Matthew R. Zatko Attorney at Law

Self-Defense Argument Leads to Dismissal of Assault Charges in Bedford County Activist Shooting

A recent case in Bedford County, Pennsylvania shows the effectiveness of a justification defense in a criminal assault prosecution. My firm won dismissal of the most serious charges faced by a local man who fired a shotgun at a group of activists that were trespassing on family-owned property. On the evening of August 24, 2020,… Read More »

By Matthew R. Zatko | Published July 15, 2021 | Posted in Criminal Defense | Tagged activist, self-defense, shooting |

When Can Deadly Force Be Used in Defense of a Home or Other Place of Security?

One nightmare everyone dreads is being awakened by the sound of breaking glass or other unexpected noise coming from downstairs and encountering an intruder. In that scenario, what can you do to protect yourself, your family and your possessions? Pennsylvania follows the “castle doctrine,” a legal principle allowing you to use deadly force against someone… Read More »

By Matthew R. Zatko | Published December 15, 2020 | Posted in Criminal Defense | Tagged castle doctrine, self-defense, stand your ground |

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- Mr. Zatko has done various legal projects for me. All have been done in a timely, accurate and professional way. I would highly recommend him in any legal matter. –Client… read more
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- Mr. Zatko has done various legal projects for me. All have been done in a timely, accurate and professional way. I would highly recommend him in any legal matter. –K.B.
- Amazing to work with, called me right away on an urgent question, even though it was evening. Highly recommend! –A.A.
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Mr. Zatko has done various legal projects for me. All have been done in a timely, accurate and professional way. I would highly recommend him in any legal matter. –Client K.B.
Amazing to work with, called me right away on an urgent question, even though it was evening. Highly recommend! –Client A.A.
I went to Matt as a result of a referral from another small business who had utilized his services. Matt did a great job for us, especially with the time constraints we had. I will use him again in the future. –Client S.B.
Matthew Zatko is professional, concise and know's how to get the job done. Thanks to him; he has absolutely changed my life forever. Highly recommended.
Attorney Matthew Zatko has gone above and beyond expectations. I could not be more thankful for his help and support. –H.P.
Attorney Zatko promptly called me back and provided excellent advice that saved me a minimum of $450 over what other attorneys were offering via their online services. He did not charge for the time given to determine there was no benefit to hiring him for this particular traffic violation. That’s never happened and I will most certainly call him again if there’s need in his areas of expertise. –M.M.
I called Attorney Zatko following my arrest for DUI. I was scared and didn't know where to turn. He answered all of my questions and did exactly what he told me he would do. He ended up saving my license and I was able to keep working and supporting my family. Calling him was the best decision I ever made. –S.J.
Mr. Zatko has done various legal projects for me. All have been done in a timely, accurate and professional way. I would highly recommend him in any legal matter. –K.B.
Amazing to work with, called me right away on an urgent question, even though it was evening. Highly recommend! –A.A.
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Self-Defense Argument Leads to Dismissal of Assault Charges in Bedford County Activist Shooting

When Can Deadly Force Be Used in Defense of a Home or Other Place of Security?

What Happens When a Night Out on the Town Turns into a Night in Jail?