JURY TRIAL WINS - BREAKDOWNS - DISMISSALS
Throughout His Many Years Of Practice, Mr. Canet Has Kept Official Documentation Of His Court Wins. These Cases Have Been Listed Below. This List, However, Is Not Exhaustive. In The Years Prior To 1990, Mr. Canet, Obtained Numerous Court Wins For Clients Charged With Everything From Simple Battery To Armed Robbery To First Degree Murder. The List Below Is From Cases Representing That Part Of Mr. Canet’s Career From 1990 To The Present. Actual Court Wins Verdict Forms Obtained From The Clerk Of Court On The Day The Case Was Won (Whether A Case Number Is Provided Or Not) Documenting The Results Of Each Trial Are Available For Inspection Upon Request. View His Court Wins From BREAKDOWNS AND DISMISSALS.
10/09/2012 08 007748CF10A (Destry):
The client was arrested and charged with traffficking and felony DUI. The client had been stopped by BSO for a minor traffic infraction. The officer immediately suspected drunk driving and started a DUI investigation. According to the officer, the client was highly intoxicated. Post arrest, the client and his vehicle were searched and drugs were found. The amount found on the client’s person amounted to a trafficking charge. The charge required a minimum prison sentence. The case went to trial. After the state presented its case the defense presented evidence that circumstances proved innocent possession. The Judge agreed and dismissed the trafficking charge. The rest of the case went to the jury and the client was found NOT GUILTY of FELONY DUI.
06/08/2016 09 026875MM10A (Diaz):
This client was arrested for DUI. He had been convicted previously and was facing significant enhanced penalties. The investigation of the case led to very unsettling discoveries. The police reports were highly prejudicial. The officer who did the investigation was very experienced and knowledgeable. The worst disclosure was the video. The client appeared highly intoxicated and was charged with attempting to escape. The case went to trial and the jury found him NOT GUILTY in less than ten minutes. It was one of the fastest victories in Mr. Canet’s career. The defense was INVOLUNTARY INTOXICATION. The client had been prescribed certain medication that mimicked alcohol impairment. The jury instruction for INVOLUNTARY INOXICATION was requested and granted by the Court.
05/22/2016 2015 (Bryson)
The client was charged with DUI and Driving with a Suspended License. The client also had a previous conviction for DUI. The State gave this case special attention and assigned two experienced prosecutors. The State took a hard line and the case proceeded to trial when a settlement could have been attained. The client was investigated by an experienced investigator that video taped the entire encounter. The officer was aggressively cross examined by Mr. Canet. The jury took less than one hour to find the client NOT GUILTY.
More Cases
Client was involved in a major collision at the intersection of Davie Road and Griffin Road in Davie. Patrol units from the Town of Davie Police Department were very quick to respond. One of the first officers on scene placed the client behind the wheel of her vehicle despite conflicting reports. Officers investigating the accident determined the client was at fault and that she was possibly impaired. A DUI investigator was called to the scene. Upon contact with the client he concluded she was under the influence and placed her under arrest. South Florida DUI Defense Attorney Carlos A. Canet was retained and filed a pretrial motion to suppress the client’s admissions that she had been drinking at her job. The motion was GRANTED the statements were excluded and the case proceeded to trial. At trial Broward County DUI Defense Lawyer Carlos A. Canet successfully demonstrated a reasonable doubt as to impairment and the client was ACQUITTED.
This client was stopped by police after being observed parked on Oakland Park Boulevard with no headlights. The police had also testified that traffic was being blocked. A pre-trial motion to suppress was denied by the Court and the case proceeded to jury trial in Broward County Court. At trial the state’s witnesses said the client appeared very impaired and that there was "fresh" vomit on the side of the car. Deputy Sheriff DeJesus of the Broward Sheriff’s Office DUI Task Force also administered field sobriety exercises that were video-taped. The tape was shown to the jury. Not surprisingly Deputy Dejesus, a very articulate witness, stated more than once that in his professional opinion the client was impaired by alcohol. South Florida DUI Defense Attorney, Carlos A. Canet, whose practice includes Miami-Dade DUI Defense, Fort Lauderdale DUI Defense, Broward DUI Defense and Palm Beach DUI Defense, conducted a vigorous cross-examination of the state’s witnesses and was able to convince the jury that there was reasonable suspicion of the client’s impairment. The jury agreed and found the client NOT GUILTY.
This client was initially stopped by member s of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Selective Enforcement Team patrolling in the area near and around the City of Dania. This "team" consisted of three deputies in plain clothes riding about in an unmarked BSO van. They each testified on different occasions that they observed the client commit several serious traffic violations. After they stopped the client they all made observations consistent with alcohol impairment and summoned a BSO DUI task force deputy to the scene to investigate. Veteran Broward County DUI investigator James Herbert was the officer that responded. Deputy Herbert recorded his entire interaction with the client on video. The deputy had the client perform several field sobriety exercises, concluded he was impaired and placed him under arrest. The client agreed to a breath test and his results were over the legal limit. The case went to trial and all the forgoing testimony and evidence was presented to the jury. South Florida DUI defense attorney Carlos Canet appeared for the accused client. Mr. Canet represents those accused of DUI throughout Florida, including Ft. Lauderdale in Broward County, Miami-Dade County and West Palm Beach In Palm Beach County. Mr. Canet vigorously cross-examined the members of the Selective Enforcement Team and argued at length that Deputy Daniel Thompson was completely unworthy of belief for his cavalier attitude and inability to accurately recount "facts," he supposedly witnessed. In response to the breath test results, Mr. Canet was able to successfully convince the jury, through effective cross-examination of the state’s "experts," that there was great reasonable doubt whether the state had demonstrated the client’s alcohol level. Result: NOT GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES.
This client was on his boat at the Columbus Day Regatta with friends and family when he was unceremoniously stopped by officers of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. The officers had on board their vessel a camera crew from Court TV filming a program called "Wild on the Water, Party Police 2." Officer Eddie Perez investigated the client for BUI and eventually detained and brought him into Elliot Key for further testing. Officer Perez’s on-the-water investigation was videotaped by the Court TV camera crew. In fact, the video footage that was recorded by that camera crew was introduced during the trial of this case. The video showed the client attempting certain on-the-water field sobriety exercises and later showed the client falling down while being taken off the FWC vessel at Elliot Key. The client was brought to Miami-Dade Police Department DUI investigators who had him perform some additional field sobriety exercises. Before trial the Court heard Mr. Canet’s pretrial motions and excluded the exercises administered by the MDPD DUI officer. The case proceeded to trial and took two days to complete. The jury came back NOT GUILTY in 25 minutes.
This case was publicized in Palm Beach County as being the first-ever Defendant to be charged with DUI MANSLAUGHTER while impaired only by XANAX. The client had also been charged with LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING DEATH. The case was prosecuted by ASA Ellen Roberts, chief of the Traffic Homicide Unit of the Palm Beach State Attorney’s Office. The State had alleged that the client went through a red light colliding with the victim causing her death. The State also alleged that because the client had driven his damaged vehicle at least 200 feet north of the crash scene he was attempting to flee the scene. After the accident the client was transported to the hospital where a blood draw was ordered by sheriff’s deputies. The results of the blood analysis were reported as 139 nanograms per ml. The State’s expert toxicologist would testify at trial that such a concentration would impair anyone. This was significant because the client had a prescription for Xanax and had been taking it for two years. The victim in the case was also discovered to have at least 2635 nanograms per mil of Zoloft in her blood at the time of her death. At that level, the experts testified, the victim would have been impaired and should not have been driving. In addition, the testimony of the paramedics was that the client had suffered closed heads trauma that could have accounted for the observations of alleged impairment due to Xanax. Lastly, there was testimony that the light had been green for the client at the time of the accident. This was a grueling that trial lasted 10 days and the jury took a day and a half to reach a verdict. The client was found NOT GUILTY of Leaving the Scene and Guilty of MISDEMEANOR DUI, First Offense.
This was a highly publicized case and was aggressively prosecuted by senior trial attorneys of the Broward State Attorney’s Office. The client was Fitzroy Salesman a city commissioner for the City of Miramar. Mr. Salesman had been charged with Aggravated Fleeing And Eluding Police Officers and DUI. The alleged fleeing took place over a distance of approximately one mile. Mr. Salesman’s breath test results were .16 and .16. Mr. Canet, during the course of the trial was able to cast reasonable doubt as to whether the Defendant was ever aware he was being followed by police. He also argued to the jury that the police officer testimony was tainted because of the Commissioner’s poor relationship with the Miramar PD. Lastly, Mr. Canet created reasonable doubt as to the breath readings by getting the State’s experts to agree that they could not say what Mr. Salesman’s alcohol level was at the time of driving. Mr. Canet won this case and the Commissioner was found NOT GUILTY of all charges.
The client in this case was charged with DUI and Careless Driving for causing an accident. He allegedly rear-ended another vehicle and when the police were called to the scene, he was investigated for DUI and arrested. In addition, there was the added charge of Driving With a Suspended License. A video tape was made of the client at the scene. Two police officers and the other person involved in the crash all testified and said the client was impaired due to alcohol. Mr. Canet, however, was able to win an ACQUITTAL as to all charges, including the suspended license charge.
Mr. Canet originally had this DUI case voluntarily dismissed by the State Attorney’s Office. However, they would not give up on the prosecution of this client and the case was re-filed. Mr. Canet went to trial and the case was DISMISSED by the Judge without ever reaching the jury.
This client was stopped by a Hollywood Police Officer inside the Oakwood Plaza. Upon initial contact, the officer made the usual litany of DUI observations, including that the client had urinated himself. Mr. Canet attempted to have the case dismissed due to the DUI investigator for the City of Hollywood failing to use his videotape equipment. However, that motion was denied. The client choose to go to trial and Mr. Canet was able to secure the victory when the client was found NOT GUILTY.
This case involved a pilot who was arrested by a Trooper of Florida Highway Patrol. The Defendant performed roadside exercises and was later videotaped. This evidence was presented to the jury along with his refusal to submit to testing. Despite, this Mr. Canet still got the ACQUITTAL and won the case.
In this case the client was charged with Reckless Driving along with DUI. There was a video that was made at the scene of arrest that was shown to the jury. The State argued that based on the video the client appeared unsteady and his speech sounded slurred. Despite the testimony of the officer concerning the Defendant’s alleged reckless driving and the video Mr. Canet won this trial and the jury found him NOT GUILTY.
This client was arrested by Deputy James Herbert of the Broward Sheriff’s Office DUI Task Force. This deputy is the most prolific and experienced officer in the Task Force. There was an on scene video made of the client where he performed roadside exercises shortly after he had been pulled over. In addition, there had been testimony that he had cut off a gasoline tanker truck on I-95. All this evidence was presented to the jury. Mr. Canet won this case and the client was found NOT GUILTY.
The client was charged with DUI Property Damage and DUI. The State presented the testimony of all the investigating officers and the other people involved in the accident AND an independent witness to the accident. There was no video tape to contradict the testimony of the officers regarding the client’s degree of impairment due to alcohol. The case depended on Mr. Canet’s cross examination of all these witnesses. Ultimately, the jury ACQUITTED on all counts.
This case involved another client stopped and arrested by the BSO DUI Task Force. There was an on scene video of his performance of field sobriety exercises that was presented to the jury. The client was still ACQUITTED.
This was another client arrested by an member of the BSO DUI Task Force. The State vigorously argued that the client’s video proved he was too impaired to drive. Mr. Canet was nonetheless able to gain an ACQUITTAL for the client and win the trial.
In this case the client was charged by Deputy George Anthony with Obstructing Without Violence. The client allegedly interfered with the deputy’s DUI investigation of the driver of the vehicle in which he was a passenger. The driver had been represented by Mr. Canet and had earlier accepted a plea of Reckless Driving with a withhold of adjudication. Mr. Canet used the on scene DUI video of that case to show the officer was fabricating his testimony against this client. Mr. Canet won the case when the Court found the client NOT GUILTY.
This client was allegedly stopped for improper lane change. The trooper that arrested him testified that he smelled marijuana and observed him throwing a joint in the back seat of his vehicle. The trooper also found a bottle of brandy in the car. On the BSO DUI video tape the client admitted that he had been smoking marijuana. Mr. Canet was able, however, to convince the jury there was reasonable doubt and obtained an ACQUITTAL and the win.
This was another case that Mr. Canet had forced to be voluntarily dismissed. However, the State would not give up their pursuit of this client and they re-filed the case. The client had been arrested by Deputy George Anthony another member of the BSO DUI Task Force. The on scene DUI video showing the client’s performance on field sobriety exercises was presented to the jury. The State argued strenuously that it demonstrated his impairment. The jury disagreed and Mr. Canet won the case by securing a NOT GUILTY verdict.
This client had been trapped at a BSO checkpoint and was video taped performing field sobriety exercises for CSA Jones. She was at the time one of the sheriff’s office most experienced investigators. All the police officers testified the client was too impaired to drive and the video was shown. Mr. Canet still secured an ACQUITTAL and the win.
This client could not afford to be convicted for DUI under any circumstance. There was no acceptable offer that had been made so the case had to go to trial and he had to win. Fortunately, Mr. Canet won the case and the jury ACQUITTED.
In this case the Defendant had been arrested after being investigated by Officer Periu and Officer Coderoy of the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department. Each testified at the trial regarding the client’s poor performance on roadside exercises. State also introduced the results of the client’s breath test which were .11 and .10. In addition, the video of his performance of field sobriety exercises at the BAT facility was also shown to the jury. Mr, Canet secured an ACQUITTAL and won the trial nonetheless.
This case involved a charge of Boating Under the Influence. The case was prosecuted by a supervising attorney of the Broward State Attorney’s Office. The State flew in an officer of the U.S. Coast Guard to testify that the client was impaired in addition to veteran member of the BSO DUI Task Force Deputy Craig Buttery. Mr. Canet won the case and the client was ACQUITTED.
This was another case investigated by Deputy James Herbert who stopped the client for failure to maintain a single lane that could be seen on the DUI video. The client also provided a breath sample and blew above the limit. Several witnesses testified and Mr. Canet aggressively cross-examined the State’s Intoxilyzer maintenance technician concerning the reliability of the test results. Mr. Canet, won the case and secured the ACQUITTAL.
This client was arrested by Deputy Craig Buttery of the BSO DUI Task Force. There was no roadside video showing the Defendant’s performance of roadside exercises. Mr. Canet was forced to cross examine the deputy based upon his recollection and report. However, there was a video of the Defendant at the BSO BAT facility taken sometime after the arrest. On the video the client was constantly baited by the officers in an attempt to make him look impaired. Mr. Canet was able to convince the jury the client was not impaired despite the video and the case was won with a NOT GUILTYverdict.
This case resulted in a mistrial the first time it was tried. This client had been arrested by officers of the Plantation Police Department. Including a sergeant who came to court, along with the others, and testified that the client was heavily impaired by alcohol. Mr. Canet was able to badly impeach the officers with their prior testimony and was able to convince the jury that they had lied from the witness stand. The jury agreed and found the client NOT GUILTY resulting in another win.
This client followed Mr. Canet’s advice not to accept a negotiated settlement to the lesser charge of Reckless Driving and was rewarded when Mr. Canet won his case and secured the ACQUITTAL.
This client was pulled over after nearly crashing into a police vehicle. He was investigated by veteran patrol officers of the Davie Police Department. A special DUI qualified investigator responded to the scene with a dash-board mounted video camera to record the investigation. The video showed that the client had problems with balance and all the officers testified that he was highly impaired. Mr. Canet was able to convince the jury to ACQUIT and the case was won despite all the evidence presented.
This client, upon advice, rejected the State’s of Reckless Driving and Mr. Canet secured the NOT GUILTY verdict and the win.
This client was stopped for driving on the wrong side of the road. Veteran DUI Task Force member Deputy Craig Buttery came and investigated. His investigation was captured on video and he testified that the client was impaired due to alcohol. Despite his opinion and the video, Mr. Canet persuaded the jury to ACQUIT and secured the victory.
This client was stopped by-then veteran member of the BSO DUI Task Force Deputy Grady. He videotaped his entire investigation that included her performance of roadside exercises. This client also provided a breath sample and a urine sample that tested positive for cocaine. Before the State was finished with its case they offered the client a plea to Reckless Driving with a withhold of adjudication. The offer was rejected and Mr. Canet proceeded with the trial. At the close of the State’s case and despite all the evidence, Mr. Canet moved the judge to dismiss the case. The motion was granted and the case was DISMISSED without having to go to the jury for deliberation.
This case was tried despite the State’s offer of Reckless Driving and Mr. Canet secured the ACQUITTAL and the win.
This client was stopped by veteran Davie Police Office Panariello for speeding along State Road 84. This officer summoned other officers to witness the DUI investigation. There was no video to corroborate the officer’s testimony. He was cross-examined by Mr. Canet off his police report which was highly prejudicial. Mr. Canet, despite all the opinions offered by all the officers that testified that the client was highly impaired, still secured the NOT GUILTY verdict and won the case.
This client was arrested and charged with DUI. The testimony at his trial was highly inflammatory. Mr. Canet, however, was able to get the NOT GUILTY verdict and the win.
This client was arrested by Deputy Andrew Taylor. Deputy Taylor was one of the most prolific and aggressive members of the BSO DUI Task Force. The client was initially stopped by another officer who had advised him that he was required by law to perform field sobriety exercises. Mr. Canet, prior to trial, successfully argued the exclusion of the roadside exercises. The case went to trial and was aggressively prosecuted. The judge DISMISSED the charge before the case ever got to the jury for deliberation.
This client was arrested by veteran DUI investigators of the BSO DUI Task Force, including Deputy Andrew Taylor, while driving through a BSO DUI checkpoint. The client agreed to provide a breath sample. His results were .10 and .11. The State called Deputy Jay Zager to provide expert testimony concerning the meaning of the results. Mr. Canet conducted a thorough cross-examination of the expert and was able to create reasonable doubt concerning the client’s actual breath alcohol level. The jury found the client NOT GUILTY and Mr. Canet secured the win.
This client was charged with DUI Property Damage and Leaving the Scene of the Accident. Several police officers and civilian witnesses came to court and testified the client was highly impaired due to alcohol and had intentionally fled the scene of the crash. However, Mr. Canet was able to carefully cross-examine each witness and establish that the client was forced to leave the scene for fear of his life. The jury accepted the theory of defense and ACQUITTED the client of all charges, including DUI, and Mr. Canet got a very satisfying win.
This client was charged with three counts of DUI property damage and Careless Driving by causing an accident. Several police officers and the other people involved in the crash came to court and testified. The case was tried directly to the Judge and she found the client NOT GUILTY of all the misdemeanor charges and DISMISSED all the other citations.
This client was charged with Leaving the Scene of An Accident and Careless Driving causing an accident. Rather than accept the standard plea offer of a withhold and court costs, he followed Mr. Canet’s advice and went to trial on his case. He was found NOT GUILTY by the Judge and Mr. Canet secured the win.
The client courageously followed Mr. Canet’s advice to go to trial before Judge Lazarus on his DUI case and was found NOT GUILTY by the jury and Mr. Canet secured the win.
This client was also charged with DUI and went to trial before Judge Feiner. The State aggressively prosecuted the case and presented much evidence of the client’s high degree of impairment due to alcohol. Mr. Canet, with second-chair Randy Goodis, however, persuaded the jury there was reasonable doubt and secured the NOT GUILTY verdict and the win for the client.
This client also courageously followed Mr. Canet’s advise to try his DUI case despite the judge. There was much testimony concerning his high level of alcohol impairment in addition to a BSO DUI videotape. On the tape the client made several incriminating admissions and the State argued he was behaving erratically. Mr. Canet, however, persuaded the jury, despite all the evidence presented, that there was reasonable doubt and the client was found NOT GUILTY.
This case was tried before then-criminal County Court Judge Lisa Trachman. The client was charged with DUI and had provided a breath sample for testing that was above the legal limit. Despite this evidence, however, Mr. Canet launched an aggressive attack against the breath test results and the jury was convinced that there was reasonable doubt. The client was ACQUITTED and Mr. Canet won the case.
This client was arrested by Officer Edward Kraynak, a legendary and veteran DUI Specialist from the Davie Police Department. There was a time when, like Deputy James Herbert of the BSO DUI Task Force, this officer would make over 200 DUI arrests in a year and would constantly appear in court to aggressively secure convictions in his cases. This time, however, he was aggressively and effectively cross-examined by Mr. Canet, who was second-chaired at the trial by Lloyd Golburgh. Together, they convinced the jury there was reasonable doubt, despite Officer Kraynak’ testimony and opinion concerning the high level of impairment and the client was found NOT GUILTY and the victory secured. Tragically, however, this young man died a few years after his case was won. He is missed by his family and friends.
This client was charged with DUI. Mr. Canet took her case to jury trial and she was found NOT GUILTY in 4 minutes.
This was a two day trial in Miami before then-County Court Judge Jose Rodriguez. This case was originally mis-tried by the State and had to be tried a second time. This client was arrested on South beach by officers of the Miami Beach Police Department . The Miami Beach Police have traditionally been one of the most aggressive DUI units in South Florida. In this case the client cooperated fully with police. There was testimony concerning indicators of impairment as well as a poor performance of field sobriety exercises. This client also provided breath samples of .12 and .12. The State called veteran and legendary DUI investigator Sam Behar. This officer, at the time, was one of the most aggressive DUI investigators in Florida and considered himself an authority in all aspects of DUI investigations. He testified at the trial concerning the meaning of the breath test results and unequivocally stated that the client was well above the legal limit at the time of driving. Mr. Canet conducted a blistering cross-examination of this witness that included an attack on his credentials and expertise in breath testing. Mr. Canet also called as defense experts, Mr. Rick Swope and Dr. Stefan Rose. After more than six hours of deliberation the jury found the client NOT GUILTY and Mr. Canet got one of the most satisfying wins of his career.
This client was charged with Resisting Arrest and DUI. Mr. Canet took the case to trial and the client was ACQUITTED of all charges and Mr. Canet got the win.
On the same day Mr. Canet obtained the Not Guilty verdict in Case #40, above, he took this case to trial. In this case, the client was not present for his trial. He had been arrested by Deputy Robert Lahif of the BSO DUI Task Force. Deputy Lahif, during his time with the task force had been recognized by MADD as one of the top DUI officers in the State. Mr. Canet aggressively cross-examined him and despite his testimony the jury found the absent client NOT GUILTY and Mr. Canet secured his second jury trial win of the day.
This was the father of a local attorney who had been arrested for DUI by the BSO. This case was aggressively prosecuted and presented to the jury. Mr. Canet, despite the police officer testimony and BSO video of the client, secured the win and the NOT GUILTY verdict.
This case went to trial in Miami before Judge Jeri Beth Cohen. Several officers came to court and barraged the client from the witness stand with testimony and opinions concerning his driving pattern and high level of alcohol impairment. This was also one of the last cases in Miami-Dade County where the police were still videotaping their investigations, so that a videotape of the client was also shown to the jury. Mr. Canet aggressively cross-examined all the officers, persuaded the jury they were either fabricating evidence or were unqualified to render their opinions and secured a NOT GUILTY verdict and a satisfying win for the client.
This case involved two counts. One for DUI, the second count for Resisting Arrest without Violence. The client was ACQUITTED on both charges.
Canet went to trial in this case with breath results of .13. The State, this time, did not call the expert seeking to thwart his previous breath expert cross-examination strategy. Jury still ACQUITTED and Mr Canet got the win.
This cleint was a former police officer. He was charged with DUI. Mr Canet took the case to trial and secured a NOT GUILTY verdict in seven minutes.
This was a DUI refusal case. However, the Defendant had admitted to having five drinks and was performing pirouettes on her video. The jury found the client NOT GUILTY and Mr. Canet later represented the foreperson of this jury who was also arrested for DUI.
This was a DUI case. During the trial the State called several police officer witnesses who testified that the client exhibited all the indicators of alcohol impairment, including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and the odor of alcohol on his breath. They also testified that he had performed poorly on roadside exercises. Despite all the evidence, however, Mr. Canet went to trial and the client was ACQUITTED and the victory secured.
Mr. Canet went to trial in this case with breath results of .13. He crossed examined then-state’s expert, Deputy David Fries, on issues relating to blood to breath partition ratios. The jury ACQUITTED the client and Mr. Canet got the win. The Judge ordered transcript of his cross examination of the State’s breath expert.