Attorney discusses controversy over restraining orders

CLEVELAND - Cleveland attorney Ken Myers says a restraining order is the first line of defense if someone is threatening you. But if you're really afraid that person will hurt you, he recommends you take other steps to protect yourself.

"If you're generally afraid that someone's going to hurt you," Myers said. "You need to get out. Get out of your home. Go away from work. Notify people that you're afraid of somebody."

Three Cleveland area women were murdered this summer after getting restraining orders against their spouses.  The spouses were arrested in two of the cases. In the third, the husband killed himself.

"It's not accurate to say restraining orders are not worth the paper they're written on," Myers said. "They are, but the person protected by it also has to take steps to protect themselves."