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"HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL."
Jay Y., Century City, CA
Business, Alcoholic Beverage Control Licensing, Conditional Use Permits, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles. Serving the Food and Beverage, Restaurant and Entertainment industries. Bilingual in English and Korean.
Business, Alcoholic Beverage Control Licensing, Conditional Use Permits, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles. Serving the Food and Beverage, Restaurant and Entertainment industries. Bilingual in English and Korean.
Business, Alcoholic Beverage Control Licensing, Conditional Use Permits, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles. Serving the Food and Beverage, Restaurant and Entertainment industries. Bilingual in English and Korean.
Business, Alcoholic Beverage Control Licensing, Conditional Use Permits, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles. Serving the Food and Beverage, Restaurant and Entertainment industries. Bilingual in English and Korean.

ABC ACCUSATION DEFENSE

 

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WHAT IS AN ABC ACCUSATION?

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An ABC Accusation is an administrative and legal process to enforce ABC Laws and penalize licensees whom violated those laws. The ultimate penalty is the revocation and termination of your ABC license. These proceedings are similar to how a criminal case is handled in criminal court. Prior to an Accusation, ABC field agents investigate a public complaint or potential violation of a licensee.  Based on the evidence they gather, the litigation lawyers at ABC will make a determination whether to file an Accusation against the licensee.  Once an Accusation is filed it is served on the license holder similar to a defendant in a lawsuit. For example: If you unintentionally sell an alcoholic beverage to a minor decoy, an Accusation proceeding will likely commence against you.

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CAN AN ABC ACCUSATION RESULT IN A CRIMINAL CASE?

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Yes, your ABC Accusation proceeding may lead to a separate but simultaneously filed criminal case in the criminal court system. See Sale of Alcohol Crimes. However, whether a criminal case is filed against you depends on your local prosecutor's office based on the evidence provided by ABC, local police, or both. Should the prosecutor decide to file a complaint against you, you will be required to appear in front of a criminal judge. In addition, you will be required to reply to the ABC Accusation as well. An experienced ABC and criminal defense lawyer can navigate both administrative and criminal court systems to provide the best outcome of both matters. A non-lawyer expediter is unable to legally represent you in these capacity. For example: You receive a criminal citation for a violation of an ABC Law.  Weeks later, you receive a notice of an Accusation from the ABC. You must reply to the ABC notice and personally appear in court to resolve your criminal case. Should you fail to address either of the cases, you risk losing your ABC license or worse, face jail time.   

 

TYPES OF ABC ACCUSATION DEFENSE SERVICES OFFERED BY BO LEE LAW GROUP:

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  • ABC Pre-Accusation defense - Bo Lee Law Group has extensive experience defending Pre-Accusation notices from the ABC. Prior to a filing of an Accusation, a licensee may have the chance to address any violations during the Pre-Accusation phase of ABC litigation. It is highly recommended that you consult an experienced ABC lawyer when you receive a Pre-Accusation notice to avoid unnecessary delays and maximize any opportunity to successfully resolve your matter without an ABC hearing.

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  • ABC Accusation​ defense - Bo Lee Law Group has extensive experience defending ABC Accusations filed against licensees in all aspects of administrative litigation. It is highly recommended that you consult an experienced ABC lawyer when you are served with an Accusation to avoid unnecessary delays and maximize any opportunity to successfully resolve your matter without an ABC hearing.

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  • ABC Hearing defense - An ABC hearing is similar to a court trial. At the hearing, evidence from both the ABC and the licensee is presented to a judge who will make a proposed decision. Should a ABC hearing be required for your case, our firm will prepare for and defend you at the hearing.

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  • ABC Appeals - Although rare in most Accusation cases, should the administrative judge decide in favor of ABC at the hearing phase, you can appeal its decision with the ABC Appeals Broad. You will present all the evidence to the Appeal Board, who will then make a decision within 120 days.

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  • Neighborhood Prosecutor Hearing defense - especially in larger cities such as Los Angeles, the neighborhood prosecutor's office may request the presence of an ABC licensee or its employees at a scheduled hearing. Although, these hearing may be voluntary in nature, failure to appear may trigger a criminal complaint against the licensee. Bo Lee Law Group has extensive experience defending clients at these hearings to avoid further legal issues that may arise from not appearing as requested.  

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  • Criminal Case defense - Bo Lee Law Group has extensive experience defending criminal cases involving ABC licenses and related crimes. Our criminal defense background in general crimes sets us apart from other firms that only focus on administrative cases. Our firm already knows how to maneuver through the criminal court system to provide the best outcome for our clients. See Sale of Alcohol Crimes. 

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REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE A LAWYER FOR AN ABC ACCUSATION CASE:

 

  • The complexity of administrative law

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  • The harshness of ABC penalties

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  • The complexity and harshness of the Business & Professional Code (BPC)​​​

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  • Enforcement agents and attorneys are more likely to listen to an experienced defense lawyer than you

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  • An experienced ABC lawyer can assess whether you have legal defenses to fight your ABC Accusation​​​

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  • An experienced ABC and criminal lawyer can provide creative and alternative options for your case

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  • An experienced ABC and criminal lawyer can assess whether your ABC license can be saved

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  • An experienced ABC licensing lawyer may appear for you on most cases related to your ABC Accusation

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