Clayman Rosenberg Kirshner & Linder LLP Partner Effie Blassberger recently secured the dismissal of all criminal charges against a client who had been accused of assaulting his then-girlfriend following an argument.

The allegations were serious and the stakes went far beyond the criminal case. His job security and professional reputation were also on the line.

Cases like this can be especially difficult to defend because there are often no independent witnesses and the case can come down to two very different accounts of what happened. Blassberger focused on what could be tested: statements the complainant made before and after the alleged incident, including statements to third parties, and inconsistencies that called her account into question.

Through a careful review of that evidence and continued advocacy with prosecutors, Blassberger was able to show, piece by piece, why the allegations were not reliable. Ultimately, the District Attorney’s Office dismissed all charges.

The result is a reminder of why these cases require close scrutiny of the evidence rather than relying on assumptions based on the seriousness of an accusation alone. Blassberger’s work representing individuals on both sides of sexual misconduct and assault cases gives her a particularly useful perspective: allegations should be taken seriously, but so should the process of testing them. This perspective is critical both to protecting people who have been wrongly accused and to ensuring that credible victims are heard.