Morris, Monte J.

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA DUI, CRIMINAL AND PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY

I have resided in the Tampa Bay Area since 1975. I graduated from Clearwater Central Catholic High School in 1987 and the University of South Florida in Tampa in 1991. From 1993 until graduating in 1995, I attended Stetson University College of Law, in Gulfport, Florida. While in law school, I served as a student intern at the Pinellas County State Attorney's Office. As an intern, I argued motions and participated in trial in the misdemeanor County Court. As a result of my work as student intern, my performance in trial advocacy classes and mock trial competitions in law school; I was a recipient of the prestigious Victor O. Wehle Award which recognizes the outstanding student in Trial Practice.

After law school, for six years I served as a prosecutor for the State Attorney's Office in Pinellas County. As a prosecutor, I tried more than 60 jury trials including Murder, Capital Sexual Battery, Armed Sexual Battery, Trafficking in Cocaine, and DUI. I served as a Lead Trial Attorney in Misdemeanor County Court where I was responsible for overseeing 5 prosecutors in my division. I also served as a prosecutor in the North County Traffic Division. While there, I investigated, prosecuted, and tried numerous DUI and criminal traffic offenses. As a Felony Prosecutor, I specialized in the prosecution and investigation of both Domestic Violence and Child Abuse offenses. While in those positions, I received invaluable training in the form of seminars, continuing education, and the hands on experience of conducting countless investigations of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse cases up to and including trial. Furthermore, I served on the DUI Manslaughter Squad. The DUI Manslaughter Squad is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of DUI related fatalities. Often members of the DUI Manslaughter Squad are called from their homes in the early morning hours to respond to a DUI Manslaughter crime scene to assist law enforcement in the initial investigation of those cases.

In 2002, I entered private practice as an associated attorney with the law firm of Beltz & Ruth, P.A. While there I represented persons injured as a result of negligence due to motor vehicle liability, premises liability, medical malpractice, and nursing home liability.

In 2006, after 10 years of practice I decided to open my own law firm concentrating in the areas of criminal defense and personal injury. Since opening my practice, I have represented criminal clients charged with such crimes as Murder, Armed Robbery, Capital Sexual Battery, Trafficking in Cocaine, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, DUI and other criminal traffic offenses. My civil practice has included representing clients injured in automobile accidents and premises liability claims, domestic violence injunction hearings, sealing and expunging arrest records, civil traffic infractions, and driver's license suspension issues.