My Journey, My Truth” Santo Artusa Lawyer

 

“My Journey, My Truth”

A Legal Career Built on Principles, Now Clouded by Misinformation

For more than 15 years, I have served New Jersey’s families with intensity, compassion, and an unshakable belief in justice. I’ve handled over 2,500 legal matters—custody battles, divorces, support disputes, and complex family issues—in some of our state’s most demanding environments. I’ve advocated for single parents, immigrants, small business owners, and victims of domestic violence. It was never about volume; it was about results, trust, and commitment.

That’s why the recent wave of allegations and misrepresentations against me has been both deeply painful and profoundly misleading.

Approximately 90% of the claims filed against me were fabricated—constructed after the fact, often by individuals who had already received favorable rulings after more than two years of my legal work. These complaints surfaced only after I was suspended, making it impossible to respond or continue serving my clients. Once suspended, I legally could not complete pending cases, and due to a separate banking issue that led to my account being closed, I was unable to immediately return funds to those affected.

Yet instead of covering these events with accuracy or balance, NJ.com and the New Jersey Law Journal sensationalized them. These media outlets twisted facts, omitted timelines, and overlooked the hundreds of cases that concluded successfully under my guidance. It was clickbait journalism at its worst.

Let’s also be clear: I did not solicit clients. That accusation is not only false—it’s absurd. Divorce case data is not public. I never bought leads or cold-called clients. They came to me—because they trusted me. Because my work spoke for itself.

This isn’t just about hurt feelings. It’s about fairness. It’s about a disciplinary system that failed to examine the full record, that overlooked years of effective representation, and accepted claims from clients who had every reason to be satisfied.

I do not come from a political machine. I am not part of a powerful firm. I am just a man who worked harder, longer, and more passionately than most—without shortcuts, without favors. And now I’m being held to a standard that ignores the overwhelming success and satisfaction of 98% of the people I’ve served.

To those whose claims are valid: I will repay the Client Protection Fund.

To the profession I still love: I hope one day we stop confusing hardship with dishonor.

To those who still believe in me: thank you.

And to those who rushed to judge me without knowing the facts—my work, my legacy, and the people I’ve helped will speak louder than your noise.

With humility and clarity,

Santo V. Artusa Jr., Esq.