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24 Dec, 2017 by Anonymous
Helped with my father’s estate and will. Could not have been more helpful during such a hard time. Helped every step of the way and was extremely knowledgeable of this area of the law. Very satisfied and would use again!!
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05 Mar, 2012 by Anonymous
Used him on a very small matter years ago. I was trying to get $$$ out of escrow from my real estate transaction. He made two phone calls on my behalf (his ONLY involvement in my case). Due to the lack of response from the other side, the court released the $$$ to me. Ripp, Esq. informed me he wanted the whole amount i was awarded. I did not respond to him. But there may be some poor person who would think they had to pay him such an outlandish fee.
I found him to be unprofessional.
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12 May, 2024 by Anonymous
Immediately after the initial consultation and well before Vivian Garrastegui was provided with documents she needed to work on my case, I informed her that the matter had been resolved, and requested refund of $4,600, the unused portion of the retainer. My initial request and follow up emails and phone call call were met with stone silence. About a month has passed, I am still waiting for a response and/or a refund check.
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06 Jun, 2016 by Chris
When my dad’s health was deteriorating and my mom wanted legal guidance to secure/protect their joint assets, I asked our long time corporate council if he could help. He highly recommended SCHNEIDER & GARRASTEGUI, the law office that took care of his elder care needs. So in 2008 Vivian Garrastegui became our elder care attorney and my mom and I were pleased and relieved to have such patient, understanding guidance. Vivian not only met with us, but she allowed us to record some of our meetings so we could share what we were planning/doing with my brother who lived in Pennsylvania.
My dad died in late 2008 and in late 2009 my mom was diagnosed with ALS. It soon became apparent that she could not/should not live alone, especially in her 2-story home. Since my home also had stairs, we agreed that my husband and I would sell our home and mom would sell her home, and the three of us would buy single level home to share. Again, we sought Vivian’s help. She gave us guidance on the sale of both houses and she represented us on the purchase of the new home.
Vivian also made sure my mom’s ‘ducks were in a row’ (Power of Attorney, Last Will & Testament, Do Not Resuscitate, etc.) so that that mom’s wishes would be followed and her assets would be distributed as she wanted (to her three children and four grandchildren). Mom died in early 2011. Everything went according to plan without a hitch.
After my husband suddenly died in January of 2014 I had Vivian make sure my affairs were in order (Health Care Proxy, Living Will, etc.).
In August of 2014 I remembered a small life insurance policy that my father-in-law took out on my husband (when my husband was born). In the early years of our marriage we took over the $33 per year premium payments until it was paid in full. I inquired and found that there was about $2,000 payable on my husband’s death. When I tried to collect this I found that the policy’s beneficiary was my mother-in-law, who died in 1989. Again, I sought Vivian’s council to successfully get through the red tape.
So, I have been an extremely satisfied client of Vivian Garrastegui for eight years now. I would, without hesitation, highly recommend her and I will, definitely, call on her again when the need arises.
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14 Jul, 2022 by Anonymous
Horrible, unprofessional, hung up on my husband several times when calling about his father's house, used me for help with the solar panel proof and pushed us aside once they got what they needed. Left my husband and his brother in the complete dark on the sale of their fathers house. They are horrible. RUN
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13 Dec, 2014 by Garrett
I utilized Glenn for a real estate purchase. He took every question I had and responded quickly. He never made me feel like I was asking too many questions and he was obviously a man of integrity. For my purchase it was a flat fee, so he received nothing extra for all the time and effort he showed me. Despite that, I felt that he considered my purchase important and was always there. Very glad I used him.
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06 Mar, 2024 by Lmf815
I know Richard for over 17 years. I have used him many times. He has been there for me 100%. He is a very intelligent and resilient man. I would definitely recommend him. You will be very happy
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25 Apr, 2019 by Anonymous
The worst divorce attorney in the tri-state area. Wish I can leave 0 stars. AVOID AT ALL COSTS! He is careless and ruthless. Please save your money, energy and time, and go ANYWHERE ELSE BUT HERE. He is completely incompetent and should be disbarred immediately. He will drain all your resources , and only hurt your case. He works for himself and not for the client. He is a money hungry THIEF. He has no interests in resolving any case. He only navigates the case according to his selfish needs and will do anything in his power to destroy your case. The only thing he is good at is taking money. He made numerous mistakes in filing simple procedural papers and does not even know how to edit a contract. Now, my case is in a far worse position than it was when he was hired. I am not sure how his practice remains open. Stay away!!!!
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04 Aug, 2011 by Anonymous
Although I told him not to take certain positions he did anyway because he said it was in my interests, even thoug it admitedly crossed the line of proper legal practices. He overbills. In one instance he almost doubled the time we met. Keep your eye on your watch. I switched lawyers and my new one was shocked at some of the things he did.
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23 Aug, 2017 by Nancy
Having hired and used Ms. Kramer in my divorce I was extremely disappointed as I found she did not listen to my needs, seemed to not care much. She seemed to care more about getting my case done quick and refused to respond to my requests thereby leaving me just about destitute, and not checking my ex's hidden assets so that he is now living rather comfortably.
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24 Jul, 2009 by Anonymous
Very bright. Probably a great divorce lawyer in her day. Now focussed on academic law. As such she does not have time to devote to her clients. In my case her complete lack of responsiveness made a bad situation awful both for me and my children. If she wishes to practice law I hope she begins to think about the families that depend on her to make an awful situation better.
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16 Dec, 2022 by Steve
David Groeger doesn’t have good knowledge. I paid him for my bankruptcy case, but he doesn’t work well and showed extremely bad performance. Late response and inappropriate attitude. I really regret that I paid to him. It was extremely bad experience knowing David Groeger.
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29 Jun, 2018 by Anonymous
I had to file a claim because of a whole house surge protector. I did what they asked and sent in receipts for labor, parts and for some replacements of smaller items. Items that most would consider Disposable, I wrote next to them , "Not Cost Effective to Repair" I had to have certain items repaired ASAP, such as my furnace, refrigerator, internet etc but other items I could wait on. Even said, I looked for the lowest price for the labor, parts or the items I replaced right away and put what I could through warranty even though I did not have to use a warranty because of Levitons failed surge Protector. I also did many of the repairs myself. After more than a month I finally received an offer to replace my damaged items. All they included was the items I sent invoices in for to repair or for parts or if I had an original invoice of when I bought it. Even said, their "Fair Market Value" is equal to what you might pay at a yard sale. The disposable items they did not include because I did not get estimates. I asked who it going to pay for the estimates and in most if not all cases, the estimates or cost to repair will exceed the value of the new cost of the item. They do not say in their warranty who will pay for estimates or if you will be reimbursed but they do have a clause in there to be able to inspect your damaged items. They declined to have anyone inspect them. I asked to speak to their legal council and I received a call from Mr Vincent Lonigro, AKA Clarence Darrow or want-to-be. I told him their offer of $3100.00 was ridiculous. He said he thought it was $4500.00 and I said not. He asked what I would accept and I told him the least amount $6500.00. Unlike most people, I have filed many cases in court myself and have no problem going up against an attorney since I have many times before and won. He said they have never lost a case. I did a little research on that and do not believe it to be true but it was a limited search. In most cases, they know most people will accept there offer like I read one person did and Leviton knows this because if the amount is under $5000.00 an attorney will cost you almost that, so it does not pay to hire one and again Leviton knows this. After a few emails, Mr Lonigro got a little to insulting and finally said, his offer was $3800.00 and if I did not accept it by the end of the day, Sue Us! I sent him an email back telling him I will accept it but not because I feel I would lose in court. The fact is, I know I feel I would prevail and even for up to a few thousand more, but in court I would need an expert witness and estimates to repair the rest of the items which may cost more than the item and never know if the court will award you the estimate cost along with the fair market value as well or only one. The other issue is when you file the claim, they ask you to send the surge protector back for testing. At this point you have lost control of having it tested by an independent company, so it makes it much harder to prove it was the cause of your damage even if your house burns down. Attorneys like Mr Lonigro get these jobs because of security, a good salary and the fact that if they were an attorney on there own and had to be in court defending criminals, drunk drivers or doing injury cases, they may not make it in the real world. For the most part, these Corporations hire outside law firms in other states and only once in a while a corporate attorney will get involved in the case. They also have to work under the other attorneys license if they are not licensed in that state and need permission from the court and sometimes the defendant. I have been involved in one jury trial like this and they asked my permission. Maybe these kind of Corporations look for Jerks like this to deal with claims. There are higher up attorneys there but they will not let you speak to them. If this attorney was in private practice, I would never hire him or buy Leviton Products again.
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02 Apr, 2015 by John
I brought a simple conttzct case to Mr. Markowitz. He presents himself as some scholarly old school law professor. Unfortunately he practices law like a tired bored student.
Mr. Markowitz ignored my case for months, blew through court deadlines, failed to review basic documents, told me nothing about the progress of the case and almost cost me the entire case by his neglect. Stay far away from Lamb and Barnosky and especially Joel Markowitz truly terrible lawyers.
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30 Mar, 2016 by Richard
terrible attorney, very rude and impatient. Definitely don't want to hire him again.
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19 Jan, 2018 by Jim
We hired this firm for a case so simple that I now know we could have handled it ourselves. Anyway, we were relatively satisfied but their communications were slow coming and repeatedly required us to re-send emails that went unanswered.
We had paid a retainer and, five months later, we received an email advising us that "matters are now concluded, we will be closing your file." That was in July.
Strange, but there was no accounting, so we requested one and for any balance to be refunded. They assured us it would be forthcoming. Six weeks pass, no accounting (or refund) and got this reply to my reminder: "The new invoices will be populated in the next few days and will be sent to you."
Three more months pass. I email again and get this reply: "My apologies in delay. I have printed all your invoices and put in for the retainer reimbursement of $xxxx.xx. I’m sorry that this had taken so long, I did forget. As soon as the bookkeeper is presented with the request, I will ask her when you should receive your check and notify you of same."
Another month passes, it's a new year, still no accounting, no refund. At this point, I am thinking I need to refer this to a disciplinary board and urge them to honor their promises before the end of the next business day. I get this reply: "I have spoken with the book keeper regarding your refund. The check has been prepared and will be mailed out tomorrow along with the copies of all invoices. I did however mail the invoices [untrue, never received] once before. Please confirm the address..."
We finally did receive the accounting, which I will be studying, and check at the end of the week. But, when I think of a check as being "prepared", technically that would mean it is cut but it was dated two days later. So, another fabrication.
I really do not understand how a business can operate this way and expect that there will not be repercussions. Integrity and reputation is the most important currency in business and this firm has a lot of work to do there.
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05 Jul, 2017 by Rachel jones
She is a horrible lawyer who blows off her cases and lies to her clients. She should be disbarred.
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05 Jul, 2017 by Rachel jones
She is a horrible lawyer who blows off her cases and lies to her clients. She should be disbarred.
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05 Jul, 2017 by Rachel jones
She is a horrible lawyer who blows off her cases and lies to her clients. She should be disbarred.
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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. -
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:
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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:
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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:
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Geographic Location:
Legal fees can vary significantly by region or city. -
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Estimating Total Costs:
Request a detailed fee agreement outlining all potential costs.
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Negotiating Fees:
Some lawyers may be willing to negotiate fees or offer payment plans, especially for clients with financial constraints. -
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For those who cannot afford legal services, some lawyers or legal aid organizations offer services at reduced rates or for free.
