Criminal Defense for the Licensed Professional
Elder & Good, PLLC provides a full-service team approach to representing their professional licensure clients in criminal investigations, trials and appeals. Chad Elder and Brian Good are both former state and county prosecutors and provide comprehensive representation for the physician, nurse, pharmacist, dentist or other licensed professional faced with criminal charges and administrative action from their board or licensing agency. In defending their client’s liberty, Chad Elder and Brian Good also focus on the consequences any criminal conviction or plea will have on a professional license.
Certainly, it is crucial to retain an attorney with experience in criminal law. For the physician, nurse, dentist, pharmacist or other licensed professional it is imperative to retain an attorney with knowledge of criminal law and administrative law. The following are a list of the common criminal offenses our attorneys have assisted professional licensure clients with:
- Drug Diversion
- Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud and Deceit
- Drug Possession
- Driving While Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
- Healthcare Fraud
- Insurance Fraud
- Theft
- Assault
- Sex offenses
Chad Elder and Brian Good are a legal team with substantial experience in criminal and administrative law and procedure. We possess the experience and knowledge to defend and guide those with professional licenses through the entire criminal process. This includes responding to the initial inquiry from law enforcement, assessing the strength of the evidence against our clients, conducting negotiations and discussions with law enforcement, attempting to resolve the case favorably and, if necessary, taking the case through trial.
It is extremely important to retain an experienced defense attorney at the earliest stage of a criminal or board investigation. This is true even when your initial contact regarding an investigation comes from your board or licensing agency. Boards and licensing agencies often refer allegations of criminal conduct discovered during their investigations to State or Federal law enforcement and prosecuting authorities. Some physicians, nurses dentists and other professionals admit to criminal conduct during an investigation by their Board without realizing that their admission can lead to criminal charges.
Conversely, a physician, dentist, nurse, pharmacist or other licensed professional may first be contacted by a law enforcement regarding an alleged crime. A criminal investigation can lead to criminal prosecution and, at the same time, to a referral to a board or licensing agency for further action against the professional license.
Again, it is extremely important to retain an attorney at the first contact from law enforcement. Once legal counsel is retained, both law enforcement and administrative agencies are required to direct all inquiries through your attorney. Retaining Elder & Good during the earliest stage will help direct the investigation and discussions with investigators in the direction most favorable to the client. When criminal charges are imminent, Chad Elder and Brian Good have successfully initiated contact with prosecutors to reach favorable dispositions for clients that have also helped them to continue in their chosen profession. Each case is different and requires the experience offered by Elder & Good to assess the allegations and to reach the best possible resolution for the physician, nurse, pharmacist, dentist or other licensed professional.
Finally, Elder & Good possesses the critical knowledge and experience to advise you regarding the impact of a criminal plea or conviction on your professional license, employment, hospital credentials, participation in insurance networks or with Medicaid and Medicare. Some convictions result in automatic revocation of a license, termination of employment and mandatory exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid and other third party payors. In short, before a doctor, nurse, dentist or other licensed professional enters into any criminal plea agreement, it is imperative for them to know how the agreement may impact their ability to practice their chosen profession.
Elder & Good, PLLC is prepared to defend you in a Court of Law and before your board or licensing agency. Contact us to learn more.