State and Local

Joseph C. Miller is a lawyer, but is a husband and father first. Joe is married to the most wonderful woman in the world. In fact, his wife, Shelly, works with him as the office receptionist and legal assistant. They have five beautiful and intelligent daughters, ages 21 to 15. They love to do things as a family, especially hiking, rollerblading, camping, and boating. His hobbies include reading, working around the house, snowboarding, waterskiing, and spending time with his wife and kids. They love movies and music and all things creative and artistic. Joe is an Idaho native, born in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and raised in Boise. He attended Boise State University where he and Shelly met. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Boise State and was inducted into the Golden Key International Honor Society. In 2003, he enrolled at the University of Idaho College of Law and received his Juris Doctorate in 2006. In law school, he was on the Mock Trial Team for two years and was awarded the title of Best Advocate in spring, 2006. He was elected President of Board of Student Advocates and the Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity in the spring of 2005. Joe has over eighteen years of experience in the legal field. Having spent the majority of his life in Boise, he is dedicated to helping the Boise community. He is also fluent in Spanish and has helped dozens of Latino clients with a variety of legal issues and is committed to helping the local Hispanic community. Joe is an experienced litigation attorney in the fields of criminal defense and personal injury. He has extensive courtroom and trial experience and has won several victories for his clients. He is licensed in both the Idaho State and Federal District courts and has represented clients in nearly all of the counties in southwest Idaho, as well as in Bannock and Caribou Counties in southeast Idaho. Joe has been an active member of both the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) and the Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (IdACDL) since opening his practice in 2006. In the fall of 2008, he accepted an invitation to serve as a member of the Publications Committee of ITLA, and published case law summaries in numerous editions of the ITLA Journal. In the fall of 2009, he accepted an invitation to serve on the ITLA Board of Directors as co-chair of the Emerging Leaders Section. In early 2010, Joe was selected to join a Rotary International Group Study Exchange Team from Idaho District 5400. He participated in a 30-day cultural and peace exchange to southern Brazil where he toured several local Rotary service projects, made presentations on Idaho Rotary service projects, and became conversational in Portuguese. Joe has twice been invited to present a criminal case update at the annual Fourth District Bar Association Spring Case Review. Joe is an Eagle Scout and an active member of his LDS ward.

Daniel was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia. He graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas, and he holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from Seton Hall University and a Master of Business Administration, with a concentration in International Business, from the University of Texas at El Paso. Daniel holds a double certification in Healthcare Compliance and as a Compliance and Ethics Professional. Daniel manages the Law Office of Daniel R. Crumby, LLC, where he focuses on complex litigation and business law including white-collar defense; defense of corporate, and individual clients in state and federal courts around the country; medical malpractice; nursing home and elder abuse; healthcare compliance and investigations; personal injury, and criminal law. Prior to starting his practice, Daniel worked at a mid-sized law firm in Atlanta, and he specialized in criminal and civil healthcare-related white-collar cases, medical malpractice, healthcare compliance, internal investigations, and defending insurance companies and their insurers in complex cases, including lawsuits filed against skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. Immediately prior to working at a civil defense firm, Daniel defended the United States and its agencies in federal and state courts, and he served as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Georgia and the Western District of Texas. As a federal prosecutor, Daniel directed and prosecuted numerous cases including healthcare fraud, bank fraud, procurement fraud, mortgage fraud, wire fraud, theft of government funds, drugs and alien smuggling, child exploitation, human and sex trafficking, and other criminal violations. In 2014, Daniel received a Commendation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Director, James B. Comey. Daniel previously served in the United States Army as military police and as a Judge Advocate General (“JAG”) officer in a variety of assignments before resigning his commission as a Captain. The Army twice awarded Daniel the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medals, and the Fort Bliss Ambassador Award, among others, for his military service. Daniel is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, State Bar of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Georgia and the Western District of Texas.

Jon Marlowe is committed to providing his clients with passionate legal representation. He approaches every client with a focus on integrity, advocacy, and understanding. Mr. Marlowe’s practice if concentrated in workers compensation, personal injury, and social security disability law. He represents injured workers, persons injured by the negligence of others, and disabled persons no longer able to work. Jon Marlowe is admitted to practice law in the State of California (CA State Bar #271714). Mr. Marlowe is also admitted to practice law before the United Stated District Court, Northern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Jon Marlowe earned his J.D. Degree from Concord Law School. He received his Bachelor of Science in biological science from California State University, Chico and holds a Masters degree in Business Administration. Jon Marlowe is active in his local community. He serves as an adult leader for his son’s Cub Scout pack and participates in local youth athletics as a coach and volunteer.

Attorney Ryan T. Fasso was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2002 after having attended New England School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts where he graduated with his Juris Doctorate. Mr. Fasso now concentrates his practice in the areas of criminal law, family law, and civil litigation. He also handles quiet title actions. Prior to, he began his legal career as Dependency Attorney with the Circuit 10 | Florida Department of Children and Families. He gained immediate courtroom experience after having conducted numerous adjudicatory bench trials amidst the most controversial of cases. Thereafter, Mr. Fasso continued his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney with the Polk County State Attorney’s Office. During his tenure there, he quickly excelled from County Prosecutor to Senior Felony Prosecutor. He furthered his courtroom experience by routinely prosecuting felony cases and arguing many jury trials. He often prosecuted DUI’s, Drug Crimes, White Collar Crimes, Violent Crimes, and Fraud Cases. In late 2004, Mr. Fasso entered the private sector and joined forces with a major Tampa-based law firm. There, he focused his practice on criminal law, personal injury, and worker’s compensation. In short order, he was named partner and managed a steady caseload of diverse areas of law. He also handled both civil and criminal appeals. In 2006, he received his first written decision from the 2nd District Court of Appeals. Mr. Fasso now manages his own law practice and maintains a diversified caseload. He provides legal services in the greater Tampa Bay Area and in all surrounding counties. His mission is simple – “To find the truth and use it in the courtroom to get justice for his clients.”

Accomplished attorney Arlene D. Kock has focused her professional experience on family and civil litigation, leading her practice since 1984 to become one of the highest rated offices in San Ramon. For over the past 30 years, Arlene Kock has handled cases ranging from divorce and domestic partnership terminations, including same-sex marriage dissolutions, to child custody and child and spousal support. She has appeared on behalf of clients throughout the state of California, as well as all ten Bay Area counties. Arlene Kock's general practice is also equipped to assist clients with personal injury, juvenile laws, and criminal law matters. Arlene Kock attended the University of San Francisco Law School. She earned her Juris Doctorate in 1978 and was admitted to the California State Bar and the Federal District Court later that same year. Arlene Kock served as an Attorney with the Law Offices of Alfred A. Affinito until 1980, when she became Managing Attorney for the Law Offices of Yanello & Flippen. Kock directed the main office and the five branches throughout the Bay Area for the general practice firm for two years. In 1983, Arlene Kock established her own practice, becoming CEO of the Law Offices of Arlene D. Kock. She has since served as the sole attorney for the firm. Kock's success has granted her a Certificate of Recognition from the Municipal Court of the San Leandro and Hayward Judicial District for her service as Judge Pro Tem. Arlene Kock is also listed in the second edition of Marquis Who's Who in American Law, as well as the 14th edition of the Who's Who of American Women. Since 1984, Arlene Kock has been a member of the Alameda County Bar Association, where she also serves on the Board of Directors and the Chair Lawyer Referral Services Committee. She regularly appears in courts in the 10 Bay area counties and has represented clients on legal matters located in jurisdictions as far north as Cresent City and as far south as San Diego. Her general practice also handles plaintiff personal injury, general civil litigation, juvenile law and felony and misdemeanor criminal law. She is a member of the Alameda County Bar Association and serves on a number of the association's volunteer committees. Ms. Kock is also listed in Who's Who of American Law and Who's Who of Outstanding Women. In the course of her career, Arlene has appeared in jurisdictions throughout California. She is an experienced litigator and has jury and nonjury trial experience. Her offices are located in San Ramon California.

Scott Cole is a Partner in the Atlanta office and works with several of the firm’s practice groups. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Cole has a civil engineering degree from Vanderbilt University and a law degree from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law. Mr. Cole is a senior member of the Transactional Practice Group. He focuses his energy on the sale of medical offices, including dental offices, to larger groups. In connection with this, he has worked with many of the larger national and regional DSOs. He represents clients, including technology, communications and energy companies, on a variety of matters ranging from entity selection, organizational structuring, transaction structuring, and working with clients through day-to-day and extraordinary business transactions. Mr. Cole works with corporate clients to identify strategic goals and assists them through initial planning, negotiations, and project completion. Mr. Cole worked as outside counsel to a suburban Atlanta county, local water authority, and currently serves as city attorney for Mansfield, GA. In those capacities, he drafted and reviewed various contracts, including GDOT and multi-million dollar construction contracts; drafted various ordinances and resolutions; and advised local officials on land acquisition, policy, and other matters.

Attorney Carl Chapman is a trial lawyer who specializes in criminal defense and thrives in the courtroom. He served as second-chair in the Atlanta Public Schools (“APS”) cheating scandal which was a racketeering (“RICO”) prosecution that resulted in the longest, most expensive trial in Georgia history. Within two weeks of obtaining his license, he won his first trial as lead counsel and never looked back. He has handled hundreds of cases and always shows up ready for trial. Carl provides the highest quality representation to every client, and his knowledge of case law and passion for criminal defense is unmatched. He truly believes every case is winnable. Therefore, he prepares every case for trial. He believes in honest and open communication because trust is the foundation of a positive attorney-client relationship. Carl is originally from Warren County and attended Briarwood Academy where he graduated as Valedictorian and Star Student in 2008. He graduated with honors from Georgia Southern University in 2012 with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Fraud and Forensic Accounting. He continued his education at Georgia State University College of Law and obtained his Juris Doctorate in 2015. During law school, Carl focused his studies on advanced litigation techniques and complex evidentiary issues. He coupled those studies with real-world applications and gained invaluable courtroom experience with some of the most well-respected attorneys in Georgia. He interned with Peters, Rubin, & Sheffield, P.C., in Decatur, Georgia where he had the opportunity to work on the APS case which, as previously mentioned, was the longest, most expensive trial in Georgia history. He also interned with the Federal Defender Program in Atlanta, Georgia which represents indigent defendants in the Northern District of Georgia. During that time, he assisted with the research and drafting of appellate briefs for the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Prior to opening the Law Office of Carl Chapman, he worked for the Law Offices of W. Scott Smith in Atlanta, Georgia which is recognized as one of the top criminal defense firms in the state. In his three years with the firm, he gained invaluable experience from being in the courtroom daily and handling a wide variety of criminal offenses. If you hire attorney Carl Chapman, you can rest assured that you will get the individual attention you deserve and will deal directly with him from the very beginning. He will work to shoulder the burden of your charges. Remember, your charges do not define you, and Carl will work with you to ensure that you receive the best result possible. Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference. I can feel my impact the most at the end of long jury trial when the jury returns a verdict in favor of my client. That feeling is unmatched, but I also feel like getting a client their desired outcome during pre-trial negotiations is an even greater accomplishment. A good outcome is relative to the facts of the case and really dependent on what the individual client wants. I like to have each client rank his or her priorities at the outset of the case so I can get them the best offer possible tailored to their specific needs. If that final offer is unsatisfactory, then we ask for a jury trial. How did you build a successful practice? I have built a successful practice through preparation and client communication. Those two concepts go hand in hand to the extent that you never want to learn a new fact in court. I always know the case better than my opposing counsel, and I am always accessible to clients so they can tell me things about their case or ask questions about the legal process. What should clients look for in a lawyer? I always tell clients that they have to go with the attorney that makes them feel the most comfortable. I don’t mean to say that they should choose the attorney who promises them the moon. No, they have to see through that salesman and know that no attorney can make promises about a specific outcome. However, it is possible to get a sense of what the attorney will do to ensure the client gets a good outcome. You should ask questions and the attorney should ask questions of you. How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases? I usually tell clients not to hire me just because I know the judge or opposing counsel. I know many attorneys that have good relationships with opposing counsel because they always settle or plea out their cases with less than optimal terms for their clients. I don’t take a scorched-earth approach, but if I have to choose, I would always rather be respected than liked. The law and the facts of your case dictate the appropriate outcome. You need an attorney that understands both. If they happen to be local, then that’s just an added benefit. What information can you provide in a free phone consultation? I answer the potential client's questions and explain the legal process. I also indicate what I would do in a case like theirs. What information do you need in a free phone consultation? I need to know the facts of the case (why do you or your loved one need me), the jurisdiction (what county or city), where the case is procedurally (just happened or about to start a jury trial). If the caller knows some but not all of this information, then I can still evaluate the case. However, the more information I have, the better I can assist the caller. What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community? There are many attorneys who can handle your case. Some will do a good job. Some will provide great customer service. Few will do both. Some will do neither. I will never speak poorly about other attorneys. However, I know that I can get you the best possible outcome. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? The most rewarding aspect of my job is catching an opposing witness in a lie. However, not all cases get to that point where I can have a Perry Mason moment in the courtroom. Resolving a case favorably without the theatrics of hearing can be almost as satisfying. I like to know that if I’m ever needed in the future, the client won’t hesitate to call me. What are your other interests in addition to law? I enjoy spending time with my family and staying active. Physical fitness, mental stamina, and emotional well-being go hand in hand. The practice of law is a marathon not a sprint, and I aim to be around for the fifty years. Are you involved in your community? I have recently moved to a new home in a new area, but I will become more involved in the coming years. Specifically, I plan to start coaching a mock trial team at the local high school.

Brian Custy is no stranger to hard work, securing his first paying job in rural Colorado after 2nd grade working in grain elevators and maintaining physical jobs through college including drilling water wells, maintaining government wildlife property, and fencing acreage throughout the Rocky Mountains. He carried this work ethic through undergrad where he studied Civil Engineering while starting all 4 years on the varsity football team. Brian then attended law school where he earned scholarships based on his academic performance and graduated among the top 10 students in his law class. Following law school, Brian secured a position with a well-known Indiana and Illinois personal injury firm, where he was closely mentored and assisted the firm founder in obtaining a significant verdict in his first jury trial. Brian then accepted a position with Sidley Austin in Chicago, one of the largest and most prestigious international law firms in the world, where he represented major institutional clients including Wall Street investment banks. Desiring to be closer to his growing family and help people, Brian began representing one of Indiana’s most successful entrepreneurs and his business and personal interests before he founded Custy Law Firm. Brian was accepted to and attended the prestigious Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College in 2016. The Trial Lawyers College was established by legendary trial lawyer Gerry Spence to train attorneys who represent people and not insurance companies, the government or large corporations. He enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 boys, the outdoors, coaching his sons’ sports teams and working out. Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference. We’ve recently helped Clients obtain successful results in cases that other attorneys previously handled, referred over or brought us into including: - $550,000 recovered for client injured in car wreck in a case referred in by a local injury attorney; - $500,000 recovered for client hit by commercial motor vehicle after attorneys who filed the case quit and many others refused to get involved; and - $300,000 jury verdict for injured railroad worker after original union designated counsel quit the case. How did you build a successful practice? We provide the harmed with real, honest representation built on human interaction and trust. By always striving to adhere to these core principles, our Clients will be served well and our practice will benefit. What should clients look for in a lawyer? Clients should listen to their gut when selecting a lawyer to entrust with their case and lives. Clients come to us with difficult and life-changing problems that they did not create and have suffered financial losses and have often had valuable health and freedom to enjoy their lives taken from them.  Clients should ask themselves: Do I trust the lawyer? Does the lawyer listen to me? Can I communicate freely and openly with the lawyer? Does the lawyer care? If the answers to these questions are all “yes”, then the lawyer is likely one that will serve the Client’s best interests first and foremost.  Oftentimes, legal matters can take time to resolve, especially if a trial is needed to obtain a fair outcome. The strong Client and lawyer relationship is a close personal one. What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community? We focus on the Client and understanding the impact of the event at issue on the lives of them and their Family. By working to understand the true story of their situation, we are able to provide powerful and effective representation by sharing the truth with a jury or the other side.   What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? Helping people who cannot help themselves through trying situations is a reward in and of itself. We often come to know our clients as friends, we spend time with them and their Families. These relationships allow us to learn and effectively share the truth of their case with jurors, judges or insurance companies as if we were telling the story of a close family member who has been harmed. Gerry Spence teaches that we cannot ask a juror to do something we will not. If we do not care about our Client and what has happened to them, we cannot ask a juror to do so. What are your other interests in addition to law? I enjoy the outdoors, being physically active, and spending time with my wife, our 3 boys and our family dog “Bandit.” Are you involved in your community? I’m an active coach of my son’s pop warner and flag football teams and a board member of Our Greater Good which focuses its efforts on improving opportunities for disadvantaged youth and strengthening family relationships.

Stephen M. Komie, the esteemed founder of Komie and Associates, brings over four decades of robust experience in defending clients across state, federal, and international courts, including both trial and appellate levels. He is widely recognized for his role in several high-profile Illinois cases, including the defense of individuals such as Sandra Fabiano for child abuse charges, and Roland Breault and John Carroccia in notable first-degree murder trials. Throughout his illustrious career, Stephen has secured numerous favorable decisions for his clients in both criminal and civil courts across the United States. Among his notable legal victories is the 1995 landmark decision in the asset forfeiture case, U.S. v. $506,231.00. Further showcasing his adept legal skills, Stephen has represented clients in front of the Illinois Supreme Court on multiple occasions, securing important wins such as the 2017 People v. Ringland decision which challenged unlawful prosecutorial practices. Stephen's contributions to the legal field have been acknowledged through various honors and recognitions. Notably, he represented the legal community as an ambassador in the Rededication of the Magna Carta in Runnymede, England in 2015, marking the 800th anniversary of this foundational legal document. In 2006, he also participated as a delegate at The Hague Convention on International Child Abduction in The Netherlands. His expertise has earned him a place among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by both The National Trial Lawyers and the American Trial Lawyers Association. To schedule your initial consultation with the Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyer, please contact us online or by calling 312-263-2800.