Edward Jacob Sternisha

About 8 months ago I found myself in an extremely tough spot in life facing a 4th DUI charge in Kent County. Before meeting Ed, I had first reached out to 4 different attorneys in Grand Rapids and they all only offered damage control for my case- essentially just leading me to plead guilty and hope for only a 3 or 4-month jail sentence. I had too much on the line to lose and couldn’t just settle that easily. I remember seeing Ed’s website and was drawn to his enthusiasm and overall knowledge of the justice system and really liked that he was a former private investigator and was detail orientated. I met with Ed for a one-hour consultation and quickly realized that he was the only one that could give me a chance to challenge this. From the very start it is very apparent that Ed is very knowledgeable and passionate about what he does and helping others. Ed is a very driven, enthusiastic, honest, and passionate person. Ed was able to achieve getting the breathalyzer results suppressed and ultimately getting the case dismissed- an outstanding performance and for me a true miracle! I am absolutely convinced that no other lawyer would have found the small police mistakes that he had found and built into a compelling case. Ed studied every second of each police cam and created a spectacular detailed motion to suppress document. And Ed absolutely delivered in the motion hearing! I can also say that when I walked alongside Ed in the courthouse, other lawyers often approach him to ask how in the world he got cases they heard about dismissed. And Ed’s messages back were usually along the lines of having to take the deep dive into the details and not give up easily. And this is what Ed did for me that others couldn’t or wouldn’t. He dissected every word of the police reports and didn’t stop there- he watched every second and documented every word/action/etc of each of the police videos. He has the knowledge and determination to do what’s best for his clients in order to truly deliver. Ed has saved me from enormous hardships in life from severe jail sentences to license revoking and job loss. In the end, Ed reduced a 4th OWI, assault-and-battery, and PBT refusal case into just a misdemeanor littering charge. Furthermore, in his own little ways he had helped me with my sobriety throughout the process. I thank God everyday that I had called Ed instead! Give yourself a chance like I did- and go with Ed!

Attorney Sternisha is a spectacular lawyer! As a DUI attorney, I believe there is no better individual to represent one who has made a mistake. Ed knows the ins and outs of our rights to due process, especially when taking on drunk driving cases because he is a former police officer himself. While going over the dashcam footage with him, he was able to pick out minute details, such as the arresting officer's incorrect use of what "maximum deviate" means when the HGN test was conducted to check for nystagmus. Also, Ed picked out minute visual details as well, such as when the officer read the walk in a straight line instructions to me--the officer told me to leave my hands at my side. I then asked him, showing my hands at my side, "like this?" and the officer responded, "just like that". Then when I began walking heel to toe in a straight line, the officer told me to put my hands by my side. However, when I asked the officer earlier if how I had my hands placed before if they were okay, he said "just like that". Ed was able to pinpoint the arresting officer's sloppy job. Overall Ed did a great job; I am glad I was able to work with him, and if it weren't for other things that have come up in my life since the start of the case, I was looking forward to fighting with Ed on this case, until the end. While I did learn relatively quickly that Ed was very knowledgeable as a lawyer and DUI attorney, what took greater precedent in my mind was the way Ed carries and has carried himself throughout his life. Having an attorney that is willing to fight until the end, with an endless determination is the most important attribute of an attorney in most people's minds, but ultimately, an attorney that is willing to open up about his life experiences and is able to relate to his/her clients while working on their case is what I have found to be most important. Ed is the perfect-most example of the saying, "Do NOT judge a book by its cover" because his work ethic truly shows where he is today. Ed could've quit along time ago, and wouldn't be where he is today if it weren't for his willingness to excel and learn every detail in the documents he is given or documents he finds to be useful. With Ed I learned much more about life than just about how DUI cases work--"what matters in life is not what happens to us, but how we react to and handle what life throws at us!" Thank you, Ed!