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02 Mar, 2023 by Anonymous
He worked with a business owner to re-write an abstract and take from a disabled home owner. He took advantage of that's owners blindness to alter the abstract and sell that altered land to another apartment owner who had no property but the land under that apartment building.
Once the transfer was complete, then his closing papers were given to the blind owner 3 years after the original closing; the business man he represented said he was just holding onto the papers for the blind person, but he intended on altering papers for his greed, and John Aolbanese was more than willing to have his buisness and still holds onto all those papers, including the abstract that never got filed.
Do not do buisness with this man, he has no morals.
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01 Dec, 2014 by Anonymous
Very slow to respond to phone calls. Incompetent staff. Did not show up on the closing day, instead he sent his assistant 1.5 hrs late. It was very embarrassing and unprofessional.
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17 Jun, 2013 by Anonymous
Has staff not competent to handle some of the basics--i.e., did not get back to me in time, despite repeated calls on my part, about amount needed to bring to closing (didn't seem to understand the urgency of that); and didn't know how to contact or conduct information to key players (i.e., the mortgage company). Mr. Albanese himself was rude, cavalier, and unhelpful when my closing could not conclude as planned due to lack of timely response from his office and lack of proper flow of information. Had an adverse effect on the sellers as well (who had to postpone their own scheduled closing as a result). When parts of the process still needed to be dealt with, he simply left the sellers and myself on our own, went to lunch, didn't return, and wouldn't take phone calls later. Really turned the closing into a nightmare.
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29 Mar, 2024 by Jamie
My ex-wife and I enlisted Robin to assist with the dissolution of our marriage. We brought documentation that had been the result of our mediation and handed it over per the mediator's instructions. Robin was recommended to us as someone who would work efficiently and take care of the rest of the process for a flat fee. That was not the case. The paperwork returned to us was clearly not prepared by an attorney. We were billed at attorney's rates for barely paralegal work. As a layperson I was able to identify problems with the documents. Whole paragraphs started over mid-sentence. Negotiated provisions from our mediation were missing. It was a mess. Then she literally billed me for her time to answer the question "How much will the rest of this work cost?" We finally walked away and took what she had done to a _FAR_ more reputable firm in Ithaca. Our attorney at that firm initially resisted taking the work because Robin had done such a bad job. That firm required a separate agreement to take on our work that specifically held them harmless from any potential litigation arising from the enforcement of the horrible agreement Robin wrote up. That was nearly 14 years ago. I'm disappointed to see she's still practicing. Run, don't walk, to any other attorney in town.
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28 Aug, 2018 by Barb
Robin handled a possible home purchase. I was young, naive and inexperienced. She barely looked at the purchase agreement, allowed me to put a 5000$ deposit The deal eventually fell thorough and when I asked about the 5000 deposit she shrugged her shoulders. I learned later that if the deal falls through for lack of the ability to finance the deposit should be returned. But the worst part of all was that she and the sellers attorney kept arguing while myself and the seller actually got along. AND she charged me 3000$ for all the phone calls they had arguing about something that was not arguable- I couldn’t get the financing!!!!! Terrible!
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20 Jun, 2013 by Anonymous
He's still working with WordPerfect. George can barely use email and when he does, he's incapable of basic correspondence structure such as greetings and closings. He forgets which one of us is the customer and even his staff, Emily, is perfunctory and rude. Not unlike other lawyers, George and Emily, seem to have taken that required law course in learning how to never smile, make clients wait when they arrive for a confirmed appointment, never apologize, and just basically be rude. Don't bother contacting this law firm. There are better lawyers and better humans out there to spend your time with.
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22 Nov, 2010 by Anonymous
I contracted Mr. Shaw last year to represent my interests in the sale of a large piece of real estate. Regrettably, Mr. Shaw was not at all responsive to my needs -- I had contracted him to handle specific issues related to the matter at hand, and our retainer agreement stipulated that any additional work would need to be preapproved by me in writing. Repeatedly, he performed work that I did not approve, which, of course, he deemed as "necessary", and which caused the legal bill for the transaction to end up at 6x what even he had originally quoted. In addition, much of the work provided by Mr. Shaw and his staff was sloppy, and I needed constantly correct him.
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07 May, 2015 by Anonymous
I had to fire him during my divorce.
He did not return calls, sometimes for weeks at a time.
He was very unprofessional.
When I finally received my file, my new lawyer realized he didn't get important documents/agreements typed, signed and dated. Just think about what that does during a divorce?
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19 Apr, 2013 by Lynn
I fired Mr. Wallace in March 2013. I gave him $20,000 to litigate a malpractice and after 16 months of doing nothing my case was about to be dismissed in Supreme Court. I had to notify the Ithaca Police to accompany me to get my files that I had paid for and supplied to him. He lied repeatedly, never returned e-mails and I now have to go to Fee Arbitration to try and get my money returned to pay my new lawyer.
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10 Feb, 2022 by Phillip c
Well I was in a car accident and was told mr Davey I could put my vaulables inside his home until I could come pick up my car. His son stole and ran off to another state, and Mr Davey here acts like he didn't show me to his room and tell me where I could keep my stuff. I just lost my mother at 28 yrsold and this man steals not onlyy car but pretty much everything I had owned. He's a scumbag.
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09 Feb, 2021 by Anonymous
Mr.Davey was my child’s attorney in a custody case. He didn’t offer to even meet my child . I had to insist he meet with her regarding some serious incidents she was sharing with other adults. Everyone I have talked to about Mr.Davey mentions that he doesn’t invest much effort into cases regarding children that are younger than teenagers . I can attest this is the case , he really let us down and I expected a lot more from someone protecting young children.
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03 Jun, 2024 by Matthew
Mislead. Poor Counsel. Feel like he would steal bases in baseball. Fails to inform on and off the record.
I'm in the pursuit of Justice with my case and an investigation with Client Attorney Privilege. I may or may not have had that violated. I don't believe in coincidence and there is too much questioning in my head at the moment.
Regardless, I am appalled at the facts that are pertainant to my case.
One Star. He's practices in Divorce Court, Wills and Estate Planning and Personal Injury
He has no clue about New York State Criminal Procedure Law.
I, as the defendant, had to instruct him on a few things. One that is super important for a indigent victim-labelled-defendant is that you do not have to pay for a DNA fee if you've ever paid for it in the past.
I'm almost confident that he recorded me ver-batim and shared that Side Bar with the Prosection and The Judge.
I will be seeking a warrant for cell phone records immediately. I hope that the results prove my hypothesis wrong. And if so, I stand corrected there.
I'm contacting The Office of Court Attorneys, The New York State Bar Association and The New York State Attorney Generals Office for guidance and assistance with this accusation.
However, outside of that, the aforementioned truths above are facts and opinions of my individual case and relationship with this lawyer.
I would not recommend him and I would surely advise anyone who has ever been in my situation to take a sane, sober and clear look at their own experience. If you, too, feel as though this may have happened I would suggest that you reach out to a Pro Bono or Private Lawyer and/or file a complaint and grievance with the NYS Bar Association as well as The Office of Court Attorneys.
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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. -
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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:
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Awards and Recognitions:
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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:
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Take notes during the consultation to remember important points. -
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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:
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Complexity of the Case:
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Estimating Total Costs:
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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.
