My lawyer was negligent when it came to my case. I was forced to take a plea I really didn’t want to take. I was informed multiple times that I wouldn’t be going to jail at all, and I ended up getting sentenced to 3 months. It was my first offense, I’m full time in college and had a full time job. Mr.... Rosenthall charged me $7,500. I’ve never hired a lawyer before, but he told me this was a normal amount. The prosecutor offered me and my 2 co-defendants (whom had priors and public defenders) the same plea, without looking at any evidence. They offered 4 months jail time or 2 felony convictions. Mr. Rosenthall STRONGLY advised me not to take either of those. I informed my lawyer I did not want jail time or any felonies. My lawyer had the evidence for 2 months, and despite my many requests, he never allowed me to view the footage or any evidence he had in his possession. He told me repeatedly that I was safe, I had nothing to worry about, I wasn’t going to jail, he would get me off completely. I figured for that amount of money he charged me, I should have a successful outcome. 2 months later we went to court again, and he told me this was the last court date, we’d get no more continuances, I’d have to make a decision today. He stated that they changed the prosecutor at the last minute, and it was someone brand new who knew nothing of my case. He then told me they were offering 3 months jail time, or the felonies. I asked him what did he think I should do, if I should take it to trial. My lawyer told me, it’s up to me, whatever I decide, but we wouldn’t win at trial so I need to take the 3 months. I didn’t understand how for $7,500 my lawyer only negotiated a 1 month difference plea, than what was originally offered with a public defender. I asked if he could negotiate probation, restitution, house arrest, anything other than jail time. My lawyer said I’d have to take the felonies if I didn’t want to go to jail, he said the jail time wouldn’t be that bad, I’d be out in no time. Only had to do 6 weeks. I was afraid of getting a worse conviction or a higher jail sentence as mr. Rosenthall told me I would get if I didn’t take the plea, so I took the plea. I strongly believe my lawyer did not fight for me to the best of his ability as she should have, I trusted him 100%. As a result, I lost my job, my home due to not being able to afford my rent and I have to drop out of college until I’m able to afford it. I used my financial aid money in order to pay him, I went to jail and lost everything. My 3 co defendants deals they received were probation, another got a 2 month jail sentence, and the 3rd one got community service with no jail time, all with public defenders. I got sentenced to 3 months on just one misdemeanor petty larceny with a $7,500 lawyer. I fired my public defender in hopes of a better outcome, and I wish I kept him. I received a warrant during court, and he stated he was going to come down with me to the magistre, Mr. Rosenthall never showed up, nor was able to bond me out or contact my family to post my bond. I feel like I was just a simple transaction to Mr. Rosenthall. He rarely answered my phone calls, and didn’t provide me with any of my case information. Long story short, please hire at your own risk. I got the same plea for $7500 that could’ve been gotten with a public defender. There was no fight or concern for my case.

Mr. Rosenthall was very straight forward with me and provided all of the available options and outcomes I had to help me make an informed decision on my traffic case. He respected our wishes and walked us through the entire process. He was transparent and extremely helpful. We are glad we hired him... and would highly recommend Mr. Rosenthall to all of my family and friends.

My husband was charged with a hit-and-run accident involving a bicyclist. He could have faced 15 to 20 years in prison, though he has a clean record. The police officer let us know that my husband had to go in front of a magistrate to sign some papers. We had no idea what was going on because we ha...d never had legal troubles before, and my husband had no idea about any sort of accident he was in involving a bicycle. Regardless, he was arrested, fingerprinted, and his mugshots were taken. At first we didn't even know the date the accident had occurred. Once we were told, we figured out that my husband had been in Annapolis, Maryland working at the time of the accident, so he couldn't have been involved. Not knowing very much at all, since we had never had legal problems before, we hired a lawyer who was there at the courthouse the day the judge told us we would need a lawyer. Unfortunately, the bicyclist identified my husband as the one who hit him weeks after the accident after seeing him at a 7-11. At the preliminary hearing, he again pointed to my husband as the one who hit him. The guy didn't have medical insurance and had been taken to the hospital. Our former lawyer, wanted us to contact witnesses and ask them to come testify for us because subpoenaing witness across state lines isn't easy. We had little confidence in that lawyer, and luckily we were referred by a family member to Mr. Rosenthall. After explaining everything to Mr. Rosenthall, he agreed to take our case, and we dismissed our other lawyer. Mr. Rosenthall was very professional. He was in contact with us regularly and asked us many questions. We provided him with the information he needed. He did not take short-cuts and went through the process to subpoena the witnesses who saw my husband working in Maryland the day of the accident (which happened here in Virginia). When we did appear before a judge, to get an extension (if I recall correctly), it was clear that Mr. Rosenthall was well respected amongst his peers in the way they talked to him and about him. Our confidence in his ability to prove my husband's innocence was so important to us because the stress this situation put on my husband, myself, and our three children was horrible. Mr. Rosenthall helped to relieve our anxiety with his reassuring words and his professional demeaner and actions. He called us last week to let us know that our case was being dismissed, and we could not be more grateful to him for all the hard work he did to prove my husband's innocence. Even though we didn't have to go to trial over this, we know that Mr. Rosenthall was completely prepared to defend my husband if it had. He shared with us the angle he would take and what evidence he would use. We made the best decision we could have in switching attorneys. Now I know that if we ever find ourselves with legal troubles again, we will call Mr. Rosenthall immediately.