Rodrigo Hidalgo, a vice-president of an airline, was charged in two separate federal indictments with criminal antitrust violations. David Markus, Mona Markus, and Robin Kaplan filed a unique motion to dismiss, which demonstrated that Hidalgo was immune from prosecution. The federal judge issued a 49 page order dismissing all charges against Mr. Hidalgo.
U.S. NEWS LISTS BEST LAWYERS
Again in 2012, David Oscar Markus was named in Best Lawyers by U.S. News in White Collar Criminal Defense and non-White Collar criminal defense.
Firm And Attorneys Named Among South Florida's Best
The South Florida Legal Guide has named Markus & Markus as one of the top firms in Miami for 2011, and selected David Oscar Markus and Mona E. Markus to its list of Top Lawyers. Robin Kaplan and Margot Moss were selected as Top Up & Comers.
ANOTHER VICTORY!
Dr. Ali Shaygan was found not guilty in federal court of all 141 counts against him, which charged that he illegally prescribed pain medications resulting in a death. Dr. Shaygan was facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted. The jury hugged the lawyers and Dr. Shaygan after finding him not guilty in less than a morning, after a four week trial.
RECENT HONORS
The 2011 Chambers & Partners reports that David Markus "comes highly recommend him for his criminal defense work. Clients describe him as 'a charming man of genius intellect, who throws himself into his work to achieve the best results for his clients.'" The 2010 Chambers & Partners said David Markus is "the whole package," and "a creative, courageous and tenacious courtoom advocate."
David Markus was one of 8 finalists in the nation for best White Collar Attorney in the United States by Chambers & Partners in both 2010 and 2011.
The 2010 SuperLawyers named David Markus as one of top 100 lawyers in Florida and Robin Kaplan as a Rising Star.
David Oscar Markus and Robin Kaplan received the Rodney Thaxton "Against All Odds" award by the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys--Miami Chapter, and were named as finalists by the Daily Business Review as Most Effective Lawyers in the field of criminal justice.
NOT GUILTY!
After a month long trial, a jury found Francesco Scaglia not guilty in less than 2 hours. This was a federal criminal antitrust trial prosecuted by the Department of Justice. Despite being on video-tape and on a number of documents, the jury did not believe that Francesco was a knowing participant in the cartel.
Case Dismissed!
A high-publicity case against an executive charged with over 800 RICO Acts was dismissed after David Markus and Margot Moss exposed the government's lead witness to be incredible through pretrial investigation and motion practice.
BREAKING!
Mr. Markus was named a 2009 Florida SuperLawyer for White Collar Criminal Defense Representation and was listed in the 2009 Chambers & Partners for White Collar Crime & Government Investigations, which stated that Markus is a "man who gets consistently great results." The 2008 version said he had "impressive victories" and that "he really means business" when fighting for his clients.
In addition, in September 2009, Ms. Kaplan was named one of the top 40 lawyers under 40 years old in Dade County by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
NOT GUILTY!
In a first of its kind trial about the legality of adult arcades, a jury in Broward County found David Markus' client, Gale Fontaine, not guilty of all counts in less than a day of deliberations.
VICTORY!
After filing a motion contesting the extradition of man wanted in Panama for a $16 million fraud, the request for extradition was dismissed.
CONVICTION REVERSED!
After briefing and oral argument by David Oscar Markus, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed Jildardo Mendez's conviction for conspiring to defraud the United States.
NOT GUILTY!
After a six week trial and seven days of deliberations, a federal jury in Savannah, Georgia found David Markus' client, a high level health care executive, not guilty of all counts in a 288-count indictment alleging RICO, mail fraud, wire fraud, and health care fraud.
VICTORY!
David Oscar Markus won a new trial in federal court for Moran Shepkaru (accused of fraud and conspiracy). The government appealed, but the Eleventh Circuit upheld the decision to award a new trial.
VICTORY!
David Oscar Markus won an acquittal on all counts for Larry Green after a 6 week trial in federal court. Although Green was facing life in prison if convicted, he walked out of the courtroom with his family and friends.
BY READING THESE WEB PAGES YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIRM CANNOT GUARANTEE RESULTS BASED ON PRIOR CASES OR SUCCESS.
EACH CASE IS DIFFERENT.
Front page picture from the Sun-Sentinel, after David Oscar Markus celebrates the
acquittal of Gale Fontaine, who reacts with tears of joy.
Markus & Markus is a nationally recognized trial and appellate boutique law firm that is known for taking on very difficult cases and winning. The named partners of the firm -- David Oscar Markus and Mona E. Markus-- are honors graduates of Harvard Law School.
Throughout his career, David Markus has zealously and successfully represented defendants in high-stakes litigation at the trial level all the way to the Supreme Court. For example, David recently took on the government in a 141-count federal indictment and won every count at trial. He takes part in all of the Firm's cases, which at the present time includes executives and professionals charged with white collar offenses such as criminal antitrust, tax fraud, OFAC, mortgage fraud, medicare fraud, RICO, and securities fraud. His contact information is on the speed dial of businessmen (and even filmmakers).
Similarly, Mona Markus was part of the trial and appellate team that obtained a billion dollar verdict against Exxon in federal court and made it stick before the United States Supreme Court. Mona leads the Firm's motion and appellate practice, which in 2012 alone has won three cases in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
In addition to David and Mona, the Firm is lucky to have Margot Moss and Robin Kaplan-- two highly skilled and experienced lawyers who have achieved enormous success for their clients.
Margot has tried more than 100 cases to verdict and while at the public defender's office was tasked with training young lawyers. Her latest trial resulted in a not guilty across the board before Judge Adalberto Jordan in federal court. She handles complex criminal matters in state and federal court.
Robin has tried some of the largest cases in the Southern District of Florida, including the case discussed above with David in which they obtained a not guilty verdict on 141 counts. She recently obtained not-guilty verdicts for a lawyer charged with mortgage fraud in federal court.
The Firm handles a very small number of cases at any given time so that it can dedicate its full energy to each and every case it takes.
Highlights of the Firm's founder -- David Oscar Markus:
Magna cum laude from Harvard Law School
Top 40 litigator under 40 years old (National Law Journal)
Top Lawyer, White Collar Criminal Defense and non-White Collar Criminal Defense, Best Lawyers in America by U.S. News (2007-present)
President, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Miami) 2006-07
President, Federal Bar Association (Miami Chapter) 2007-08
Top Law Firm (South Florida Legal Guide), 2006-present
Top Miami Criminal Lawyer (South Florida Legal Guide), 2002-present
South Florida Business Journal Key Partners Award 2011
Instructor at the first White Collar Criminal Defense College at Stetson Law 2012
AV Rated (Martindale Hubbell)
Top Lawyer (Chambers & Partners), 2007-present
Finalist (one of only eight), Best White Collar Attorney in the United States 2010and2011 (Chambers & Partners)
According to the 2011 Chambers & Partners, "David Markus comes highly recommended for his criminal defense work. Clients describe him as 'a charming man of genius intellect, who throws himself into his work to achieve the best results for his clients.'" The 2010 Chambers & Partners had this to say: "David Markus of David Oscar Markus PLLC is 'the whole package,' according to market sources. 'A creative, courageous and tenacious courtoom advocate.' Peers cite as evidence of this the "stunning acquittal" he achieved in the Dr. Ali Shaygan case, which resulted in the dismissal of all 141 counts against his client and a court order to refund $600,000 in costs due to government misconduct."
After a recent trial with reggae star Buju Banton, one newspaper compared him to Clarence Darrow and Johnnie Cochran.
Material presented on this
website is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended as
professional or legal advice and should not be construed as such.
40 NW Third Street
Penthouse One
Miami, FL 33128
(305) 379-6667 Fax (305) 379-6668
Disclaimer: Material presented on this
website is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended as
professional or legal advice and should not be construed as such.
