Lawyer Who Confronted a Loud 'Nitwit' Cell User Acquitted
A lawyer known to aggressively confront loud cell phone talkers riding commuter trains in Long Island was acquitted on harassment charges.
John Clifford, a retired police officer-turned-lawyer, admitted he unleashed a string of obscenities at one “19-year-old nitwit” who was disturbing Clifford’s peace with a series of phone calls, the New York Daily News reports. Clifford also admitted slapping the hand of a female lawyer who handed the teen a business card.
A judge in Manhattan Criminal Court found Clifford not guilty after the judge held a bench trial on misdemeanor charges of attempted assault, disorderly conduct, harassment and attempted petty larceny.
Clifford has had a series of similar cases dismissed in the past, the Daily News reports.
The Associated Press notes that Clifford, who’s been a lawyer since 1984, has filed five lawsuits against mass transit officials and passengers for issues arising from his reactions to rudeness.
Clifford is a retired police officer and a former security staffer for HBO. He was reportedly fired from that job after being arrested several times because of commuter rail confrontations. He told the AP he now intends to “hang out my shingle again” and practice law.
