by Eric Roper | Feb 22, 2011 | Maritime Transportation, Uncategorized
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) voted 3-1 last week to approve a final rule which will relieve US-based licensed Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCCs) from the requirement to publish a tariff containing all of its rates charged for cargo shipments. As...
by Eric Roper | Feb 14, 2011 | Criminal Defense, Uncategorized
If you have been arrested for or convicted of a criminal offense in Florida, a criminal defense lawyer may be able to assist you in having your record sealed or expunged. Florida law specifies the criteria that must be met in order to have a record sealed or expunged....
by Eric Roper | Feb 11, 2011 | Military Law, Uncategorized
In 1996, one of my first cases as a military defense lawyer was representing a young sailor who was being processed for a discharge from the Navy because of her sexual orientation. My client was being separated under a three-year old Federal law, 10 U.S.C. § 654,...
by Eric Roper | Feb 4, 2011 | Criminal Defense, Military Law, Uncategorized
The Virginian-Pilot reports here that the Navy is processing 16 sailors assigned to the USS BATAAN (LHD-5) for administrative separation (or adsep) from the service for using or dealing Spice. Spice is a common street name for salvia divinorum, an herb native to...
by Eric Roper | Feb 1, 2011 | Criminal Defense, Uncategorized
If a client is found guilty after trial or pleads guilty to an offense in a Florida criminal court, a criminal defense lawyer may seek to have the client classified as a Youthful Offender (YO). If the client qualifies as a YO, the court has a broader range of...
by Eric Roper | Jan 31, 2011 | Military Law, Uncategorized
The recent case of U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant William Gurney serves as a reminder that military personnel are often held to a higher standard under the UCMJ than their civilian counterparts. According to media reports (available here and here), CMSgt Gurney...
by Eric Roper | Jan 26, 2011 | Criminal Defense, Uncategorized
This is perhaps the most often asked question of a criminal defense lawyer by friends and family members. Of course, the first advice I give when asked this question is to avoid drinking and driving in the first place. Aside from putting your personal safety and the...
by Eric Roper | Jan 24, 2011 | Criminal Defense, Military Law, Uncategorized
Its a normal Tuesday morning. You report for work as usual but soon after your immediate supervisor pulls you aside and says to you: “NCIS (or OSI, CID, or base police) is here and wants to see you now.” You are ushered into an office, the door is closed behind you...
by Eric Roper | Jan 24, 2011 | Maritime Transportation, Uncategorized
In the United States, the ocean transportation industry is one of the last transportation-related industries which has not been fully deregulated by the Congress. Beginning in the 1970‘s, Congress passed a series of laws which gradually removed regulatory oversight of...
by Eric Roper | Dec 30, 2010 | Criminal Defense, Firm News, Maritime Transportation, Military Law, Uncategorized
The Law Office of Eric Roper, P.A. is a litigation firm devoted to representing clients in the areas of criminal defense, military law, and maritime transportation. As a former active duty Navy Judge Advocate, Eric Roper has 15 years experience in both prosecuting...
