by Jonathan Kessous, Esq. and Joseph Compitello, Esq. of this office, extended the case to twice the allotted time period. After pre-trial conferencing with three (3) separate Municipal Prosecutors, Pasquale Vella, Esq. of this office then effectively utilized the leverage obtained from the prepared applications to procure a plea agreement where John W. plead guilty to his 2nd DWI Offense to be treated as a 1st offense, with no admissible breath test readings, resulting in only a 3-month suspension of his driver’s license and the mandatory minimum monetary 1st offense fines and penalties.

Successfully defended S.M. in a Municipal Court in Middlesex County for a charge of Driving While Intoxicated and Refusal to Provide Breath Samples upon request. S.M. was purportedly observed by a pair of “Good Samaritans” who claimed they observed him drinking an alcoholic beverage while walking out of liquor store and then continue to drink as he drove away. While following him, they contacted 911 and claimed they were directly observing repeated motor vehicle infractions consistent with an intoxicated driver. After the police became directly involved and arrested S.M., he refused to provide breath samples. Mr. Kessous was nonetheless able to resolve the matter to a dismissal of the Refusal charge, saving S.M. what would have been an additional minimum four (4) to twelve (12) month term of suspension of his driving privileges as well as additional fines and mandatory installation of the Ignition Interlock system into his vehicle.

38-year-old motorist involved in a rear end collision resulting in back pain with radiating pain in his left leg, upper back, and neck which required surgery.

Represented a client out of the Cranbury/Plainsboro Municipal Court for the serious offenses of a 3rd offense Driving with a Suspended License and Driving without Insurance. Her exposure was a minimum/mandatory 1 to 18 months additional suspension, 10 days in jail, and thousands of dollars in insurance surcharges and increased insurance expenses.Despite the overwhelming evidence against her, Mr. Kessous was able to resolve the matter to 2 counts of failure to exhibit a license and insurance cards and a minor, 2-point moving violation.

Successfully defended S.F. from drug paraphernalia related charges within a Municipal Court in Middlesex County. Mr. Kessous successfully garnered a complete dismissal of all charges as he noted upon review of discovery demanded that the New Jersey State Police Lab only tested positive for CDS the actual Marijuana that the police discovered on the Co-Defendant’s possession, and at no time tested the paraphernalia that the S.F. voluntarily admitted was his own. As Mr. Kessous proved that the paraphernalia was legally purchased as a tobacco instrument, the State was not in a position to prove that the resin therein was, in fact, Marijuana.

Successfully represented E.A.P. in a Municipal Court in Union County. E.A.P. was charged with DWI and reckless driving-related offenses and purportedly had a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) reading of .22, well over 3x the legal limit. Mr. Kessous was able to have the reading excluded based on an argument that due to a language barrier at the time of his arrest, Defendant did not effectively waive his statutory right to have a third party transport him to a hospital for independent blood alcohol content testing.

Successfully defended K.T. for various driving infraction allegations within a municipal court in Middlesex County. The consequences were serious as our client was already on driving probation with the NJMVC (formerly DMV) where any “moving violation” would result in an extensive administrative suspension of J.T.’s driving privileges. After negotiations, Mr. Kessous resolved the moving violation to a non-moving, no-point violation deemed “non-moving” by the NJMVC (formerly DMV), thus precluding the suspension.

30 year-old laborer suffered severe head and neck injuries in a forklift accident that was not properly maintained while working. Read more…

A 45-year-old woman went to the hospital with a wound to her knee. The doctor failed to diagnose MRSA in the limb leading to Gangrene and amputation of the entire left leg.

25-year-old laborer died in an industrial accident while working.

Represented a client accused of Driving with Suspended Driving Privileges, James J., in a municipal court in Somerset County. As a 5th offender, Mr. J was susceptible to thousands of dollars in fines, assessments, insurance surcharges, and increased insurance expenses, an additional 6-month suspension, and a mandatory 10 days jail. Despite the difficulties with the case, Mr. Kessous was able to resolve the matter to a negotiated plea to a minor document violation of failure to produce a license. This penalty carried only a fine of $183.

Successfully defended T.C. for careless driving ticket in a municipality in Ocean County arising out of a motor vehicle accident. As a CDL, T.C. was facing ramifications to his employment as a result of the allegations. The charge was ultimately dismissed.

23-year-old woman in a Shop Rite slipped on a wet floor in the frozen food section of the store, resulting in her needing shoulder surgery.

A 44-year-old woman, with a family history of breast cancer, went for a mammogram. A growth was found but she was never sent for any further testing. One year later, she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

Settlement from a rear end motor vehicle collision in which plaintiff required surgical intervention to his lumbar spine.

Mediation award resulting from an industrial explosion causing disfiguring burns and severe orthopedic injuries.

Successfully defended P.K. for a DWI violation in a small town in Middlesex County. Mr. Kessous was able to persuade the State and the Court to suppress the .12 Breath Test reading. Mr. Kessous advocated that the Defendant provided his breath samples while wearing a tongue ring, thus creating the possibility of a compromised Blood Alcohol reading as a result of trace mouth alcohol. This result saved P.K. what would have been an additional 4 to 9 additional months of driver’s license suspension.

Successfully represented N.B.J. in Somerset County Superior Court. N.B.J. was recorded Mr. Kessous resolved all of the matters to merely a single non-criminal/local ordinance violation of “public nuisance”, with some minor driving infractions.

A 41-year-old man went to the hospital several times complaining of stomach pains. Each time, he was told that he had Gastritis. Several months later, with worsening pain, he went back and was diagnosed with Stage Four Stomach Cancer. He died six months later.

64-year-old woman returning home from her routine walk when a dog attacked her from behind and bit her on her calf.

Successfully represented V.C.C. in a Municipal Court in Somerset County. V.C.C. was accused of driving while suspended as a result of a DWI conviction-related court-ordered suspension as well as operating his motor vehicle absent the court-ordered ignition interlock device from the DWI conviction installed in the car. If convicted, the defendant was susceptible to a mandatory ten (10) to ninety (90) days jail term as well as an additional 2 years suspension of his driving privileges. Mr. Kessous was able to persuade the Court to reduce the charges and therefore avoid any jail or loss of driving privileges.

21-year-old passenger was struck while the driver was traveling through an intersection and a drunk driver ran a stop sign and crashed into the passenger side of the car. Multiple injuries were sustained by the passenger.

Successfully represented C.D. for a Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident in a municipal court in Middlesex County. Despite the proofs of guilt, including the presence of an eyewitness in court, Mr. Kessous was able to persuade the prosecutor, with whom he had previously developed a friendly professional relationship, to amend the charge to merely failing to report the accident, saving the client an ordinarily six (6) months suspension of her driving privileges.

Plaintiff was a passenger in wife’s vehicle when defendant ran a stop sign striking plaintiffs vehicle. He sustained aggravation of prior injuries to his low back requiring pain management procedures and spine surgery.