Dawn M. Cardi

I hired this firm after surviving severe domestic violence. My ex broke my face and nearly killed me. He had moved out of state, and when I finally blocked him and went no contact, he flew back to New York solely to file a retaliatory order of protection to keep me quiet while actively harassing me. ...I told the lawyers I wanted the case handled correctly and efficiently, that I had no interest in pouring endless money into legal fees, and that I believed this should be straightforward considering I had done absolutely nothing to him and that his only “evidence” was an email from me saying that I would never forgive him. They assured me it would be a slam dunk, one and done matter that very likely would not exceed their standard $5,000 retainer. From the very first court appearance, it was immediately apparent to everyone in the courtroom that the judge’s behavior demonstrated clear bias. Going into it, these lawyers were confident that the case should have been dismissed under basic constitutional principles, including my right to free speech, and during, it was clear that there was no evidence supporting his claims. Yet when it mattered, they stayed silent and let the judge postpone any ruling and did not push to vacate this order that he should have never been given. Weeks went by during which his lawyers went to work, rapid-fire filing, egregiously baseless violations. The firm that was hired to defend me, let the violations pile on instead of defending my innocence. The same judge who granted him a gag order with absolutely no evidence, appeared to know him personally. Years later, after I had the energy to file formal complaints, the court itself confirmed that bias. These attorneys could have requested the judge’s recusal based on what they were witnessing. They did nothing. They stood by while my abuser weaponized the system with fabricated evidence and false police reports. When those false reports led police to demand that I turn myself in, even though I had done nothing wrong, I begged these lawyers to contact the supervising officer. For weeks they ignored me while I cried and lived in fear of an unjust arrest. I was the one who gathered the proof and tirelessly researched how to resolve the situation. I had to write my own affidavits because the lawyers could not transcribe details that I laid out perfectly. Other women also came forward during this case and submitted affidavits describing similar abuse, yet my attorneys still acted like the judge’s disinterest in their stories, his threat to the general public both socially and professionally, his blatant perjury, or even his own self admitted violations of the order were normal despite how clearly insane it all was. Meanwhile they drained my retainer without telling me and then sent inflated invoices for work they were not doing. They permitted invasive subpoenas and fishing through my private messages, searches that could have been twisted to put me in jail. After ignoring me, screaming at me on a regular basis, abandoning me, destroying my case and derailing my civil claim as well, they tried to obtain a judgment behind my back for an outrageous amount. They ultimately pursued roughly $70,000 after taking my $5,000 retainer, leaving me unprotected and sabotaging any chance I had at justice. The damage is permanent. Their negligence and indifference cost me my case, my ability to seek justice, and years of my life. I was left emotionally shattered and threatened by financial devastation. These lawyers did not protect me. They abandoned me when I was most vulnerable and then tried to profit from the harm. If you value your safety, your peace of mind, or your financial stability, do not hire this firm.