ATTORNEY GERALD J. NOONAN WINS NOT GUILTY VERDICT IN OUI-LIQUOR CASE AGAINST PARAMEDIC

The client is a paramedic / EMT. On the night in question, she approached a sobriety checkpoint or roadblock in the Town of Canton. At the checkpoint, the police officer detected an odor of alcohol and observed that the client’s speech was slurred and that her eyes were glassy and bloodshot. The client admitted that she had consumed alcohol. The officer instructed the client to exit the vehicle so he could administer some field sobriety tests. The officer administered several field sobriety tests, including the Alphabet Test, the Walk and Turn Test, and the One Leg Stand Test. Based on his observations of the client’s sobriety and her performance on the field sobriety tests, the officer formed the opinion that the client was under the influence of alcohol.

Result: At the trial, Attorney Gerald J. Noonan attacked the testimony of the police officers, questioned their observations, and challenged their opinion that the client was intoxicated. Attorney Noonan pointed out that his client performed well on the field sobriety tests despite having to perform physical tasks while wearing flip-flops and the conditions under which the tests were administered were very difficult. After the police officer testified and the Commonwealth rested its case, Attorney Gerald J. Noonan argued that the Commonwealth failed to meet its burden of proof and the judge found our client not guilty.