Eugene Criminal Defense Attorney

Mr. Veralrud and Ms. Fowler are two of the most respected criminal defense litigators in Oregon. The firm represents clients throughout the state and has defended cases in Washington State and California. Mr. Veralrud has substantial experience and expertise in Federal Court prosecutions as well.

We are known as aggressive trial and settlement attorneys – our firm has secured an “AV” rating from the most widely trusted national attorney referral publication (Martindale-Hubbell). We are one of Lane County’s “A” Rated Trial Firms. Less than 5% of firms in our area have this rating.

Mr. Veralrud has been practicing criminal law since 1978. He spent three and a half years at the Lane County District Attorney’s Office, reaching the level of Felony Deputy. He joined his present firm as a trial associate and became a partner in 1982.

Ms. Fowler, after two years clerking with Lane County Circuit Judge Karsten Rasmussen, worked three years doing criminal defense with the Jackson County Public Defender’s Office, handling serious felony defenses and, in a short time, became one of the office’s top litigators, with supervisory duties over newer staff attorneys.

DUII Attorneys Eugene

Both partners offer significant expertise in DUII, vehicular assault and manslaughter cases, accusations of sexual abuse, drug defenses, theft and embezzlement cases, white collar criminal matters charged in local, state and federal courts. Ms. Fowler also enjoys a good reputation for effective litigation in Juvenile Court matters, expungements and probation violation proceedings.

The firm has developed a network of experts in investigation, research and scientific / forensic examinations, all aimed at providing an aggressive and winning defense for our clients. Talk with criminal and non-criminal litigators alike in our area, and you’ll find that the firm has a reputation for securing some of the best results in criminal defense cases.

Mr. Veralrud is a life member of the Oregon Criminal Defense Attorney’s Association, has been a featured speaker and moderator at many of its conferences, and served as president of the Organization for three years. Over the past twenty years, he has been a trial practice instructor at the University of Oregon Law School. He is also a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Oregon and American Trial Lawyers Associations. He enjoys an “A” rating with the most respected attorney referral publication in the United States and has held that rating since 1989.

Ms. Fowler is a member of the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Lane County Defense Consortium. She has trial defense experience in a broad array of cases that is much more extensive than that of criminal defense practitioners with many more years in the practice of law. She enjoys a reputation throughout western Oregon as an aggressive, effective and successful defense attorney.

Attorney Fees and Costs in  Eugene Criminal Defense Cases:

Many of the more common criminal defense cases (DUII, minor thefts, shoplifting, assaults, domestic violence, stalking matters and probation violations) can be handled on a “flat fee” basis. If the case can be resolved either through dismissal, some type of diversion or other plea negotiation before actually going to trial, the client always has the option of paying a very competitive flat fee rather than incurring hourly attorney costs. Many clients prefer the certainty of  proceeding this way and not having to worry about whether “the meter is running” every time they want to speak with an attorney about the status of their case. Based upon long-term experience in the area we strive to quote flat fees that are reasonable, favorable and generally commensurate with the amount of time one would expect to spend on a case on average. If the case cannot be negotiated to the satisfaction of the client and needs to proceed to trial, we also will take the trial of the case on for a “flat fee” or on an hourly basis, as the client wishes. Again, our long-term experience in this area lets us quote a fee to the client that is fair and provides a measure of certainty to the client, based upon the amount of time reasonably expected in a case of this nature.

We don’t quote a specific hourly rate in this informational background because (1) rates can change over time, and (2) many non-complex criminal defense cases may well be quoted at a lower rate.  Please contact us for more specifics via the Contact Information link in this website.

Our firm often handles more serious criminal defense cases on an hourly basis fee (though a flat fee can always be discussed). If a case is to be handled on an hourly basis, the client generally poses a “retainer.” A retainer is no more than an agreed upon amount of money to be placed in the client’s trust account which is billed against for the attorney’s hourly time and any out-of-pocket costs generated as the case proceeds. (Again, flat fees can be discussed in even more serious cases, as some clients enjoy some certainty that comes with the payment of a flat fee.) Under either scenario, we try to give our clients the best possible predictions and estimates regarding the anticipated cost of a defense, whether resolved with or without a trial. Decades of experience in this area allows us to give our clients some reasonable expectations about cost.

We take great pains to discuss our fees carefully with clients before we are hired so that our clients can make the best and most informed decision.