Representative Cases

Mike Berens has a passion for advocating for clients as defense and plaintiff’s counsel.  His experience in uniform and out of uniform makes him a very effective advisor to and advocate for clients.

Berens has prosecuted, defended, and supervised the prosecution of many general and special courts-martial during his career.  He has nearly two decades of military service.  Berens has represented and vigorously defended Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy members facing trial by court-martial and administrative separation.  He has advocated for Federal Civil Service employees in several judicial and administrative forums.

The following cases represent a few of the many cases Berens has handled in private practice as retained counsel for the past decade.  The cases identified below are only a few of the many cases where Berens represented an accused servicemember, a defendant, or a plaintiff in a Military Court-Martial, Washington State Court, Federal Court, or other courts.  Many of the service members involved in the court-martial cases listed below were exonerated during the court-martial process.  The plaintiffs prevailed through civil litigation.  Visit the “Client Reviews” tab here at soundmilitarylawyer.com for more information.

 

Plaintiff  (Soldier) v. Corporation (Pierce County Superior Court – 2023)

Wrongful Death

 

Appellant v. Department of the Air Force (Merit Systems Protection Board – 2022)

Removal action reversed

 

United States v. E-5 (General Court-Martial) USCG

Article 120, UCMJ, Abusive sexual contact

Article 120, UCMJ, Sexual assault

Article 120, UCMJ, Indecent Viewing

Article 128, UCMJ, Assault

Article 134, UCMJ, Indecent Conduct

 

United States v. E-4 (General Court-Martial) Army

Article 120, UCMJ, Sexual assault

Article 134, UCMJ, Furnishing Liquor to minor in violation of RCW 66.44.270 (18 U.S.C. 13)

 

Appellant v. Department of the Army (Merit Systems Protection Board – 2023)

Removal action reversed

 

United States v. O-3 (General Court-Martial)  USAF

Article 86, UCMJ, Absence without leave

Article 89, UCMJ, Disrespect toward a superior commissioned officer

Article 90, UCMJ, Willfully disobeying superior commissioned officer

Article 112a, UCMJ, Wrongful use of controlled substances

 

United States v. E-1 (General Court-Martial) Army

Article 80, UCMJ, Attempted Murder

Article 124, UCMJ, Maiming

Article 128, UCMJ, Aggravated Assault with a dangerous weapon

Article 112a, UCMJ, Wrongful Possession of Marijuana

Article 112a, UCMJ, Wrongful Use of Marijuana

Article 134, UCMJ, Underage Drinking

 

United States v. E-5 (Special Court-Martial) Army

Article 128, UCMJ, Assault on a Child under the age of 16 (2 specifications)

Article 107, UCMJ, False Official Statement

 

United States v. O-6 (Federal District Court)

Reckless Driving

 

United States v. E-3 (General Court-Martial) Army

Article 128, UCMJ, Aggravated Assault with a dangerous weapon (4 specifications)

 

United States v. O-3 (General Court-Martial) USAF

Article 120, UCMJ, Sexual Assault

Article 128, UCMJ, Assault

 

United States v. E-6 (General Court-Martial) 

Article 120, UCMJ, Sexual Assault

Article 128, UCMJ, Assault

 

United States v. E-5 (General Court-Martial)

Article 120, UCMJ, Sexual Assault

Article 134, UCMJ, Communicating a Threat

Article 128, UCMJ, Assault

Article 80, UCMJ, Attempted Sexual Assault

 

Plaintiff v. Snohomish County (King County Superior Court – 2017)

Wrongful Death

 

United States v. E-3 (General Court-Martial) Army

Article 78, UCMJ, Accessory after the fact – premeditated murder

Article 107, UCMJ, False Official Statement

Article 134, UCMJ Obstructing Justice

Article 134, UCMJ, Misprison of a serious offense

 

United States v. E-4 (Special Court-Martial)

Article 112a, UCMJ, Wrongful use of a controlled substance

 

United States v. E-4 (General Court-Martial)

Article 120, UCMJ, Rape

 

Plaintiff v. City of Seattle (King County Superior Court)

Negligence

 

United States v. E-5 (General Court-Martial)

Article 121, UCMJ, Larceny of military property of a value more than $500

Article 92, UCMJ, Violation of General Order 1A

Article 92, UCMJ, Willful Dereliction of Duty (3 specifications)

Article 134, UCMJ, Indecent Acts (9 specifications)

 

State of Washington v. E-6 (Pierce County Superior Court)

Assault Second Degree

Interfering with the Reporting of Domestic Violence

 

United States v. O-3 (General Court-Martial)

Article 92, UCMJ, Willful Dereliction of Duty

Article 107, UCMJ, False Official Statement

 

United States v. E-6 (General Court-Martial)

Article 120, UCMJ, Wrongful Sexual Contact with a child (2 specifications)

Article 120, UCMJ, Indecent liberties with a child

 

United States v. E-3 (General Court-Martial)

Article 120, UCMJ, Indecent Conduct

Article 134, UCMJ, Voyeurism

Article 134, UCMJ, Possession of Child Pornography

Article 134, UCMJ, Obstruction of Justice

 

United States v. E-4 (General Court-Martial)

Article 134, UCMJ, Possession of Child Pornography

 

United States v. E-3 (General Court-Martial)

Article 120, UCMJ, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a child

Article 134, UCMJ, Possession of Child Pornography

 

United States v. E-6 (Special Court-Martial)

Alleged violation of Article 111, UCMJ, Driving under the Influence

 

United States v. E-3 (Special Court-Martial)

Article 112a, UCMJ, Wrongful Use of a Controlled Substance

 

United States v. E-1 (General Court-Martial)

Article 81, UCMJ, Conspiracy to commit larceny of military property

Article 86, UCMJ, Absent without Leave (2 specifications)

Article 121, UCMJ, Larceny of military property of a value less than $500

Article 134, UCMJ, Breaking Restriction

 

United States v. E-1 (General Court-Martial)

Article 81, UCMJ, Conspiracy to Deliver a Controlled Substance

Article 112a, UCMJ, Wrongful Possession of a Controlled Substance

Article 112a, UCMJ, Wrongful Use of a Controlled Substance

 

United States v. E-4 (General Court-Martial)

Article 92, UCMJ, Violation of a Lawful Order (2 specifications)

Article 120, UCMJ, Indecent Act (with a child)

Article 134, UCMJ, Indecent communication with a child

 

United States v. E-1 (Special Court-Martial)

Article 92, UCMJ, Violation of a Lawful Order (2 specifications)

 

United States v. E-5 (General Court-Martial)

Article 120, UCMJ, Aggravated Sexual Assault

 

Mr. Berens does not guarantee results in any case.  Trial outcomes are inherently unpredictable.  Mr. Berens does guarantee that he will do his very best to achieve the best outcome possible in every case he accepts.

 

 

 

Ratings and Reviews

Military Court-Martial

Michael J. Berens was the civilian attorney hired by my son to defend his interests in a military court-martial. Mr. Berens, in collaboration with an Air Force attorney assigned to the case, hired an appropriate and competent psychological expert witness and executed the Defense case in a professional and competent manner and was able to…

- (5 star review)

Mike BerensReviewsout of reviews