Essex County Courts

My ex-girlfriend had me charged with harassment and filed a temporary restraining order against me over something I said to her. It wasn’t a nice thing to say, but at the end of the day it was how I really felt. Fearing the consequences my mother and I interviewed several local attorneys all of whom talked about how serious the consequences were. They also said that they could work the case out, and all I’d have to pay was a fine. Then we met with Ryan Clark. I immediately felt that Ryan really understood me and my situation. There wasn’t any talk about working the case out either. He explained how my right to free speech protected me from being convicted of the criminal charge and protected me from getting a final restraining order entered against me. He asked me what I wanted to do, he didn’t tell me what he thought I should do.

The difference was night and day from the other attorneys and so I hired him to represent me. Needless to say it was impressive to watch him work. He negotiated a dismissal of the restraining order in return for an agreement that prevented my ex-girlfriend from contacting me again and an agreement for her not to oppose a dismissal of the criminal charge in municipal court. When it came time to go to municipal court my ex-girlfriend went back on her word and wanted me to plead guilty to a township ordinance and pay a fine. Ryan told me this was a non-criminal offence but explained the law was on our side. I turned it down, and Ryan came back to court with me at least six times until trial finally took place. He was completely prepared, and his cross examination of my ex-girlfriend laid out clearly why I was upset and why I said what I said.

When it came time for me to testify, I was ready because Ryan had taken the time to prepare me for not only what I was going to testify about, but how to handle questions on cross examination, and what to expect. On summation Ryan stood up and passionately defended my right to free speech and laid out an impressive array of case law to support what he was saying. The judge promptly agreed with him and acquitted me. I didn’t have the case of the century, but Ryan treated it that way and that’s the difference I think between a plea lawyer and one who really fights for his clients. He wasn’t the first attorney I ever hired, but after what he did for me I’d never go to anyone else.