The Law Offices of Thomas R. Chapin, lawyers in Riverside, CA, California

Customs Fraud and Evasion Practices

Double invoicing is a procedure in which the importer and foreign exporter agree to divide the per-unit cost between two invoices. Only one invoice is presented at entry. The second invoice for the balance is forwarded to the importer, either before or after entry, and is paid separately. The customs officials are able to detect the improper value of goods listed on an invoice if they are well seasoned in their work. The double invoicing scheme will work if all of the documents are altered properly.More...

MISCELLANEOUS THEFT OFFENSES

A person commits the offense of theft of a trade secret when he or she steals a trade secret, makes a copy of an article that contains a trade secret, or communicates or transmits a trade secret. A trade secret is any scientific or technical information, design, process, or formula that has value and that an owner has prevented others from obtaining. A trade secret gives a person an advantage over competitors who do not know or use the secret. A trade secret is no longer a trade secret when it becomes known in the community. More...

PARDONS

A pardon is an act on the part of a state's governor that exempts a defendant from punishment that has been assessed by a trial court. A pardon is also known as an act of clemency. State constitutions generally set forth a governor's power to grant pardons. Some state constitutions allow the governor to grant pardons in all criminal cases, except for cases involving treason or impeachment.More...

Battered Woman Syndrome

Battered woman syndrome was first proposed in the 1970s. The syndrome was based upon clinical observations by a researcher of the effect of severe abuse and battery on a woman. Battered woman syndrome is a pattern of psychological and behavioral symptoms found in a woman living in an abusive relationship. More...

Criminal Forfeitures and Attorney Fees

Although a defendant has a right to an attorney and although the attorney has a right to be compensated for her services, the defendant does not necessarily have the right to transfer an asset to that attorney in lieu of payment when the asset may be subject to criminal forfeiture. Generally, the defendant may transfer an asset for compensation to her attorney if:More...