• Sep 09, 2020
  • KAKE TV
  • -
  • by Eli Higgins

WICHITA – Whether they want to or not, under the county and city mask mandates, businesses have to require masks for employees and customers who can’t maintain social distancing, which in some cases, is easier said than done.

Bella Vita Bistro is one of many Wichita businesses requiring all employees and customers to wear masks. Owner Lory Wooley said, for the most part, her customers have been understanding.

“I’m trying to make it so that everybody feels safe and comfortable,” said Wooley.

But unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

Some business owners say customers have been so nasty they put a sign on the front door threatening to shame anyone who refuses to wear a mask publicly.

Even Wooley said some people are more cooperative than others.

“It’s outright idiotic. I mean, how hard is it to put this on for a few minutes to go into a store out of a store,” said Wooley.

So, it begs the question, what can business owners legally do with customers who refuse to wear a face-covering?

“Under the county resolution, there is no penalty provided. However, under the city ordinance, a law enforcement officer may choose to cite that lawbreaker for not obeying the mask requirement,” said criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat.

Under the city mask ordinance, those fines are $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second and $100 after that, but Monnat said it doesn’t stop there.

“When the person refuses to wear a mask, they’re refusing to obey the law. The business owner is within his or her rights to order them to leave. If they refuse to leave and thereby interfere with the business, they may have committed the crime of criminal trespass or interference with the lawful conduct of business,” said Monnat.

As for Wooley, she hopes everyone will do their part to get us to the other side of the pandemic.

“It is a very small thing to put everybody, have everybody do it, in order to make this go away so we can have a back to normal life at some time in the future,” said Wooley.

Monnat said the best thing to do if you find yourself in this situation is to let the police take care of enforcing the law, and not to remove the person yourself with force or violence.

See full story at KAKE.com

  • Aug 16, 2020

Who’s Who Legal: Business Crime Defense 2020 has named Dan Monnat, of Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, one of the world’s leading business crime defense attorneys. Earlier this year, Monnat also was named as a leading attorney on the Who’s Who Legal: Government Investigations list. The London-based Who’s Who Legal selects its list based on attorneys who have significant experience in investigations, enforcement proceedings and related civil litigation, and regulatory compliance.

“Who’s Who represents an international list of legal experts and it’s an honor to be counted among these esteemed colleagues,” Monnat said.

Monnat has practiced in Kansas for nearly 45 years, handling criminal and white-collar criminal cases that have attracted international attention, including the defense of late-term abortion provider Dr. George Tiller.

Monnat is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, and the Kansas Bar Foundation. He has been named one of the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Kansas and Missouri in 2018 and 2019, and has been included on the Super Lawyers Top 100 list for more than a decade.

A graduate of California State University, Monnat received his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law and is a graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College.

A frequent national lecturer and editorial contributor on criminal defense topics, Monnat is the co-author of “Sentencing, Probation, and Collateral Consequences,” a chapter of the Kansas Bar Association’s Kansas Criminal Law Handbook, 5th edition.  He currently sits on the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association’s Board of Editors.

Monnat served as a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Board of Directors from 1996 – 2004, and is a two-term past president of the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

  • Jun 12, 2020
  • KAKE TV
  • -
  • by Eli Higgins

WICHITA – Danny Hohl and his daughter Isabella have lived in their west Wichita neighborhood near 13th and Maize for years. They said it’s been nothing but peaceful, but that all changed early Monday morning.

“We spent a lot of time outside and walking around and never… Been here seven years never had any issues at all,” said Danny.

“Yeah, whenever you see like neighbors outside, they’ll wave and say hi,” said Isabella. “I was very shocked. I mean, like just living here, I can’t believe it was right next door to our house. You never know, it could have been our house.”

Police said one of their neighbors shot two people, both 19 years old, around 2:00 Monday morning. He apparently heard the two talking about targeting his home. When they pulled into his driveway, he yelled at them before firing. The car sped away and crashed into a tree just down the road.

“Both of these individuals had sustained apparent gunshot wounds,” said Lt. Mike Linnehan with the Wichita Police Department.

When it comes to self-defense, attorney Dan Monnat said that while there are many variables, Kansas law is already on your side.

“A person is presumed to have justification for using deadly force whenever it’s used to prevent or terminate an aggressor’s unlawful entry into a home,” said Monnat.

But, like in this case, what if they’re on your property but not in your home?

“Now, if they’re in the driveway, is that what the law considers a dwelling? If they’re in an unattached garage, is that what the law considers a dwelling? Those are the legal questions that have to be researched and answered,” said Monnat. “Every case depends upon its specific facts.”

As for the Hohl’s, they just hope it’s not something they’ll have to worry about.

“It’s hard to believe that it was a couple people my age doing that. I mean, I feel so young like, going in breaking in somebody’s house? I would never,” said Isabella.

See full story at KAKE.com

  • Apr 27, 2020
  • by Monnat & Spurrier

WICHITA – Chambers USA 2020 has ranked Dan Monnat, of Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, among the top Kansas litigators practicing in the White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations sector. Based on its annual survey of law firm clients and peer lawyers, Chambers USA notes that Monnat often works on healthcare and financial investigations, calling him “a widely venerated litigator, respected in the market for his expert representation in trial and appellate white-collar criminal proceedings.”

“I’m truly honored by this year’s Chambers USA review and their particular recognition of our work in healthcare and financial investigations,” Monnat said. “This accolade exemplifies the solid legal research and expertise we put to work for every client, in every case.”

Monnat has practiced criminal law, white-collar criminal law and appellate law in Wichita for 45 years and was named one of Super Lawyers’ Top 10 Lawyers in Missouri and Kansas for 2018 and 2019. A graduate of California State University, Monnat received his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law. He also is a graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College.

A frequent editorial contributor on criminal defense topics, Monnat is co-author of “Sentencing, Probation, and Collateral Consequences,” a chapter of the Kansas Bar Association’s Kansas Criminal Law Handbook, 5th edition. He also lectures at NACDL conferences and at other legal seminars around the country.

Monnat has earned distinction as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, and the Kansas Bar Foundation. He currently sits on the Kansas Association of Trial Lawyers’ Board of Editors.

Monnat is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Association and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

  • Mar 23, 2020
  • by Monnat & Spurrier

WICHITA, Kan. – For the fourth consecutive year, Who’s Who Legal has named Dan Monnat, of Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, one of the world’s leading practitioners in the Investigations sector. Who’s Who Legal collaborates annually with Global Investigations Review to identify the world’s leading lawyers, forensic accountants and digital forensics experts who assist companies and individuals under investigation by regulatory or law enforcement agencies. Monnat is the only attorney in Kansas to be recognized.

“Who’s Who Legal closely follows the global rise in demand for lawyers who focus on bet-the-company and white-collar criminal defense work,” said Monnat. “It’s an honor to be listed among these esteemed colleagues who hail from both private practice and corporate counsel worldwide.”

Monnat has practiced in Wichita for nearly 45 years, handling criminal and white-collar criminal cases that have attracted international attention. Last fall he was named one of Super Lawyers’ Top 10 attorneys in Missouri and Kansas, and he has been honored by Best Lawyers in America for more than 30 years. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, the American Bar Association and the Kansas Bar Association.

A graduate of California State University, Monnat received his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law and is a graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College.

A frequent national lecturer and editorial contributor on criminal defense topics, Monnat is the author of “Sentencing, Probation, and Collateral Consequences,” a chapter of the Kansas Bar Association’s Kansas Criminal Law Handbook, 5th edition.  From 2007 – 2011, Monnat served on the Kansas Sentencing Commission as a Governor’s appointee. He currently sits on the Kansas Association of Trial Lawyers’ Board of Editors.

Monnat served as a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Board of Directors from 1996 – 2004, and is a two-term past president of the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

  • Feb 19, 2020
  • KAKE TV
  • -
  • by Eli Higgins

WICHITA – A new proposed bill would put sports officials under similar protections that police officers and judges have against assault and battery in Kansas.

Teon Wilson has been reffing for years, and Wednesday was the Holy War between Kapaun and Bishop Carroll. He said sometimes the games can be a lose-lose.

“No matter what we do, we always get attacked,” said Wilson. “People in the stands feel like it’s just okay to attack refs and say whatever they want, when it shouldn’t be like that.”

In 2018, cell phone video caught former Wichita Police Captain Kevin Mears shoving a teen referee at a youth basketball game. He was later found guilty of battery and disorderly conduct.

The proposed law would make the penalty for assault or battery of a sports official a class B or class A person misdemeanor.

But what exactly does this mean?

“Screaming at a referee from the stands, ‘bad call referee’ is simply not either an assault or a battery. However, if that same fan goes down onto the basketball court floor, approaches the referee and threatens to punch him unless he changes his call, that is clearly an assault,” said defense attorney Dan Monnat.

According to Monnat, under the current law, assaulting a referee can cost you $500 and 30 days in jail. If the new law is passed, it would increase to $1,000, and 6 months in jail.

“Nobody wants to be attacked. You know, we’re out here trying to do a job. We are trying to do the best we can,” said Wilson. “If I had to say something to anybody, just let it be about the kids. We’re out here doing the best we can. Just let it be about them.”

The Committee on Federal and State Affairs heard the proposal Wednesday in Topeka. The next step would be whether to send the bill on to the full House for a vote.

See full story at KAKE.com

  • Dec 02, 2019
  • Monnat & Spurrier

WICHITA, Kansas – Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers has named two Monnat & Spurrier Chartered,
attorneys to its esteemed list for 2019. Sal Intagliata was honored by Super Lawyers for the sixth
consecutive year, and Matt Gorney earned recognition as one of Super Lawyers’ “Rising Stars” for
the second consecutive year.

Sal Intagliata is a shareholder in the firm and has practiced law nearly 25 years, including 20 years in
private practice and 4 years as Sedgwick County Assistant District Attorney prosecuting crimes in the
Gangs/Violent Crimes Division. His practice at Monnat & Spurrier focuses on criminal, white-collar
criminal, and DUI defense. He is licensed to practice before federal, state and municipal courts
throughout Kansas, as well as before the U.S. 10 th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States
Supreme Court.

Intagliata serves on the Kansas Judicial Council Criminal Law Advisory Committee and the Kansas
Supreme Court Pretrial Justice Task Force. He is a past member of the Board of Governors of the
Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is a past vice president of the Wichita Bar
Association, a past member of its Board of Governors, and past Chair of its Criminal Practice Division.

Intagliata earned his bachelor’s degree, with distinction, from the University of Kansas, graduating
with dual majors in political science and Spanish. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of
Kansas School of Law. He is also a graduate of the National Criminal Defense College.

Matt Gorney is an associate with the firm whose practice includes criminal defense, DUI defense and
appellate work. He is licensed to practice before federal, state and municipal courts in Kansas, as well
as before the U.S. 10 th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

Formerly a professional journalist, Gorney graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in
2013 where he earned certificates in both Advocacy Skills and Media, Law and Technology. He
simultaneously earned a Master of Science Degree in Journalism from the William Allen White School
of Journalism and Mass Communications after successfully defending his thesis: Social Media and
Kansas Courtrooms: Assessing Kansas Supreme Court Rule 1001 and Exploring Possible
Improvements. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University majoring in journalism
with a minor in Leadership Studies.

While in law school, Gorney joined the American Bar Association’s Law Student Division and served
as one of the division’s four national officers. Gorney also worked as a graduate teaching assistant and
later adjunct instructor for KU’s journalism school during his time in Lawrence.

Gorney is a past Board Member of both Music Theatre of Wichita and the Delta Chi Fraternity.

  • Nov 18, 2019
  • KSNW TV
  • -
  • by John Asebes

WICHITA – A Wichita teenager is recovering after being bitten in the face by a Sedgwick County Sheriff K-9.

The dog got out of his enclosure Sunday night and was found hours later a couple of blocks away.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s put out a notification, but the family says they did not see it and took the dog in.

“I said, ‘Okay, fine. We will keep the dog overnight and take it to the humane society in the morning,’” says Coryinna Hill.

The dog, Bocephus, stayed with Hill and her family all night long sleeping with her 14-year-old son in the basement. There was no identification on the dog saying it was a sheriff’s K-9.

“He was friendly and was a non-aggressive dog,” she says.

That changed when her son took the dog to use the bathroom in the morning, and it did what a dog like that may do.

“As he reached down to let go of the leash, the dog bit him in the face and the back as he turned,” Hill says.

“Unfortunately, accidents happen and like I said it is very unfortunate that the young man was bitten, but I am not going to blame the dog,” says Hill.

The family says the sheriff’s office has been quite helpful in checking in on them but wonder if it all could have been prevented.

“Our concern to is how did the dog get out of its enclosure,” Hill says.

Right now, the sheriff’s office is doing an internal investigation. Bocephus will sit out for at least 10 days. The handler, as of now, facing no consequences.

“The investigation is still ongoing. We would not have any type of action taken on the dog. The dog is doing what it was trained to do,” Lt. Tim Myers says.

A local attorney explains the owner of the dog should be the one paying a consequence or at least a medical bill.

“Since the common law, it has been true that if a dangerous animal gets away the owner has to pay,” says Defense Attorney Dan Monnat.

Sheriff’s officials say they do not require the dogs to wear special ID, but could look into that procedure given the results of the investigation.

See the full story at KSN.com

  • Nov 13, 2019
  • Monnat & Spurrier

WICHITA, Kansas – Noted criminal defense attorney Dan Monnat, of Monnat & Spurrier, Chartered, has been named to the Top 10 list of Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers for 2019. It is Monnat’s second year to be named among the prestigious Top 10. Before now he had been listed on the Top 100 list overall for 14 years.

Monnat has practiced in Wichita and across Kansas for nearly 45 years, concentrating on criminal defense, white-collar criminal defense, appellate defense and bet-the-company litigation. His cases have attracted international attention, including the defense of late-term abortion provider Dr. George Tiller and defense of an innocent man wrongly accused of being the notorious BTK.

“I’m truly honored and humbled by this recognition from Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers,” Monnat said. “It has always been my great privilege to uphold the Constitution and protect and defend the rights of those accused,” Monnat said. “After nearly 45 years of practice, I remain as passionate as ever about winning each client’s case through a relentless combination of thought, action, courage and care.”

A graduate of California State University, Monnat earned a Juris Doctorate from Creighton University School of Law and is a graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College.

Monnat currently sits on the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association’s Board of Editors and is the Criminal Law Chair. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Association, the Kansas Bar Association, the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. He is a Life Member and past Board Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, as well as a two-term past president of the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

A frequent national lecturer and editorial contributor on criminal defense topics, Monnat is the author of “Sentencing, Probation, and Collateral Consequences,” a chapter of the Kansas Bar Association’s Kansas Criminal Law Handbook, 5th edition.

Monnat & Spurrier was founded in 1985 by Monnat and legal scholar Stan Spurrier. The firm has seven lawyers and has earned a reputation for its work in criminal defense, white-collar criminal defense and appellate practice.

  • Nov 04, 2019
  • KSNW TV
  • -
  • by John Asebes

WICHITA – Wichita police said a fetus was discovered in a box on Sunday in south Wichita. It happened at about 4:45 p.m. near Skinner and Greenway.

Police said a 57-year-old woman found the box with bloody material and a fetus inside. The fetus is presumed to be 10 weeks gestation or younger. The coroner will try to determine the age of the fetus.

Police said the investigation will continue after they receive the coroner’s report.

“We don’t believe it will be criminal,” said Capt. Brent Allred, Wichita Police Department. “This is a unique situation. We usually don’t see these, but we will go from there.”

If you know anything about this case, you are asked to call detectives at (316) 268-4407.

See the full interview at KSN.com