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07 Jul, 2023 by Robert
He is an absolutely awful attorney. He was totally unprepared for my arbitration hearing and did not represent me in any way. He barely knew the case. The only thing he knew is what I told him. He put no effort into understanding the case. I knew I was in trouble leading up to the hearing when we had our preparation phone call and he offered no strategy whatsoever. When I tried to press him on it he had no answers at all. All he did was introduce me at the beginning of the call and then left the rest up to me. At the end of the hearing when the arbitrator asked if we had a closing rebuttal he asked me if I had any. I couldn't believe he had NOTHING to offer. I had one shot at getting my record amended and I blew it on this clown. Stay far, far away from this guy. All he does is collect a pay day, and an expensive one at that.
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03 Dec, 2020 by Anonymous
When it comes to divorce law, Brian Luther is the worst attorney to hire. He does not know one thing about Colorado procedures or the law, he simply takes clients money and files frivolous, groundless, baseless motions he NEVER WINS
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07 Nov, 2014 by Anonymous
Harris represented me in 2006 to 3008 when he refused to appeal . He did not look at all the evidence, indicated that he had a lot of trial experience in probate law which is not his forte, He's a nice guy that no one want to sue but is totally incompetent. His representation forced me to loose all my assets that I worked for over 50 years. He left town while the decision was being prepared. He was with 2 partners who also dropped the ball. He cannot handle difficult cases and does not obtain evidence before the time limit. He does not listen to his client. He should not be in the courtroom as he does not take notes for use in an appeal. He does not prepare for different possible claims. Incompetent is the word.
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07 Dec, 2010 by Michael
I used Steven Harris for a relatively complicated arbitration which was before the American Arbitration Association. At the time I engaged him, he was with a Boulder, Colorado law firm, shortly thereafter he left the firm and subsequently contacted me and asked to continue representation in the matter. I had not used him previously, he had been recommended by another lawyer. That is probably when I should have contacted a different attorney. Mr. Harris is without the resources of a firm. I believe he is/was dealing the financial issues of a new practice, the ONLY thing that was done on time were his charges against the retainer; he represented that he could handle the matter for $10,000, it ended up being nearly triple that amount.
During depositions he was unprepared, appeared in jeans and sneakers and did practically nothing. Each of his preliminary matters were dismissed. About a week prior to the arbitration he started to attempt to focus on the matters at hand, unfortunately for me, as he had done throughout the proceeding, he had lost pertinent knowledge of the matter and spent preparation time attempting to find a silver bullet and therefore did not adequately prepare for the arbitration. Needless to say, there was no silver bullet, and the arbitrator rendered what could be considered to be a complete and thorough refute of the case presented by Mr. Harris. I had provided a very thorough set of background documents which were essentially unused in his preparation.
The only matter which was completed was the payment of his bills which were rendered in increments that appeared to be dictated by his personal financial requirements. When the arbitrator's determination was sent to him, he forwarded a copy to me via e-mail and did not accept or return my calls.
Mr. Harris seems to be unable to focus on or handle complex matters. He is a sole practitioner that needs the resources and discipline of a firm. I could not recommend him for any type of complex legal matter and it appears he has no specialty, so if he is to be engaged one should be certain that the matter and work is basic, non-complex and that the work begins and ends over a short period of time.
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18 Nov, 2023 by Hunken ta
14 Jun, 2022 by Rick aller
The firm seems to great but they have some very rude employees such as Greg wood or web he had no customer service skills at all he talks over people and is frankly rude ..this guy's behavior is a reflection on this entire firm ..very unprofessional and wasn't pleasent either
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13 Oct, 2014 by Anonymous
Too expensive for our needs. Charged $8000 just for two meetings and some emails, yet he produced no engineering report. Promised a lot, but I think he was expecting a lot more money down the road and yet had produced nothing. Unsuitable lawyer for small private home owner Sandy case involving less than 40K. No return on investment. We ended up having to switch to another lawyer after a month and he wouldn't return our money even though he had not produced anything yet. Sent us emails blaming us for everything. Very unpleasant experience.
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09 Sep, 2014 by Joyce
I thought this might be the answer to my problem. A Sandy contractor bailed half way through the project and kept insurance money of thirty thousand dollars. I should have never selected a corporate lawyer. I spend over five thousand dollars on two meetings and reading 10 emails, and they delivered nothing after a month, claiming they needed more time. In over a month, they failed to inform me that the contractor was already broke and had other lawsuits against him. I found this out for free on line. I don't know what I paid five thousand dollars for, I had to get another lawyer to handle by special court lawsuit negotiations and answer the contractor's small counterclaim. Big mistake.
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23 Sep, 2020 by Andrea brown
They are very backwards. Why are they sending notices to a house that they banned me from going to. I've given them my correct address several times, but I guess that means nothing, smdh.
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20 Feb, 2019 by Joyze taylor
26 May, 2023 by Shawn
Took a 5k retainer in March. Did not call or follow up when promised or at all. Did not file anything with the courts when discussed. Note will not respond to messages once I expressed disappointment. Not sure if he is a real practicing attorney at this point or just a scam artist that passed the bar. Unfortunately, consequences are quite a disservice to the public and he should be investigated.
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06 Feb, 2009 by Anonymous
I hope and Pray to Gog that no one ever makes the mistake that I made when I hired Lee MOtley.It would take me 3 hours to write about all of the unprofessional things he put me through and all of the lies he told me.He will try to get as much money out of you as he possibly can and drag the case out as long as he can.He WILL NOT return a phone call or email period or when he finally does he always tells me another lie like he had 2 car wrecks,2 heart attacks,his mother had a Stroke then she died ,all these reasons for not returning my emails or phone calls for months.
If you hire him,you will be sorry that you did and you better have lots of money.
Philicia Dixon
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30 Dec, 2014 by Anonymous
The prior reviewer's comments are spot on in every way. From her unprofessional and combative manner to her unsubstantiated accussations to her lack of listening skills, she not only exacerbated the ill will between me and my ex but simultaneously damaged my poor children for whom she was supposedly advocating for as parenting consultant. She is downright rude, doesn't discern fact from fiction, can't recall her own decisions even though she authored them, and lacks follow through. She overly inserts herself into the case matters and creates issues instead of resolving them....why? Why not? From her perspective each set of co parents is viewed as a revenue stream. It isn't about helping two ex partners resolve issues relative to the children they are co parenting, it is about the money...
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13 Jun, 2011 by Anonymous
Mary Lauhead at times does not see the unintended consequences of her approach towards litigation. While she can be an ardent advocate for her client, she doesn't realize her combative manner alienates co-parents and eliminates any good will. She makes unsubstantiated accussations designed to character assassinate the opposite side. I have found her to be lacking in civility, always combative, and seeks to always have the last word. She is not a good listener and has ruined my relationship with my former spouse.
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13 Apr, 2013 by Anonymous
Very unprofessional and in retrospect, incompetent, vindictive and vile. She will waste your time. For her fees you can go to ANY other lawyer and not have to worry about whether they are deliberately messing things up to charge you. She is lucky I did not file a complaint against her with the bar, but I still might. Lesson learned, if it looks like a beast, then it is.
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26 Mar, 2013 by Anonymous
We used Ms. Geronimo for a brief time, and ended up switching to a more competent, professional, responsive attorney. Ms. Geronimo will spend lots of time in conversation (and time is money!), and takes a very long time to get things done. There are much, much better attorneys in the area, whose practices are run in a much smoother, more professional manner.
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11 Oct, 2021 by Brian
Very pretentious and irresponsible, claims to study law but acts recklessly when it comes to legal actions.
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10 Jul, 2015 by Anonymous
I gave my divorce case to be handled by his consultancy.
Not only the case has not be handled by him personnally, but by a junion lawyer but,
After the decition to go on a Judicially Hosted Conference mediation, Dominique was unable to ink a deal on this day. We left the conference with "bullet points".
Then it took three extra months to finalize the deal with the opposing party, while he's been charging fees!
The final divorce paper contains terms that I didn't agree with on that day,
incurring more than $15.000 extra expenses related to "who pays what in the end" but I was forced to sign, as the judge hosting the conference was turning impatient!
Dominique Lemoine persist to minimize what I consider his mistake- of not leaving the conference room with a definitive paper signed by the two parties.
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07 Mar, 2016 by Anonymous
WE HIRED HIM FOR MY BROTHER AND HE DID NOT GO SEE HIM TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE PLAN WAS. HIS SECRETARY VELMA IS RUDE AND WILL HANG UP ON CLIENTS. THEY KEEP SAYING WHAT THEY WILL DO BUT WILL NOT TAKE ACTION. THEY ARE NOTHING BUT LIARS. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS GUY TO ANYONE. CANNOT GET ANYONE ON THE PHONE, WILL NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS .....BUT THEY ARE REAL QUICK TO TAKE YOUR MONEY. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!
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09 Sep, 2014 by Anonymous
hired him... he claimed he could get case dismissed with no problem... and all he did was say he was getting things done and not once did anything... fired him and filed complaint with state bar... he is knowledgeable but he has poor communication after being hired... he also will ask for information and not follow through with things he request... I personal feel he is not worthy to entrust your loved ones life with
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24 Jun, 2022 by Mary
I met Cathryn Armistead after seeking counsel regarding matters concerning my mother, who could not represent herself. Ms. Armistead convinced me that I needed a conservatorship on my mother. She claimed that she would assist me with the conservatorship and any matter connected to it once it was obtained. Before hiring Ms. Armistead, her level of communication was high. After being hired and after she was paid, communication almost ceased entirely.
Several months after the conservatorship was granted, I hired Ms. Armistead in an attempt to seek justice for my mother, who had been the victim of neglect in an area nursing home. Once again, Ms. Armistead communicated with me regularly until a retainer was signed for services. After not hearing from her, I reached out via email to ask about a timeline for starting proceedings; I did not receive a response to my email. I then reached out to her office about the matter and was told by her paralegal that she did not know and would speak to Ms. Armistead concerning my question. I never heard back from her office and Ms. Armistead. I reached out again, but still no response.
After repeated attempts via email and phone to contact Ms. Armistead, I reported her to the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee. After receiving a copy of the complaint, it was only then that I heard from her by mail. I received a letter terminating our contract because "our relationship had deteriorated" This is not about a "relationship" but business. I understand that it is within an attorney's right to decide not to pursue a case. It is grossly unethical and bad business not to communicate with a client.
I knew Ms. Armistead had her faults in communicating, but given the fact that it was a case of nursing home neglect of a loved one, I thought she would step up. It is inexcusable to keep a client waiting when time is wasted on helping an elderly patient (my mother) in a nursing home. Unfortunately, it appears that Ms. Armistead is only interested in obtaining new business without doing the work she is hired to do and doesn't like being held accountable, given that she terminated our "relationship" after being reported. It says a lot about a person when they are incapable of offering an apology for wasting your time and resources.
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03 Jan, 2019 by Anonymous
hired, she failed to support an innocent client, requested my case file information returned- never acknowledged the request. she sent a letter stating investigation of logistics near my residence, Never bothered to meet with me at my home, raised a concern as to the validity of the investigation. Friends and professionals questioned integrity of how the case was managed, -- rather mismanaged.
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13 Mar, 2018 by Anonymous
Did not defend the kids Best interest and tried to manipulate my children into a parenting plan against their will. I actually have a recording of Laurie threating my child that if they didn't go with their other parent, the judge would switch custody. It terrified my child and from that point, trust with her attorney was lost.
I was given a choice of attorneys by the courts and I originally thought Laurie was a good choice because her family has dealt with suicide and my spouse had numerous suicidal incidents and ideation. Unfortunately, Laurie was not sympathetic to the children instead she felt sorry for my spouse since her kids had lost their father to suicide. Just Be Careful and protect your kids no one has their best interest like you do!
It's sad that I am stuck with a bill for an attorney who didn't represent my kids best interest. During some hearings, Laurie did not say a peep even when she had a chance to advocate for the kids regarding parenting plans and financial support, but I was still billed for her attendance. She thinks my kids should live on the streets and sell our house to pay her ridiculous fees.
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09 Dec, 2014 by Manuel
She was supposed to be neutral in our case as a court appointed attorney for our children. I did question the need for any attorney for the kids as the ex-wife who was the main driver behind getting an attorney for the children involved in our case and not the children, as she noted in our case herself. The main point that I want to make in this review is that she did not act in a neutral manner as was required by law. Beyond that, she actively made up lies about me in the court and thankfully the judge was able see right through them! I had to learn first hand the extent that the lawyer's creed takes president over the truth! The biggest "crime" with her in my case is that she made extremely damning statements and never took any effort to verify them with me! :-( Aside from ruining the case, she has ruined the resemblance of a family and I hope this review serves as a warning to others who have her as a court appointed attorney for their children...BE FOREWARNED!!!
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24 Jul, 2019 by Anonymous
Hired her for child support, she came at us with big plans to regain tens of thousands of dollars, would make it where the income taxes would be taken..... long story short. Ms Petersen was hard to reach, her secretary talked to us about all the family issues she had, we went to court twice by ourselves, “oh you really don’t need to be there” she said after we call her, then the day we settled she shows up and my ex’s attorney rips her and shows her the law. She didn’t do anything I asked other than get the child support settled, it cost me over 2,000 for this process and the ABA says it’s ok.
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20 Oct, 2015 by Anonymous
I had a consultation and she was 15 minutes late, answered two personal phone calls, not work related. She placed her breakfast order with the lady she pays to answer the phone, the lady interrupted our consult four times with questions regarding her breakfast and spoke about the weather. Very unprofessional. I was billed for a two hour consult in which no plan was established, she kept using her laptop to lookup other cases that showed similarities. She said should would have all of my questions answered in a few days. It has been well over a year and she never did respond to my numerous requests for answers. Needless to say, I chose someone more competent and attentive!
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24 May, 2023 by Anonymous
This attorney will not pay process server they hired for completed service of process.
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04 Sep, 2015 by Anonymous
She guaranteed me she could get me a TRO and Injunction made me pay her $500.00 in cash. In less than an hour of taking my money, the Judge denied request for TRO. When I asked for my money back she said NO. I asked if I could at least get half of it back and she said NO! The disturbing part is she did absolutely NOTHING for the money. She didn't type up the request for TRO & Injunction. She didn't file it. And knowing the Judge would require the opposing side be contacted, she didn't even bother to do that. I sat in the hall and contacted them myself. When in front of the Judge, she pretty much didn't open her mouth nor did she fight for the TRO. This woman is the most unprofessional person I have EVER WORKED WITH. Also, she works with a known felon who gets the work for her.
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08 Jul, 2023 by Anonymous
I wish I'd never spoken to Mr. Barrett. He was quite personable on the phone. We had some nice, very brief chats, but when he wants to disappear, he WILL disappear. I went ~42 days with nothing which would be absolutely fine but you have to manage expectations, and not say 4 days then go 42. Bizarre. Oh and he never withdrew from my case. The case continued and the entire process was a nightmare. I’m still baffled.
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24 Dec, 2022 by Frank
Retained Kenneth Royce Barrett after the initial consultation to ensure it was understood in that the rodent infestation I was dealing with inside apartment dwelling was clearly conveyed to property management; however, property management ignored the problem and failed to provide exterminating services despite monthly reminders for six months after infestation compounded exponentially. Served with eviction notice, sought an attorney and foolishly relied on the Peer Review provided to this attorney during selection process. Suddenly, Barrett increased retainer from $450/2 hours to $1,000/4 hours. After retainer was remitted, he immediately came back to me concerned in that level of case perceived difficulty had increased though no changes resulted to warrant any concerns for any increases in case perceived difficulties. This implied Barrett was forewarning of the potential need for additional funding. I decided to instead to negotiate an Exit Strategy with property management myself and did given I’d already relinquished $1.0K to Barrett for essentially no reason. Informed Barrett who then advised to not let property know of move out intentions in writing. Then he became unreachable. Three weeks later I requested my residual retainer be refunded on two different days before he responded with having had Covid and was behind on record keeping tasks but would resolve following week. This did NOT happen. Four months later I contact him again to learn he’s suffered another bout with Covid and remains behind on work tasks. He then tells me he advised me to remain in my previous apartment. Another lie. So I investigate to learn he has a reputation for being dishonest. Another month passes, seven months after initial retainer paid, request formal contact information for litigation purposes and receive nothing. As 100% Disabled American Veteran unable to work, trusting this person created a financial hardship I continue to struggle with present day given the unexpected relocation expenses and non-refunded retainer in part or in whole.
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11 Sep, 2021 by Anonymous
Case took way to long.I did not agree to settelment. He setteld anyway, for significantly lower amount. Lied about Doctors that i never met, He got almost triple the monies i recieved. He was dismissive. Plus he gave me a persona check.
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19 Sep, 2014 by Sabrena
Mr. McKamie was hired by my aunt in 2008 to assist with modifying the beneficiaries for a Trust. He sent letters to each of the beneficiaries requesting their information (i.e. Social Security #s). My aunt passed away in December 2013. Mr. McKamie actually attended her funeral. As POA for one of the named beneficiaries, I called Mr. McKamie to inquire about the trust and he was very dismissive and informed me that he didn't recall anything because it was so long ago. I actually had to ask him if he could simply take a look in his file to which he replied that if he had anything it would probably be in archives and that he would have to be retained for $700 to go look for it.
In my experiences working with attorneys in the past, I have never come across an attorney who has been so uncooperative for no known reason. Now the heirs of the estate will have to go through the grueling process of requesting a subpoena to obtain the file. I'm certain this is not what my aunt expected when she hired Mr. McKamie to take care of these details.
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26 Feb, 2009 by Anonymous
UNRESPONSIVE.....DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH THE PROCESS.....STILL WAITING TO SEE BILL FROM 7/08>>>>WILL BE FILING GREIVANCE WITH THE BAR ASSOCIATION...
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10 Feb, 2009 by Anonymous
Her lack of experience cost me thousands, 16 wasted months and I ultimately found another attorney to finish my case. An amicable divorce turned into a battle for assets, child custody dispute and cost over $100K when it was all said and done. Stay away if you are wanting a divorce that is settled in a timely fashion (and they can be finished timely). The attorney I found to finish my divorce cost $5K and finished it in 3 months. What we paid in attorney fees could have financed my kids college....that is a shame.
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27 Jan, 2021 by Anonymous
We hired Jessica B. Magee at Thompson & Knight LLP was one of the worst decisions. Jessica B. Magee will try to persuade you into buying her bad advice, then doesn't do anything at all. We hired her and she placed her co-attorney Catherine C. Rowsey on the case charging both $600/hr. What became of the matter was nothing. We paid them and they DID NOTHING AND LIED.
If you are looking for a SEC Defense ATTORNEY LOOK ELSEWHERE. These two clowns, Jessica B. Magee and Catherine C. Rowsey are the most unprofessional ever. They literally stole our money and lied to us about sending the documents they did to the SEC. They did NOTHING. DO NOT HIRE THOMPSON & KNIGHT LLC IN ANY OF THEIR BRANCHES. Jessica B. Magee is definitely not worth any price and all you will end up with is a headache.
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31 Oct, 2020 by Anonymous
We hired Jessica Magee at Thompson Knight for a SEC defense matter. She ended up being the worst attorney ever. Her whole initial consultation was fake leading to believe she can help our SEC matter. With her legal representation we ended up paying a large retainer in which she nearly spent on nothing. Her rates are high without the client /attorney professional experience you would expect to get. Completely would highly not recommend Jessica Magee at all. If you hire her you will regret it.
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27 May, 2024 by Kelly jones
International "legal giant" Holland Knight has continuously refused to provide my legal files while abetting Alex "Sandy Hook" Jones's ongoing conspiracy with their former law partner Eric Taube whom they continued to advertise as a "trusted advisor" while having transcripts of Taube's inconsistent sworn statements/perjury in the hearing on my Motion to Disqualify in in U.S. Bankruptcy Court (Tex. W. D. Bank. 20-10118) when he appeared directly adverse to my interests (while concurrently representing me in ravis Co. TX Case No. D-1-GN-07-000618), which he directly countermanded when impeached in Travis Co. TX Case No. D-1-GN-18-001610, admitting that he did represent me. This fraud is not just bad for me, but it involves property that Taube conspiratorially formed in breaches of duty to me and to the entities he advised me to form, one of which he represented (without waiver or disclosure of conflict of interest (Free Speech Systems, LLC)) with Alex Jones, David Jones, and Carol Jones, whose tortious interference, fiduciary breaches, fraudulent transfers and fraud have been ongoing for over ten years. Holland Knight is based in the UK and its intentional bad acts of its and its Deputy Counsel's actual knowledge are contributory to alleged ongoing bankruptcy fraud in Tex. S. D. Bank. 22-33543. Contact me, FBI, DOJ, - Kelly Morales P/K/A Kelly Jones. I would not say these things about a massive international law firm if I could not prove it (very easily). Texas AG, Holland Knight has abetted the alleged falsification of government documents of its knowledge and fraud on the US Bankruptcy Court. Please contact me and please pursue all necessary temporary and permanent iinjunctive relieve to protect Texans from Holland Knight. The property that has been continuously defrauded of me and of the entities in which I hold interest has constituted hundreds of millions of dollars made without authority by copyright and trademark infringement, at best (and alleged copyright counterfeit, among other things.)
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25 Aug, 2023 by Gio guzman
This Attorney Neil Meinzer that works at this firm . Is a complete jerk. And unprofessional. He laughed in my face after driving three times to his office from Houston. To collect a settlement check . He abused his power as attorney and humiliated me . I will be filing a complaint with the bar . I don’t recommend this firm.
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15 Sep, 2011 by Anonymous
Did not work very hard on my case because of bigger cases that he could get more money and attention from. Decent guy, but wierd
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12 Dec, 2012 by Anonymous
In the short time that I met with Mr. Taylor I quickly learned that he was more interested in representing female clients. Did not return my phone calls for several weeks. The secretary said he was "out of the office" but when I had another family member call to make an appointment as a new client, he was all of the sudden back in the office.
During my consultation he seemed like a "know-it-all". He didn't seem to know the law very well and kept having to reference everything I was asking him.
I think he cared more about my wallet than about my case. I would find a more competent attorney and not waste your time.
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01 Dec, 2014 by Anonymous
In 2009 I came to this guy and his present firm to represent me in filing a last minute bankruptcy. I trusted him. As I was completing the intake form in order to file the bankruptcy to stop a sheriff's sale scheduled for later that morning, I actually overheard him calling the creditor's attorney advising my adversary that he would stall me. I would not make such an allegation if it were not true. Fortunately I was able to stop the sale without his "help" and the creditors have since been found to have been operating a fraudulent and wrongful foreclosure.
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25 Sep, 2020 by Michael
Couldn’t get a hold of him. Wouldn’t call back for weeks and a few times over a month. Lied about what was being done. Said he had sent out certified letters to defendants and said he had claims for me to review and he never filed any claims. Quit contacting me completely and was paid for services. Couldn’t imagine a worse attorney.
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28 Mar, 2014 by Anonymous
Terrible! I was in a minor fender bender and he told me that I could get thousands of dollars out of the other person's insurance. It has been a year and a half and I have received nothing. He is unresponsive to call and emails.
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25 Jan, 2017 by Steve libby
She refused to go to trial. The day of the trial she said she would quit if I didn't accept horrendous settlement. Helen did not seek maintenance schedule that Illinois law allows? She refused to fight for premarital assets. I take a lot of responsibility for this situation, however was really counting on attorney that would fight for what is right. Worthless. Don't walk from this attorney, run.
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16 Oct, 2018 by Anonymous
During our interview, he came across as brash. More importantly, he gave legal advice that I later found out was incorrect. Luckily, I found a great attorney. There are some very good ones out there. Thorsten Pray is not one of them.
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04 Dec, 2013 by Dale
A heavy hitter, problem solver and extraordinary attention to detail. Our company first hired her a couple of years in a very complicated real estate matter. She quickly had her arms around the issues in the case and recommended a course of action that got the matter to resolution. Kathleen also gave great counsel on problem avoidance and company risk management which has been very helpful since she understands our business.
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20 May, 2016 by Nikita
This attorney was court appointed. He was honest when he said the court has not ever given parents their children back when there are allegations of DRUG use. He failed to file motions in a timely matter. He failed to make objections when they were obvious & appropriate to make during court hearings. He neglected to file evidence that I provided that would have proven the petitioners allegations false had he filed my evidence with the court. He waived defective notice without speaking with me. He made no objection to the findings that the ICWA did not apply, after I insisted that it did&had proof he did not think would have made a difference because it was not filed. He never contacted me and very rarely did he return phone calls. E-mail was the best way to get in contact with him. The best advice he gave to me was.... "that is not your fight. Getting your kids back is what you're fighting for. Just do what the social workers want you to do and that is DRUG test." His arguments where not mine. He said in his arguments things like "my client is trying to pull her family out of homelessness." & "I think the party's are starting to come up with a resolution, my client believes she can take care of her children. We just need more time to come up with the proper treatment rather than a cookie cutter type of program." His arguments were not even close to convincing. He did however get me an extra visit for two hours. Total of 2 days/week. 2hours/ea. He did request make up visits when I was in court the morning I had a visit because notice said 830 not 130.
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23 Feb, 2014 by Jeffrey
I am a retired FBI Agent who is a licensed bonded private investigator in California. Joseph Salazar was retained for me by the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District (SMFD) where I was named in a lawsuit against them as a separate individual. SMFD voted in a Fire District Board meeting to offer me representation in the matter. Salazar represented both SMFD, and me. SMFD was empowered to withdraw their representation of me if I was found to be at fault or to have acted unethically. They never made that finding, nor withdrew their offer. Salazar, without any notice to me, or SMFD decided on his own that he would seek to have the entire matter forced onto my professional liability insurance. He provided a letter to me announcing his representation, and interviewed me as his client. Upon discovery of documents three years later, I discovered that Salazar, without anyone's knowledge, met with me, after he had announced his intention to "dump" the entire case onto my insurance carrier to seek my confidential information. After receiving the information he acted to turn the case over to my carrier. He failed. Instead my carrier picked up my representation only, and eventually Salazar represented the SMFD as they settled the case for a large amount of money. I did not settle and the plaintiff eventually abandoned their case. I learned with my discovery of documents that Salazar did not include in my file that was transferred to my new attorney his actions where he announced his intent to not represent me, before meeting with me. I sued Salazar and he prevailed based on the courts finding that I waited too long to take action. At issue was that Salazar had hidden his acts but whether I should have known of the harm when it occurred. According to the courts the victim is responsible to know when someone has acted against them, even before they can prove it.
Nevertheless, it is my opinion and belief, for which I have documentation that Salazar is deceitful, unethical and represents based on the financial position of the client. Salazar, even after not representing me, took it upon himself to negatively affect my business by causing SMFD to delay my invoices for three years. Ironically the amount of time needed to exceed the statute.
In my opinion Salazar in his legal capacity works for his own benefit which is usually the benefit of the insurance company to insure continued retention.
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28 Aug, 2013 by Anonymous
Came to him for one meeting as prospective client . Lied and used high pressure to close. After I retained another lawyer, he hit me up for an outrageous bill.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
Top Questions to Ask a Lawyer
When meeting with a lawyer for the first time, it's important to ask the right questions to understand their expertise and determine if they're the right fit for your legal needs. Here are some top questions to consider:
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What experience do you have with cases similar to mine?
Ensure the lawyer has relevant experience in the specific area of law pertaining to your case. -
How do you charge for your services, and what are the estimated costs?
Understand the fee structure, including hourly rates, flat fees, retainer fees, and any additional expenses. -
What potential outcomes can I expect from my case?
While no lawyer can guarantee results, they can provide an assessment of possible scenarios based on their experience. -
What is your approach to handling cases like mine?
Learn about their strategy, whether they prefer negotiation, mediation, or litigation. -
Who will be working on my case?
Find out if the lawyer will handle your case personally or delegate tasks to other attorneys or paralegals. -
How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
Establish expectations for updates, preferred communication methods, and response times. -
What is the likely timeline for resolving my case?
Get an estimate of how long the process may take from start to finish. -
Do you have references from past clients?
Testimonials or references can provide insight into the lawyer's professionalism and effectiveness. -
What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
Understanding potential challenges helps you prepare and sets realistic expectations. -
Are there alternative ways to solve my legal problem?
Discuss options like mediation, arbitration, or settlement to resolve the issue efficiently.
How to Check the Credibility of a Lawyer
Before hiring a lawyer, it's crucial to verify their credibility and ensure they're qualified to handle your case:
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Verify Their License:
Check with your state's bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and in good standing. -
Experience and Specialization:
Ensure the lawyer specializes in the area of law relevant to your case. -
Disciplinary Record:
Look up any history of disciplinary actions or complaints through the state bar association. -
Client Reviews and Testimonials:
Read reviews on legal directories like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to gauge client satisfaction. -
Professional Memberships:
Membership in professional organizations or specialty bar associations can indicate a commitment to their field. -
Awards and Recognitions:
Honors from reputable organizations reflect expertise and a positive reputation. -
Consultation Assessment:
Use the initial consultation to evaluate their communication skills, responsiveness, and willingness to address your concerns. -
Ask for References:
A credible lawyer should be willing to provide references from past clients.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most of your initial meeting with a lawyer, come prepared with:
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Relevant Documents:
Bring all documents related to your case, such as contracts, correspondence, legal notices, court papers, or evidence. -
Written Summary:
Prepare a concise written summary of your situation, including key dates, events, and involved parties. -
List of Questions:
Write down any questions you have about your case, the legal process, or the lawyer's experience. -
Financial Information:
If applicable, bring financial documents like pay stubs, tax returns, or bank statements. -
Contact Information:
Provide details of any witnesses or other parties relevant to your case. -
Personal Identification:
Bring a valid ID for verification purposes. -
Pen and Notebook:
Take notes during the consultation to remember important points. -
Budget Constraints:
Be ready to discuss your budget and any financial limitations.
How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a lawyer varies widely based on several factors:
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Fee Structures:
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Hourly Rate:
Lawyers may charge anywhere from $150 to $500 or more per hour, depending on experience and location. -
Flat Fee:
For routine legal services like drafting a will or handling an uncontested divorce, lawyers might offer a flat fee. -
Retainer Fee:
An upfront payment against which the lawyer bills hourly fees. -
Contingency Fee:
Common in personal injury cases; the lawyer receives a percentage (typically 25% to 40%) of any settlement or award. -
Monthly Retainer:
For ongoing services, businesses might pay a monthly fee for a set number of hours or services.
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Hourly Rate:
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Factors Affecting Cost:
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Complexity of the Case:
More complex cases require more time and resources, increasing costs. -
Lawyer's Experience:
Highly experienced lawyers may charge higher fees. -
Geographic Location:
Legal fees can vary significantly by region or city. -
Additional Expenses:
Court filing fees, expert witness fees, travel expenses, and administrative costs may be extra.
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Complexity of the Case:
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Estimating Total Costs:
Request a detailed fee agreement outlining all potential costs.
Discuss any additional expenses that may arise during the case. -
Negotiating Fees:
Some lawyers may be willing to negotiate fees or offer payment plans, especially for clients with financial constraints. -
Pro Bono Services:
For those who cannot afford legal services, some lawyers or legal aid organizations offer services at reduced rates or for free.
