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UNREGISTERED ELECTRIC CONTRACTOR (F.S. 489.531(1)(a))
CASE DISMISSED/NOLLE PROSEQUI
Escambia County, FL
July 28, 2025
Client was charged in Escambia County, Florida with operating as an UNREGISTERED ELECTRIC CONTRACTOR (F.S. 489.531(1)(a)) — an allegation that threatens not only criminal exposure but the client’s livelihood. At stake were criminal penalties (misdemeanor-level exposure that can include jail time, fines, and court costs), civil and administrative sanctions (licensing loss, business injunctions, and heavy financial penalties), and long-term damage to reputation and the ability to work in the trade. That pressure worked. The State ultimately filed a NOLLE PROSEQUI, dismissing the charge. This outcome spared the client a criminal conviction, preserved their ability to pursue licensure and contract work, avoided crippling fines or business injunctions, and removed the risk of a record that would follow them for years. In short: we protected the client’s freedom and professional future by refusing to be intimidated and forcing the prosecution to prove what it could not.
We treated this matter as a business-critical emergency. From day one we preserved and reviewed records, demanded proof of the State’s essential elements, and identified fatal gaps in the prosecution’s theory — including weaknesses in how the State planned to prove both the unlicensed activity and the required intent. Rather than accept a quick plea that would have branded the client and jeopardized contracting eligibility, we went trial-ready: subpoenas for billing/contract files, motions to limit the State’s evidence, and an aggressive posture in settlement talks that communicated we would litigate every element. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. This summary is general information, not legal advice.