Charles M. Baron

Offering top-notch legal services in South Florida for over 36 years.

• Land Use & Zoning
• Car Accidents
• Slip & Fall
• Police Misconduct/False Arrest
• General Civil

• Zoom
• WhatsApp

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted
• Contingent Fees
  Contingent (percentage) fees offered in appropriate cases
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  Free consultations for some types of cases; otherwise, reasonable consultation fees.

Florida

Since 1985

11th Circuit

Since 1989

University of Florida

J.D. (1984) | Law

1982 - 1984

University of Florida

B.A. (1981) | Political Science

1978 - 1981

Florida Dispute Resolution Center

Current

Association of South Florida Mediators and Arbitrators

Current

National Lawyers Guild

Current

Broward County Bar Association

Current

South Broward Bar Association

Current

Certified Circuit Civil Mediator

Florida Dispute Resolution Center

Qualified Arbitrator

Florida Supreme Court

Q. Does the fact that I couldn’t afford therapy strengthen my emotional distress claim?

October 8, 2024

A: You first posed a question about the affect of not affording therapy on an emotional distress claim, and you then stated a concern about recording a conversation, which I take to mean a question asking if you can record in the setting you described without asking permission. You did not connect the two subjects, but I assume you are thinking about bringing a claim that includes seeking emotional distress damages due to something an auto dealership did. Generally, you cannot seek emotional distress damages for most types of claims that would arise from a financial transaction. There are exceptions to that, such as having a provable claim of fraud or of unlawful discrimination. If you do happen to have the type of claim for which you can seek emotional distress damages, not seeking professional assistance will only limit the extent of awardable damages. If you cannot afford that assistance, there are public clinic systems that offer those services for low-income or no-income people.

Regarding recording without consent in Fla., that is generally a CRIME if there's an expectation of privacy for the conversation. Whether there's an expectation of privacy depends on various factors. ... Read More

Q. Is it legal in Florida to straight pipe a motorcycle?

October 4, 2024

A: Sorry to hear about your accident I'm not familiar with straight piping, but for guidance, see Fla. Statutes Section 316.293, which you can find online. Subsection (5) thereof states:

(5) NOISE ABATEMENT EQUIPMENT MODIFICATIONS.—

(a) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle or any other noise-abatement device of a motor vehicle operated or to be operated upon the highways of this state in such a manner that the noise emitted by the motor vehicle is above that emitted by the vehicle as originally manufactured.

(b) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of the state with an exhaust system or noise-abatement device so modified.

The term "motor vehicle" above includes motorcycles (in definitions section at Sec. 316.003).

Also, Sec. 316.293 at Subsection (2) has decibel limits for motorcycles.

If it turns out that your idea is legally prohibited, consider other ways of bringing attention to yourself, such as keeping the headlight on and a loud radio. ... Read More

Q. My Public Defender LIED about what 'adjudicated' meant to get me to plea guilty. Is there a Statute of limitations?

October 3, 2024

A: I'm wondering if you actually had an adjudication of guilt or instead a withhold of adjudication. Both phrases have the word "adjudication" in them, but are completely different. An adjudication of guilt equals a conviction. A withhold of adjudication (often referred to simply as "a withhold") means no conviction, but the court imposes whatever penalty was agreed to in the plea deal (such as a fine). If it was a withhold, and your lawyer conveyed that you would have no criminal conviction on your record, it would not be a lie - though he should have also advised that a withhold is also on the public record. However, if it was a withhold, you might be eligible for an expungement (destruction) or sealing of the record, even today! ... Read More