Charge Against Teacher Dropped----- Career Saved!

06/15/07

January 20, 2007, promised to be like any other Saturday in South Florida for J.T., a twenty-five (25) year old teacher certified in three (3) States, and her fiancé, with whom she had recently reconciled. The weekend promised good weather, exercise, libations and good times.

Until the phone rang, and J.T.’s nightmare began. Her fiancé's former girlfriend was on the line, and to hear her tell it, her relationship with J.T.’s fiancé was not only that of a “former” enamorata, but rather her amorous relationship with him was continuous and ongoing.

J.T. was understandably taken aback, and ordered her fiancé out of her house. He refused to leave, and instead physically confronted her to the point where she was required to physically remove him from her house.

The police responded, and the fiancé told a ‘whale’ of a tale; J.T. (All 5"9' and 140 lbs. of her) “threw a rolling desk chair at him”, and “hit in the back of the head”, and was “kicking him” while he was on the ground.

Despite the fact that J.T. had visible injuries, the gendarmes decided, in their infinite wisdom, to arrest her! J.T. was charged with Domestic Battery, a 1st degree misdemeanor in Florida carrying a maximum penalty of a year in jail, a year of probation, and a $10,000.00 fine, or a combination of those three (3) sanctions.

J.T. was arrested, taken to jail, and required to post a $10,000.00 bond to effectuate her release, as well as be subjected to the indignity of wearing a GPS “bracelet”, and being confined to her house each evening from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Her job and her career were in jeopardy.

J.T. hired Kirschner & Garland, P.A., to represent her in this unfair and misbegotten prosecution. Attorney Jay Kirschner, though investigation, gathered photographic evidence of J.T.’s injuries, and was able to determine that “Mr. Fiancé”, after J.T.’s arrest, had continued attempting to contact J.T., and sought to be ‘forgiven’. Additionally, fiancé made the mistake of leaving fact-filled phone messages and e-mails on J.T.’s (and others) electronic media. Fiancé admitted he was “not a victim”.

At a hearing scheduled by the Defense for February 16, 2007, the Government dropped all charges.

J.T.’s freedom, career and reputation were preserved.