Notable Cases

Hired as appellate counsel for Mr. F. after he was convicted of a Lewd & Lascivious Act Upon a Child, the attorneys successfully secured a reversal of his judgment and sentence in the Fifth District Court of Appeal. Further, pending the appeal, Mr. F. was accused of a murder-for-hire plot to kill witnesses. The attorneys accepted that representation and after trial, Mr. F. was acquitted of all charges stemming from the murder-for-hire.

Dubbed the "Black Widow" by the government; Ms. S. was accused of 1st degree murder for the death of her 5th husband. After the attorneys conducted 3 years of consultation with experts, 100+ depositions and investigation in 5 countries, Ms. S. requested a jury trial. She had her trial and was acquitted of 1st degree murder, walking out of the courtroom a free woman.

Mr. H. admitted shooting and killing his fiancé. After this admission, he was formally charged with murder. At trial, Funk, Szachacz & Diamond actually introduced the door from the home where the shooting occurred into evidence. This proved to be compelling during the hotly contested jury trial, as Mr. H. was acquitted of all charges.

The attorneys were asked to serve as appellate counsel for Mr. B. after he was convicted of two murders and sentenced to death. The attorneys agreed to become Mr. B’s appellate counsel. They successfully briefed and argued before the Florida Supreme Court for the unanimous 7-0 reversal of his conviction and death sentence.

After a gruesome homicide occurred in Central Florida, numerous men were charged with the killing. Mr. W. was formally charged with the gang-style murder. After exhaustive investigation by the partners in the firm, Mr. W. was convicted of a simple misdemeanor and received a non-incarcerative sentence.

Young woman formally charged with DUI Manslaughter in the death of her fiancé. After 2+ years of investigation and consultation with experts in Florida, Washington and Michigan, Funk, Szachacz & Diamond disproved the government’s theory and the State dismissed all charges against Ms. M.

Mr. D. was arrested and formally charged with 2nd Degree Murder. The firm conducted an extensive pre-trial investigation, including important background of the deceased and began negotiations with the State. As a result, Mr. D. was not adjudicated guilty of any crime and did not serve one day in prison.

Mr. R. was a member of a group of boys alleged to have committed the racially motivated “Pizza Hut” homicide. Indicted for murder, the firm’s partners successfully negotiated a resolution that resulted in no incarceration for Mr. R.

At the time Mr. O. met with the firm, he had been convicted of Attempted Murder with a Firearm and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Funk, Szachacz & Diamond was hired as post-conviction counsel. After the firm conducted a thorough investigation, the attorneys presented an alibi witness and cross-examined two defense attorneys and one government attorney at an exhaustive hearing. The firm advocated that Mr. O. had initially received ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court agreed and consequently, Mr. O.’s conviction and sentence were vacated and he was awarded a new trial.