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StevenEllmanLaw.com | 609-362-5933 | February 2025
MEDFORD OFFICE 617 Stokes Road, Suite 108 Medford, NJ 08055
NEW BRUNSWICK OFFICE 317 George St, Suite 320 New Brunswick, NJ 08901
NEWARK OFFICE One Gateway Center, Suite 2600 Newark, NJ 07102
How We Turn Setbacks Into Comebacks RESTORING HOPE
Many people look for new beginnings at this time of year, trying to stick to resolutions to work harder or lose weight or become more successful. At our firm, we move into each year trying to inspire our clients to rise above their problems. Whether their DUI started with a simple cocktail during a Christmas party or a serious battle with addiction, we are here to help. I have been representing DUI clients for 37 years, and I have an 82% success rate in getting charges dismissed or reduced. Even after nearly four decades of fighting these battles, I get up every morning and engage with each client as an individual. I try to understand where they are coming from, what they do for a living, whether they’re married and have a family, and how their lives might be changed by the outcome of a case. One man came to me after taking a bad batch of some drug laced with xylazine, a dangerous veterinary sedative. He’s unemployed and suffering from medical issues, and he had just been hit with his first DUI. Even though the call took 40 minutes, I listened. He wants to work with a private attorney with the skill and experience to mount a good defense, and he is trying to figure out a way to do that. I told him to pay me whatever he could and continue to make monthly payments, and I’ll be there for him.
Every case comes in a different flavor. Even when clients are very angry about their circumstances, they call me back because they know they can trust me. I had just finished a DUI case for another client when he called me about a second DUI. He was fresh out of rehab and pretty belligerent. He hated everybody. I finally talked him down. “Look, we have to find a level on which we can communicate, so I can help you and you can help yourself to get through this situation.” I tried to encourage him: “Just get back on the wagon, and keep moving forward.” I urge people to go into rehab when I sense that their drinking is hurting their quality of life, their family life, or their job. Dozens of my clients have checked into rehab and managed to abstain. They know they can call me anytime and check in with me for advice. If a client retains my office, they retain me for the rest of their lives. Some cases, however, are just tragic. Another client has been struggling with drugs for four years. He came to court high and the judge sent him for a drug test, which was positive. So, the judge threw him in jail to sober up. When the time came for sentencing, the judge really let him have it: “In your 45 years, you have spent the last 30 years using, and abusing yourself,” she said. “When is it going to stop?” Not too many judges get that personal. You’d think this guy would open his eyes and take the judge’s advice, but he kept using. Decades ago, back in the 1980s, I had a tragic experience myself when I was involved in a serious accident. I almost lost my life. I learned from that experience that life is very fragile. This has enabled me to relate to clients not only on a professional level but also on a personal level. I have never had an issue with addiction. But I understand when people just don’t have the strength to stay out of trouble. That is why I continue to embrace every new case as unique. Regardless of a client’s circumstances, I offer comfort and understanding, and I don’t judge them. We all make mistakes, and a DUI is just a mistake. Hopefully, it won’t happen again. And if it does, I will be there for them. –Steven Ellman
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THAT DIDN’T AGE WELL! They say the truth is stranger than fiction, and that couldn’t be truer in the world of parenting. However, keep in mind that what’s strange to us now wasn’t odd back then. In fact, it was “the norm”! So, fasten your seatbelt and enjoy a journey back in time to look at the strange child care styles of yesteryear. You’re Never Too Young for Tripe (1950s) Parents now generally feed babies milk for at least the first six months of their lives before introducing them to solid food. However, in the 1950s, parents weaned babies off milk at four months and started them on solid foods — one of those foods being tripe, the stomach lining of cows, pigs, and other farm animals. Bon appétit! Bizarre Child Care Trends From the Past
Baby Travel Made Easy (1950s) A perk of traveling with a baby is that the baby stays in the parent’s lap the entire flight without paying for an extra seat, right? Well, in the 1950s, British Overseas Airways Corp felt that babies sitting in their mother’s laps the entire flight was a problem needing a solution: The Sky Cot. This travel contraption was fastened to the overhead luggage rack with a protective net to keep the baby secure during turbulence, giving a whole new meaning to “the sky is the limit.”
Baby Cages for Fresh Air (1930s) Back in the 30s, when parents felt their babies needed fresh air, all they had to do was put them in a cage that hung outside their window. These terrifying baby porches were for children living in tall buildings in the city. At least they didn’t have to go down countless flights of stairs for fresh air. No Country for ‘Lefties’ (1910s) Being born left-handed was once considered a characteristic of a defiant personality and
something parents should train out of children. Treatment often included painful braces to restrain the use of the left hand, forcing children to make their right hand dominant. Parenting trends and child care standards have changed with every generation, but it’s safe to say certain child care techniques from previous generations are much better left in the past.
HOW A DUI CONVICTION CAN DERAIL YOUR CAREER What You Need to Know
People hit with a DUI charge in New Jersey often worry about losing their driver’s licenses or going to jail. In fact, the consequences of a DUI conviction can reach even deeper into all areas of your life, preventing you from landing your dream job or undermining your ability to make a living. In addition to the license suspension of 3–12 months that can come with a first DUI conviction, other consequences can hurt your job standing and taint your professional image. A conviction for drunk driving may cause you to be fired if you work in a transport industry or if your
pharmacist, law enforcement officer, or attorney could require a review by a standards board or attendance at a rehab program. Finding a new job could become much harder, too. Potential employers often run background checks on job candidates that include their driving history. Even a DUI that happened decades ago can hurt your chances of getting hired. And unlike other offenses, a DUI conviction can never be erased or expunged from your record. As you can imagine, these far- reaching consequences can undermine every aspect of a person’s life, including their personal relationships and marriages.
employer adheres to strict policies on employee conduct. Under New Jersey’s at-will employment laws, employers can fire an employee at any time for almost any reason. You may find it difficult to report to work on time while your license is suspended, jeopardizing your employment. If a DUI charge or conviction has
A skilled DUI attorney can help shield you from some of the most damaging consequences of DUI charges or convictions. We also can advise you on steps to restore your reputation, including attending a rehab program, volunteering in the community, and finding reliable transportation to work during your license suspension. A DUI charge does not have to define your future! For trustworthy legal advice and support, contact us today if you, a family member, or friend is facing a DUI charge.
already raised questions in your boss’s mind about your reliability and judgment, getting to work late could be a deal-breaker. After a DUI conviction, any effort to renew your professional license as a pilot, nurse, teacher,
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Why an Experienced Lawyer Is Your Best Defense DON’T FACE DUI CHARGES ALONE! Some drivers hit with a DUI charge try to avoid hiring an attorney. Perhaps they are certain of their innocence or their own persuasive ability, or maybe they identify with the stars of “Suits” or “Law and Order.” Whatever the motivation, citizens do have the right to represent themselves if a judge decides they are competent to do so. But defending yourself against serious charges such as DUI seldom works out well. Defendants in DUI cases who proceed “pro se” face a very tough challenge. The stakes are extremely high, but many defendants underestimate the seriousness of the charges against them. A weak defense against first-time DUI charges can land you in jail for up to 30 days and force you to have an ignition interlock installed on your car for as long as 15 months. A second DUI conviction brings up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a license suspension for up to eight years. Also, laws against driving while intoxicated are complicated. Refusing to submit to a field sobriety test when arrested can bring extra penalties down on your head. Your blood alcohol content also shapes the outcome of your case in complicated ways. Novices are seldom able to adhere to courtroom procedures and deadlines, and most perform poorly when challenging evidence against themselves or cross-examining witnesses. They also tend to incriminate themselves inadvertently. If you choose to represent yourself, don’t expect any help from the courts. Judges’ and attorneys’ expectations of you will be just as high as those that govern trained, licensed lawyers. Finally, some of the most successful outcomes in DUI cases are simply beyond the ability of courtroom newbies. Skilled attorneys often arrange plea deals that sharply reduce penalties, but negotiating these agreements requires professional judgment and experience. If you are facing DUI charges, consider conferring with an experienced New Jersey DUI attorney. We can help you plan an effective defense that will preserve your freedom, finances, and driving privileges. Call us today for a consultation!
CHOCOLATE DREAM EQUALITY GROUNDHOG
GRAMMY KING LINCOLN PIZZA
ROSES SUPER BOWL VALENTINE WOMEN
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING “Hands down the best attorney in South Jersey! I was charged with careless driving and DUI. I was broken and devastated. After reading his positive reviews, I chose Steven Ellman. He calmed my nerves and assured me that he would do his best. After months with the court, the DUI charge was dismissed and brought down to careless driving. He was a calming and confident presence in court and always explained the process well. I was represented better than I could have ever imagined. Highly recommend!”
—Christopher M.
“Mr. Ellman was very compassionate to my family. From the beginning, he and his staff were very understanding and nonjudgmental. My DUI case was handled with much professionalism. The DUI was dismissed, and Mr. Ellman’s fees were very affordable. I highly recommend Mr. Ellman, as he is very knowledgeable about his specialty (and) experienced. In a short amount of time, I received amazing results.” —Mindy A.
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617 Stokes Road, Suite 108 Medford, NJ 08055 StevenEllmanLaw.com 609-362-5933
Inside This Issue Inspiring DUI Clients to Rise Above Their Problems page 1 Parenting Styles Through the Years page 2 Avoid the Harshest Consequences of a DUI Conviction page 2 Representing Yourself in a DUI Case Could Be a Costly Mistake page 3 What Our Clients Are Saying page 3 Marilyn Manson’s Explosive Plea Deal page 4
What Happened at Marilyn Manson’s Gilford Concert? Bodily Fluids and Bad Behavior Marilyn Manson, gothic rock’s favorite
kneel toward her, covered one nostril, and blew his open nostril on her arms and hands. According to a police sergeant who viewed the concert video footage, “Manson blows a significant amount of mucus at Fountain,” he said — the camera view then changed and showed Manson pointing and laughing at Fountain before she walked away. His attorney, Kent Barker, wrote that Manson’s performances over the past two decades have been known to include evocative and shocking stunts like his actions at the New Hampshire concert. Barker further explained that since the victim knew about Manson’s unorthodox performances, she ultimately consented to exposing herself to such bodily fluids. Fountain didn’t attend the trial but submitted a statement outlining that Manson’s actions
artist, sent shockwaves through the media again, but not for his usual controversial stage presence and music lyrics. This time, he found himself facing two misdemeanor counts of simple assault. The origins of the encounter stemmed from a concert at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford on Aug. 19, 2019. Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, pleaded no contest to blowing his nose on videographer Susan Fountain, who also alleged that he spit on her. Prosecutors ultimately dismissed that charge. The police affidavit stated that Manson approached the videographer in the venue’s stage pit area, leaned in close to her camera, and then spit a “big lougee” at her. Saliva landed on both her hands. Later, he approached her again and proceeded to
Photo: Livioandronico2013
toward her were “the most disgusting thing a human has ever done.” The judge in the case called Manson’s acts “egregious.” As part of his plea deal, Manson was fined $1,200. As a further stipulation, the rock star needed to notify local police of any performances in New Hampshire in the next two years and be free from any more arrests. This case is undoubtedly one for the books. Manson returned to the stage in 2024 for a short tour — though he held no concerts in New Hampshire.
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