Brancato Law Firm, P.A. Recent Blog Posts

For doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, being arrested or placed under investigation is more than a legal problem—it’s a career crisis. Beyond the risk of criminal penalties, you may face disciplinary action from the Florida Board of Medicine or Nursing, hospital peer review committees, or the DEA. In some cases, your professional reputation can…

Tampa Bay’s Trusted Defense Attorney for Officers Under Investigation Trusted by Those Who Protect Tampa Bay Attorney Rocky Brancato serves as on-call attorney for officer-involved shootings with the Tampa Police Benevolent Association and the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association. For law enforcement officers, few moments are more devastating than being on the other side of the…

When your child is arrested, even if the charges are later dismissed, the record does not automatically disappear. That arrest can surface on background checks for college, scholarships, jobs, housing, and even military service. For parents, this is often one of the most stressful parts of the process: wondering if a single mistake will shadow…

A strategic legal challenge to DHSMV administrative suspension resulted in complete reversal by the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit KEY TAKEAWAY Florida CDL holders facing DUI suspension have only 10 days to request a formal review hearing. Moreover, even if the hearing officer rules against you, appellate review can overturn the suspension—as demonstrated in this Hillsborough County…

When you go to a fair, concert, or sporting event, you often see people waving lighted cones to direct you into their parking lots. Many drivers pull in right away. The problem is, those early stops often lead to the worst spots at the highest prices. People who drive a little further—or who know the…

In Gonzalez Garcia v. State (No. 4D2025-0471, Sept. 3, 2025), the Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed a written probation condition that conflicted with the oral pronouncement. As a result, the decision shows how a Florida probation conflict can unfairly expand conditions beyond what a judge actually ordered. Case Background: Probation After Reduced Charges The…

Spencer v. State (4D2025-0023) — Second-Degree Murder Charge Dismissed RESULT: Murder Charge Dismissed The Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled that prosecutors failed to disprove self-defense by clear and convincing evidence. Stand Your Ground immunity granted. The Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal recently granted Stand Your Ground immunity to a Palm Beach defendant charged…

The Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo Supreme Court immigration case is already shaping the national debate over immigration enforcement and constitutional rights. On September 8, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the federal government’s request to pause a lower court ruling that had blocked immigration raids in Los Angeles. This emergency order has immediate consequences for…

McDaniels v. State Changes Florida Gun Law — Updated December 2025 UPDATE: Open Carry Is Now the Law in Florida The Attorney General has declined to appeal the McDaniels ruling. Open carry, subject to location restrictions, is now legal statewide. Florida’s gun laws have changed. On September 10, 2025, the First District Court of Appeal…

Will a child adjudicated delinquent of a sex charge face juvenile sex offender registration in Florida? If your child is in juvenile court for a sex offense, you need clear answers now. Under Florida Statute 943.0435, certain juvenile adjudications can trigger sex offender registration—even when the case stays in juvenile court. This guide explains when…