Criminal Defense
Philbrook Law Celebrates 20 Years
On March 18, Philbrook Law celebrated an important milestone. Twenty years ago, Philbrook Law opened its doors with a simple but powerful mission – to stand by the people of Washington State during their most challenging times. Matthew Philbrook, who began practicing law in 2001, founded our law firm. Over time, the firm has grown…
Read MoreCharged with Reckless Driving? Philbrook Law Can Help
Were you late to work and pulled over for speeding? Or maybe your child in the backseat caused you to take your eyes off the road, and your swerving caught the attention of an officer. Either way, you find yourself saddled with a reckless driving charge, and the possibility of paying a hefty fine or…
Read MoreHow Does a Negligent Security Claim Work?
When an individual visits a mall, store, restaurant, hotel, bar, or any other type of establishment, they typically believe that they will be safe and harm-free the entire time. However, if the owner has not taken proper measures to protect the people who visit their property and someone ends up injured or hurt, the victim…
Read MoreNew Law Allows People to Sue Gun Manufacturers
With the new year come and gone, California has passed a new law that will allow for state residents, as well as tourists, to file lawsuits against gun manufacturers. With mass shootings at schools, grocery stores, nightclubs, movie theaters, and so on, this new law perhaps takes the right step in mitigating further tragedies. While…
Read MoreWhat Defenses Are Used in Burglary Cases in Washington State?
Burglary offenses in Washington State are felonies. That means if you’re convicted of a burglary charge, you will likely be sentenced to prison for a long time. You will have to pay large penalties. When you are released from prison, you will likely find it very difficult to find a place to live or to…
Read MoreCrimes With Unintended Consequences
There’s a wonderful new book by Amor Towles called Lincoln Highway. In the story two adolescents fight. One teenager falls backward, trips over a cable, strikes his head on a concrete block, and dies nearly two months later. The adolescent who struck the fatal blow is then sentenced to a state work farm. The warden…
Read MoreNew Criminal Justice Laws Affecting Washington State in 2022
As attorneys, we always pay close attention to any new laws being passed in Washington State, especially when they can potentially affect the lives of the people we help. Nine new laws that were passed in Washington last year go into effect now, in 2022. While many of the news laws concern civil matters such…
Read MoreCriminal Justice Reforms by Progressive Prosecutors
Most county, city, and state district attorneys across Washington and the country were former prosecutors. Prosecutors represent the state by trying defendants for the crimes they’ve been charged with violating. It’s the rare exception for a public defender to be elected as a district attorney. Yet, in Philadelphia, former public defender and civil rights attorney…
Read MoreWashington State Is Reviewing Granting Released Prisoners the Automatic Right to Vote
Defendants who are convicted of crimes in Washington may be imprisoned and required to pay large fines. Even when they are released from prison, their criminal record may haunt them. It may be hard to own a gun, to find employment, and to rent an apartment. In Washington, felons also lose the right to vote…
Read MoreChain of Custody in Drug Cases
The police and prosecutors must account for the evidence they seize from you, or that is used against you. In drug cases, the accounting must take place from the moment any drugs are seized, and from the moment there are any chemical evaluations of the drugs. It’s only through an accounting of who handled the…
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