Colleen A. Hartl

Up until last year our family led a quiet, private life. That changed when one event resulted in my husband being blindsided by false accusations. We needed a lawyer. Having absolutely NO experience with this and only a general understanding of how the WA state justice system works we were were f...earful. When your innocence, character, and livelihood are at stake, you quickly realize that you need excellent representation, and it's scary to put your life in someone's hands in this way. We sought out John Henry Browne based on his skill and reputation. He connected us with his associate, Colleen Hartl. She not only has an exemplary understanding of the law, but of the court system, and the whole trial process. This was comforting to us as we had no idea what to expect. In her calm, capable manner, she guided us through the process keeping us abreast of the next steps. This whole ordeal took nearly a year to resolve, and there were times when we grew impatient with the system. But as we strategized with Colleen we quickly realized she was very accomplished in her profession. This made it easier to trust her instincts and advice. I'm happy to report that my husband was found innocent of the charge and we can slowly resume our lives again. This ordeal took a formidable toll on our family (giving public testimony, sleepless nights, stress) and it will take some time to recover. Colleen really went to bat for us. Professionally she is not a placating or patronizing. She speaks plainly and knowledgeably. She is methodical, thorough, and determined, covering all angles. Since we had no frame of reference as to handling this, we kindly stepped aside and let her do her job. On a personal level I found her to be warm, down to earth, and patient. While a customer rating website seems a tepid vehicle to express my gratitude, I'm posting my opinions here in order to share with others our experience with Colleen. Hopefully it may help someone else in need of outstanding representation.