Federal Criminal Defense and Civil Litigation Law Firm in Georgia

The Pate Law Firm

United Community Bank Building 24 Drayton Street, Suite 1000 Savannah, Georgia 31401 USA

 (912) 944-5000

www.pagepate.com
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Law Firm Overview Free Consultation

The Pate Law Firm has a well-earned reputation for winning difficult criminal and civil trials through experience, dedication and hard work. As an Atlanta criminal attorney, Page Pate has over 17 years of experience defending people charged with serious crimes in federal and state court. Page Pate and his firm have won trials, obtained dismissals and successfully resolved serious criminal cases across Georgia and the Southeastern United States.

Accomplished Georgia trial lawyer, Attorney Page Pate, previously served as the Chairman of the Criminal Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association, and he has received the highest possible rating from other lawyers and judges (AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell). According to Martindale-Hubbell, this rating recognizes lawyers who have “reached the height of professional excellence. [The lawyer] has usually practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.” Page was also recently included in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, a national publication known as “The Definitive Guide to the Most Distinguished Law Firms in America for over 90 years.”

Although the firm's focus is on serious criminal defense matters, we have also successfully represented clients in qui tam or whistleblower cases, personal injury trials and complex business disputes. You will not find a law firm with more recent successful results, better credentials, or a deeper commitment to pursuing justice for people who need help.

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Mail Fraud; Check Kiting; Ponzi & Pyramid Schemes; Mortgage Fraud; Drug Conspiracy; Immigration Violations; Tax Crimes; Government Corruption; Child Molestation; Forgery; Violent Crimes; Kidnapping; Pandering; Securities Violations; False Imprisonment; Terroristic Threats; Motor Vehicle & Aircraft Hijacking; International Crimes; International Extradition; Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties; International Depositions & Discovery; Criminal Appeals; Habeas Petitions; Sentence Modifications; Crime Victims; Environmental Injuries; Business Disputes; Investment Fraud; Breach of Contract Claims; Shareholder Litigation; Consumer Loan Fraud; Unfair Business Practices.

Practice Areas Description

Our firm’s practice areas are the following:

- Criminal Defense

Our criminal defense attorneys have many years of experience in successfully defending serious criminal cases in Georgia, and across the Southeastern United States. They are among the most respected and elite trial attorneys in this part of the country. Our criminal lawyers have successfully represented individuals throughout Georgia. We have also represented clients in federal criminal cases in other states, and have kept our clients from being charged in international criminal investigations in Spain, England, Ireland and the Bahamas. We have decades of experience representing people in the following types of criminal matters:

* Federal Crimes

One of our firm’s lawyers is a former United States Attorney, appointed by the President as the chief federal prosecutor in one of Georgia’s federal district courts. His experience gives our firm intimate knowledge of how federal criminal investigations work from the other side. Although we have experience in virtually all types of federal criminal cases, our criminal lawyers have most recently helped defend those charged with the following federal offenses: Federal Mail & Wire Fraud; Federal Mortgage Fraud; Federal Internet Pornography; Federal Drug Conspiracy; Federal Money Laundering; Federal Immigration Violations; Federal Tax Crimes; Federal Government Corruption; Federal Firearms Offenses.

* Child Molestation & Sex Crimes

Under Georgia law, there are several different types of sex crimes. Sex crimes against children include child molestation and aggravated child molestation. Child molestation is defined as performing any indecent or immoral act on or within close proximity of a child under 16 while intending to satisfy the desires of the victim or the offender. This crime becomes aggravated when the conduct harms the child’s body or includes some form of sodomy. Georgia law also makes it illegal to entice children for indecent reasons, and to sexually exploit children. A person illegally entices a child when he propositions, lures, or transports a child to a location in order to molest the child or to perform acts which are deemed to be indecent.

* Drug Trafficking & Possession

In defending drug charges, a criminal defense attorney will normally try to determine whether the search and seizure that led to the discovery of any drugs was legal. If the drugs were discovered in a vehicle, the attorney will have to determine if the officer who stopped the vehicle had cause to do so. It will also have to be determined if the officer had cause to search the vehicle or if consent was given by the accused. If the drugs were discovered in a home, an attorney will have to verify that the search was based on a valid search warrant or other probable cause. If the police violated a person’s rights, a judge may be forced to suppress any evidence of drugs.

* Identity Theft & Forgery

Under Georgia law, identity theft can be committed in a variety of ways. One way is when a person uses information identifying an individual without authorization. Identity theft is also committed when a person uses information identifying a deceased person. This offense can also occur when someone creates or uses any fake information identifying a fictitious individual, or a real person when no authorization has been given. Possession of such information can be enough to support a conviction if the person intends to fraudulently use the information. If you have been charged with one of these offenses, you need an experienced attorney who will defend your legal rights.

* Murder & Violent Crimes

Murder occurs when an individual with premeditated malice unlawfully causes another person to die. The element of malice may be satisfied by showing an express or implied form of malice. The law also states that an individual commits murder when he causes the death of another while engaging in a felony. In such cases, malice does not have to be proven. The punishment for a conviction of murder is death or imprisonment for life. Murder is reduced to a charge of voluntary manslaughter when the defendant’s actions are due to a passion that is impulsive, aggressive, and irresistible stemming from a grave provocation that would create the same passion in a reasonable person. For many years, our firm has successfully represented clients charged with murder and violent crimes. If you have been charged with a violent crime, our firm may be able to help.

* RICO Act

RICO stands for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations. Under the Georgia version of this Act, it is unlawful for any person through a pattern of racketeering activity to acquire or maintain any interest in or control of any type of property or business. A conviction under Georgia’s RICO statute will result in a 5- to 20-year sentence, a fine, or both. A judge may fine a defendant up to three times the amount of any money obtained by the defendant during the scheme. Georgia also possesses the power to impose civil remedies. A judge may order a defendant to give up any business interest or property gained through a RICO violation. Defendants may also have other restrictions levied upon them, such as a prohibition from engaging in the same type of endeavor as the unlawful business.

* Robbery & Burglary

Under Georgia law, robbery occurs when a person, with the intent to commit theft, takes the property of another from another or in the immediate presence of another by use of force, sudden snatching, intimidation, use of threat or coercion, or by placing a person in fear of immediate serious bodily injury to himself or another person. The more severe crime of armed robbery is committed when a person intends to commit a theft and takes property from another person or the immediate presence of another by use of an offensive weapon, or any replica, article, or device having the appearance of such a weapon. An offensive weapon is essentially anything that is likely to produce death or great bodily injury.

* Theft & Fraud

A person commits theft by taking when he illegally takes another person’s property and intends to deprive that person of his property. It generally does not matter how the property was taken. Georgia also recognizes several fraud related offenses including financial transaction card fraud. A person commits this offense when he has the intent to defraud and uses the card for the purpose of obtaining money, goods, services, or anything of value. A criminal defense attorney has many options in defending allegations of theft or fraud. Of course, the state must prove every element of a crime as charged. There can be no conviction if the state cannot prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt.

* International Crimes

Our firm is one of the few Atlanta criminal defense firms with extensive experience in successfully resolving international criminal matters. We have helped people and businesses involved in criminal investigations in several foreign countries, including Great Britain, Ireland, Spain, Costa Rica, Thailand, and the Bahamas. We have also helped people in the United States with international extradition requests, and interference with custody charges involving more than one country.
Our international experience primarily includes the representation of clients in the following areas: Multinational Investigations; International Extradition; Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties; International Depositions & Discovery.

* Criminal Appeals

Our firm has been extraordinarily successful in reversing wrongful criminal convictions. We have had wrongful convictions reversed in the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Georgia, and the United States Supreme Court. We have also helped our clients modify and reduce unjust sentences through out-of-time appeals, habeas corpus petitions, and motions for sentence modification. We primarily assist people with criminal appeals in the following areas: Federal Criminal Appeals; Georgia Criminal Appeals; Habeas Petitions; Sentence Modifications.

- Serious Injuries & Wrongful Death

If you or a family member has been seriously injured or killed through the fault of another person or business, you will have no shortage of lawyers who want to help you. Successfully handling a serious injury or wrongful death case, however, requires a special type of law firm – one that has the necessary expertise and financial resources to help you get the best result at trial or through negotiated settlement. Lawyers who want to help people who have been seriously injured must be able to devote a significant amount of time, financial resources and expertise to the case from the very beginning. Our firm has the experience, skill and resources to help people who have been tragically injured or killed through the negligence of others.

* Auto Accidents

The mere occurrence of an automobile collision that results in an injury does not automatically establish liability on the part of the driver who is at fault. In order for the driver to be liable, the plaintiff must show that the driver was negligent, and that the driver’s negligence caused the plaintiff’s injuries. It is important to remember that the exercise of ordinary care applies to both parties in an accident, and the fact that the defendant broke a law or was negligent does not relieve the plaintiff from exercising ordinary care.

* Truck Accidents

Under Georgia law, a collision with a tractor trailer does not automatically trigger liability. Instead, an injured party has to show that the truck driver and/or the trucking company were negligent in order to recover damages. Negligence occurs when a driver breaches a duty owed to another driver, and the other driver sustains injuries that are proximately caused by that breach. Every person behind the wheel of a tractor trailer has a duty to exercise ordinary care while driving. The breach of this duty is generally determined by all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the accident, and a truck driver need not be found at fault by the police or issued a ticket to be found liable for negligence.

* Crime Victims

Although the criminal justice system is geared toward punishment for the convicted criminal, and not necessarily compensation for the victim, our firm has been able to help our clients recover substantial damages for their injuries. In cases involving negligent businesses or wealthy defendants, we act quickly and aggressively to secure restraining orders and injunctions seizing money and other assets. Many times, we will also file civil lawsuits to collect restitution and other damages that have not been recovered in the criminal case. Although we have represented victims of many different criminal acts, most of our cases involve the representation of crime victims who have suffered injuries as a result of: Sex Crimes; Violent Crimes; DUI; Nursing Home Abuse; Identity Theft.

* Defective Products

To win a product liability case, a law firm needs to have great trial lawyers, as well as the financial resources necessary to thoroughly investigate the product, retain the best experts, and prepare the case for trial. Our firm has both the legal expertise and the financial resources to help people who have been seriously injured as a result of a defective product manufactured or distributed by a negligent company. Although a product can be defective or dangerous in a great number of ways, most product liability cases fall into one of the following areas: Design Defects; Manufacturing Defects; Failure to Warn.

* Environmental Injuries

Our trial lawyers help people who have been injured or adversely affected as a result of the environmental damage caused by manufacturing and other industries, construction projects and dangerous products. We also represent people injured when toxic gases or chemicals are released during industrial or transportation accidents. Although environmental injuries can occur in many different ways, most of our cases fall into one of the following two areas: Toxic Torts; Nuisances. If you think you may be the victim of a toxic tort or a serious environmental injury, we can help.

* Premises Liability

Our trial lawyers help people who have been seriously injured by dangerous conditions that were caused by the failure of businesses and other property owners to take reasonable precautions to make their property safe. In Georgia, property owners can be held liable when someone is injured on their property as a result of the negligent maintenance, poor construction, inadequate security, or some other dangerous condition. While many different types of negligence can cause a business or property owner to be liable for injuries suffered by people who visit their place of business, construction site or home, most of our premises liability cases fall into one of the following categories: Inadequate Security; Property Owner Liability; Construction Defects.

- Whistleblowers

We have recently been involved in some very substantial whistleblower claims brought under the False Claims Act. Our knowledge of the federal fraud statutes, and our years of experience in federal criminal cases, allow our attorneys a unique perspective in assisting whistleblowers report fraud and abuse.
One of our lawyers is a former United States Attorney who was personally responsible for investigating and prosecuting federal fraud cases, including civil and criminal trials and settlements. Most of the successful whistleblower claims we see involve one of the following: Healthcare Billing Fraud; Government Contract Fraud; Tax Fraud; Financial Institution Fraud.

- Business Disputes

Unlike other civil litigation firms, our firm prepares each case we accept with the intention that it go to trial. That level of preparation contributes to our many trial victories. Our extensive preparation also helps us successfully resolve many cases before trial because the other side knows that we are prepared to win the case in front of a jury.
Although we have years of experience in many different areas of business litigation, most of our commercial fraud and dispute cases are in the following areas of law: Investment Fraud; Fraudulent Transactions; Libel & Slander (Defamation); Misappropriation of Trade Secrets; Breach of Contract Claims; Shareholder Litigation; Computer Theft & Trespass; Consumer Loan Fraud; Invasions of Privacy; Unfair Business Practices.

* Libel & Slander (Defamation)

The law of defamation in Georgia shields an individual’s reputation against communications that are untrue and derogatory. Under the law of defamation, a person may be held liable for libel or slander. A person commits the tort of libel when he falsely and maliciously defames another through a permanent form of communication such as a writing, picture, print, or sign. This defamation must tend to injure the offended person and expose him to public contempt to constitute libel. Similarly, slander consists of a false and malicious oral statement, such as stating that someone committed a crime, has a contagious disorder, or operates their business poorly. Slander may also be committed simply by uttering disparaging words about another.

* Misappropriation of Trade Secrets

A protected trade secret in Georgia may come in many forms. A pattern, recipe, formula, method, device, drawing, or even a list of potential customers that is not known to or obtainable by the public can constitute a trade secret. A court may even find that information widely known to the public is protected when that information is compiled in a unique way. Georgia only requires that a trade secret have some economic value which is derived from its secrecy and be reasonably protected by the business. Under Georgia intellectual property law, these protected secrets are obtained illegally through theft, bribery, or misrepresentation. In addition, espionage or using electronic methods to obtain trade secrets is forbidden.

* Breach of Contract Claims

An experienced trial attorney is often necessary to enforce a contract or assist a plaintiff in recovering damages when a contract has been breached. Under Georgia law, a breach occurs when a valid written or oral contract between two parties is broken by one of the parties. The formation of a contract occurs when a party makes an offer and another party accepts. For a contract to be valid and legally enforceable, there must also be mutual assent. Mutual assent occurs when both parties agree on the terms and meaning of the contract. Typically, another element known as consideration must also be present; this is generally found when both sides have exchanged something of legal value. When a valid contract is formed, both sides are legally bound to the promises they made. A deviation from those promises can result in several options for the injured party.

* Shareholder Litigation

Each shareholder litigation claim is unique. What a plaintiff must show will depend on whether federal or state law is being used, the nature of the breach, and the specific circumstances of each action or omission. Generally, there is a presumption that a director or officer acted in good faith, was informed about the decisions they made, and that the action was in the best interest of the company. This presumption must be rebutted by the plaintiff in order to hold the director or officer personally liable. The plaintiff must do this by proffering specific facts which show that the director or officer engaged in some type of fraud, illegal dealings, bad faith, or abuse of their discretion.

* Invasions of Privacy

For over one hundred years, Georgia has recognized the right to privacy as a component of the rights of personal security and personal liberty. When the right to privacy is violated, Georgia law provides a means for the victim to recover from the offender. It is important to note that actual damage to one’s reputation is not a required element for an invasion of privacy action. Injured feelings standing alone are enough to bring suit against an offender, since Georgia law recognizes mental suffering as an injury to a person. If you feel that your privacy has been wrongfully invaded and have experienced suffering as a result, an experienced Atlanta attorney should be consulted to discuss your legal options. Our firm is experienced in handling privacy cases, and one of our attorneys may be able to assist you in recovering damages.

* Unfair Business Practices

Georgia’s consumer protection laws provide certain remedies for those who have fallen victim to unfair business practices. Generally, these laws protect consumers and businesses from unfair or deceptive acts during the sale, purchase, lease, or rental of goods, services, or property. Many of these laws are triggered the moment a business opens its doors to the public, and a single deceptive or unfair act by a business can be enough to hold it liable. If you feel that you have been deceived by the practices of a business, you should consult an experienced consumer attorney to ensure that your rights are protected.

More Information on The Pate Law Firm

Savannah, GA Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
Sex Crime Defense Law Firm in Savannah, GA
Savannah, Georgia Serious Injury Attorneys
Whistleblower Attorneys in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia Business Dispute Law Firm
Defamation Law Firm in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, GA International Criminal Lawyers
Crime Victim Attorneys in Savannah, Georgia
The Pate Law Firm News and Publications
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