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26 Sep, 2020 by Anonymous
My husband and I hired him a couple years ago to resolve our tax issue (we needed to make installment agreement with IRS) Our case was passed around to several different lawyers in his firm. Zero follow-up! And the installment agreement to this day has never been set up. I’m guessing they have a huge turnover in his office. Not once have we ever received anything that had been promised. He never even spoke to us again after we paid him. Just a couple of weeks ago Cheryl e-mailed us about a notice they received from the IRS. When my husband had a call with them a few days ago and spoke with the gal who answered the phone , she had absolutely NO idea what was going on, she thought it was a bankruptcy. Then a completely different attorney reached out from his office and wants money, again. Please people, do your homework and do NOT waste you money. Take your business elsewhere!
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23 Mar, 2018 by Bree
My husband and I just did our complete estate plan with Gary and had a wonderful experience. I don't think anyone really gets excited to make plans for what will happen after their death but Gary and his team made the process easy for us. They were very personable and easily answered all of our questions. Now we know that our children and assets will be taken care of according to our wishes if something happens to us.
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16 Dec, 2016 by Anonymous
He was hired by my family to help with a legal matter and was terrible to work with. He has been of no help and now cost us $1000's of dollars we will never be able to recover. Horrible customer service and would not return calls or emails. Take it from us...hire a different lawyer and save yourself the stress and financial loss.
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21 Dec, 2017 by Anonymous
Upon facing a great deal of time wich was mistaken as a home invation with charges extending from false imprisonment, torcher,assalt etc... When i was only trying to buy some pot not knowing why things went really bad and i was only trying to defend myself from attaching drugdealers. After firing my public defender and hiring manuel ramerez with his excelent prices and skill quickly took control and was able to get all bjt one charge dropped and inceased my chance of less prison time emensly. Deal was sighned because of a codepemdent snitchimg on us aout oir drig use and it being oit of control consuming very high ammounts of marijuana and other drugs. I am now clean today and libe a great healthy troubless life bc of the oppurrunity that my awesome lawyer manuel ramirez made possible for me to have a happy clean life as adult
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08 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous
Mr. Ramirez kept continuing my case and sent in his FAMILY to court on my behalf to later hear it has to be CONTINUED over and over and over again. I caN tell you this, the judge was NOT impressed. I was so sick at the end of this that i decided to take a plea......i got screwed over at the end of the day. I cant find a job to save my life. I am being denied job after job after HE told me DONT WORRY ABOUT IT YOU WILL BE FINE. My first case was in 2005 and he did excellent work and my last case was in 2011 and it dragged on until February of 2013 and i still have a felony after i was told i wouldnt. I was mislead and NEVER informed as to what was going to happen in my case. When my case was over in 2013, i stood there like a dummy not understanding what happened and Mr. Ramirez says, i have another case, ill talk to you later, im like what just happened!!!?? I never heard anything from him NOR anyone from his office!!! we are now 2015 and stuck. I cried my whole way out of the court room and was ashamed as to what happened. He started off really good but i feel i he failed me, as a woman, as a mother AND AS A HUMAN BEING. Karma is a B&%$H!!
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19 Sep, 2014 by Adam
This man is trying to take me to court for took from me after being in prison for way more time than I should have had, He told me that he would get me sixteen months instead I got four years with 80% and while i'm in jail he picked up all my property that was taken by the feds, I was released this year in January and when I contacted his office I got the worst run around ever all lies and avoidance on his part, when I got mad and told him how I felt about the whole matter he decides to take my words and turn them into words of criminal treats now I have to find money to get out of this mess , This lawyer is petty and useless, not worth your time....
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28 May, 2023 by Anonymous
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/domestic-abuse-survivor-gets-justice-after-quick-thinking-saves-her-from-forced-shared-custody-agreement/3235552/ I actually never hired her for obvious reasons but selecting the “consulted” button was the only way I could post this.
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05 Dec, 2022 by Anonymous
Well a friend of mine was sentence to life in prison for a crime he was ineffective which she had his case for five months and when it came to trial she asked for a continuous because she said I only had one week to prepare. If she would have asked to see the warrant she would have notice the warrant was invalid.. had seen the warrant she could have filed a 1538.5 motion to suppress evidence and a 995 motion to dismiss.. my friend would be a free man which he is actually and factually innocent of all charges.. But he still in prison after almost 11 yrs but he is still fighting for his freedom.. Don't hire her cuz she pick and chooses who she will defend but SHE WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY..
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24 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
Karolyn Kovtun is known for spreading false conspiracy theories and making false allegations about others online. Not professional, whatsoever.
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06 May, 2024 by Allan
Our law firm was sued for the inappropriate actions of a supervisor, which made us liable for their mistakes. The person(s) making the allegations were complicit in the inappropriate behavior which made the case not so clear cut. Unfortunately, we were not strategic in our offer to settle this case. We got sucked into the chaos of litigation, and ultimately both side's attorneys did VERY well. We are not completely blaming Ward, however, if we had been given more realistic outcomes, costs, and better advice on a settlement offer upfront, this would have made a big difference in our decisions related to the case. It has taken over a year to write this review. We were hoping to hear from Ward on how we might be able to even things out from the hard feelings of just how costly this case was to settle right before trial along with all the fees to get there. As they say, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". For us, a better settlement offer upfront in the case would have been the prevention and the VERY large amount we paid to later settle,,, on top of the hefty legal fees was the POUND of cure,,, which still leaves us with a sting!
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19 Aug, 2020 by Anonymous
Told me he LOVED my case in the beginning, but $4000 later out of pocket, and only a demand letter to show for it , all of the sudden my case had too much risk. Bills 0.01 hours to read a three word email. Don’t make the same mistake I did!
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08 Feb, 2018 by Charity c.
Ward was thorough, generous with his time and didn’t push for anything more.
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16 Mar, 2020 by Anonymous
March 03/16/2020 She was hired as my husband’s Public Defender and she told him it was LEGAL To Be RACIALLY PROFILED?!?!? She has showed LITTLE Concern and has NOT DONE ANYTHING To Help He’s Case on he’s behalf. When my husband called her to discuss he’s Case that is the following day on March 3rd of 2020. She Put Him On Hold for another client who she said Was MORE IMPORTANT!?!?! Mind You They Are Both Incarcerated. When He Attempted to call back SEVERAL TIMES , He Got NO ANSWER. When I Had Talked to Her On The Same Day She Acted In A Rude & Nonchalant Matter. She Laughed and Cursed While Discussing Information To Me Regarding My Husband’s Case. Like My Husband Said She Showed VERY LITTLE CONCERN FOR HIM & HE’S CASE. PLEASE THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU LET HER BE YOUR PUBLIC DEFENDER!!!
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17 Apr, 2013 by Cam
Ms. Sommers took her time and explained all of the possibilities as well as the probabilities of my outcome thouroughly and was respoonsive to not only my calls but my questions and concerns. I'm glad she was assigned to me as my Public Defender, especially as this was my first and prayerfully last run in with the law. I would hire her in the future if I I ever needed a lawyer again!
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15 Nov, 2019 by Anonymous
Rachel represented me in a family law matter. I found her to be unprofessional and dismissive. There were issues that needed to be addressed after my hearing and she declined to help me resolve them.
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12 Mar, 2019 by Anonymous
I saw Rachel in court and I was very impressed by her performance, so I contacted her. She was informative; however, she is very good and very selective what cases she accepts.
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28 Aug, 2024 by Anonymous
I was at first excited to talk with Tomass about my case because he seemed knowledgeable and said that he doesn’t take cases he can’t win and was very responsive until couple weeks before my court date. On the day I had court. He had nothing prepared and never did any paperwork on his own, he used the paperwork. I filed before hiring him and representing me terribly and I lost the case and not only that he charged an obscene amount of money to just show up with three bullet point handwritten notes and have no idea what was going on in the case , and after that, I have needed to speak with him regarding some of the judges motions that he is supposed to take care of the huge fee, paid him, and he has ultimately disappeared and gone silent and doesn’t answer any phone calls or text or emails and basically just took my $5000 for an hour court date destroyed, and left me with a lot more problems than when I first hired him. He will promise you the world when you consult with him and then once you pay that high fee, he is going to take your money and not care about your case so my advice is to find another lawyer and run because he doesn’t care about his cases. He cares about taking the money and not talking to you again.
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28 Feb, 2024 by Anonymous
Hello I hired Thomas Filicia about two years ago regarding a drinking in public case . I recommend that you please look else where . My situation is much like the other reviews on here. I feel like he took my money and ran. When it came to appearing to my court date never heard from him the day of so the following day I contacted his so called assistant and his assistant claimed there was no court date scheduled in my name and that Mr. Filicia did attend. I thought that sounded weird but none the less I took there word for it. A year goes by and I hear absolutely nothing regarding my case no contact whatsoever . I texted and called the assistant and he claimed there was no new info to be given. Once a year passes I demand for them to provide me in writing what they have done for my case and never received it. My wife and I have called Mr.Filicia about numerous times and left multiple messages and texts and never heard back . He now refuses to answer any of our calls. This attorney took our money and ran please stay away. I already submitted my complaint with the California state bar I suggest everyone who has had these same issues with him do the same because this is not ok.
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13 May, 2023 by Ryan
I hired Thomas for a expungement case from 2008 felony. He gladly took my money. I filled out the packet of questions for it and signed contract paid him in full I’ve been trying to contact him for 9 days ZERO contact back. Should be simple paperwork and file. Absolutely ridiculous in in Arizona hired him over phone. Horrible communication and ethics in business.
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15 Dec, 2020 by Denise glover
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30 Mar, 2019 by Rose parscal
Beyond rude to people trying to do the right thing and pay off an debit. They refuse to send you anything via the mail such as receipts or agreements for payment contract but want your debit card info, imagine that. The employee Aaron i spoke with hung up on me when asking how we’d go about sending receipts and placed me on hold about 20 times in our hour long bs conversation. Hopefully I’ll be able to speak to someone perfessional to get this resolved as that’s what I was attempting to do.
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16 Oct, 2018 by Aaron
Amy took my case at the last minute for a move away order that was being contested. She went above and beyond, working after hours to make sure that she knew my case in and out and could represent me as best as possible. My move away was granted, and even after the trial, Amy ensured that I got everything I needed as far as a signed order and helping get my children over to me, as I had to leave the state immediately on military orders. I will absolutely be using her again in the future if the need arises in family court.
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25 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
I had hired him for a workman’s comp case. I am completely disgusted with the service he provided. I never spoke to him about anything and it was always relayed through a paralegal that never listened to my concerns or would even contact me with updates. They would make business decisions that would benefit their firm but not me. Wouldn’t even discuss anything. I feel as if they really don’t give a hoot if you are a First Responder or not. Read the reviews online and make your own decision , but I wish I never hired him.
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05 Nov, 2018 by Jon
If you look at the website you will see that their law firm specializes in handling Public Employee Cases, mainly Law Enforcement and Fire Fighters. With this being said, I must say that I am very happy with the handling of my case. Mr. Hampton told me upfront that it would take at least a year to handle and most likely longer since the STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND will likely deny my claim (which they did) and that we may have to litigate it in court. It has taken 2 1/2 yrs., 3 doctors and a deposition, which was delayed for 4 hours due to the State Attorney being late, (I guess my time wasn't important to the other side, even though they sent me a letter stating if I was late my case would be denied). This week I received a letter from State Fund assuming responsibility for my injury and a six figure settlement.
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03 Sep, 2017 by Anonymous
He was recommended for a Workers Compensation case for us. Initially, in 2013, was okay, but 3 years later basically feel like he caters to Fireman and Police W/C cases. Namely contact has been with Susan, not Thomas Hampton. Phones calls are not returned for 3/4 days, if at all. I'm sure if our case was against the City, he would be great. But our case is not, so as far as a recommendation, due your research on this attorney
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15 Apr, 2024 by Anonymous
There was never a feeling that Julie was working for me or taking my family’s best interests into account. She was Unprepared and showed minimal interest in what I had to say. I never got the feeling she had a plan in court as she would sit there silently when salient points needed to be made. She did cut me some slack on the enormous billing incurred. possibly due to a feeling of not earning her exorbitant fee.
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13 Apr, 2024 by Anonymous
To say that I am disgusted with the actions of my attorney Julie Westerman would be an understatement. Please keep in mind that this has nothing to do with the fact that I lost my case trying to protect my son from a verbal and physically abusive alcoholic. The reason I am so upset and frustrated is because Julie did not do her job. In addition to the response time being extremely slow if at all. I spent a lot of time writing my initial declaration along with a follow up to my ex's statement. In great detail, explaining that my son was scared of this person and was upset. Essentially, I was asking for one of two things. I was asking that my exes boyfriend not be in my son's presence during her custody time or I was asking for more time to minimize my son's exposure to this toxic man. The whole entire purpose of going to court was this material fact. The week before the case Julie and I had a conversation. And during that conversation, it sounded like she was in her car doing two or three other things, and not really paying attention to the conversation because the thing she was talking about did not make sense. I was not asking for more custody for the sake of just having more custody. And I said that to Julie. I said this Has to do with this guy being verbally abusive to my son, and it scares him and his mother. So I re-emphasize everything and I thought we were on the same page. On the day of our court case she showed up late. And while she was talking to opposing counsel, I was able to listen and she was talking about what her husband likes to drink when they go out. And I felt that that kind of conversation before we walked into court was completely improper because it had nothing to do with what was currently going on. And because of that conversation with opposing counsel, I had no time to speak to my attorney before we even walked in the court. Then, when we got to ​the courtroom, my attorney completely went off script, and made no mention of the man that was verbally abusing my son, and turned the whole thing into me, just wanting to have more time. And when opposing counsel was telling the judge that there's no evidence of any violence in their house, I was writing on a piece of paper, telling my attorney that she just contradicted what family court services had written after interviewing my son. And she ​p​ushed the piece of paper back to me, and made no mention of what FCS ​s​aid. Please understand that this has nothing to do with me losing. This Has to do with Julie Westerman not doing any research, not listening to me, and just doing what she felt which again does not make any sense because the whole reason we were doing this was to try to remove my ex​'​s boyfriend from being around my son. When I left court, that day, I felt sick, I felt frustrated, I felt upset, and worst of all I felt betrayed! My attorney literally did nothing! She stuttered and stammered her way through the statement she made to the judge, while her hands were shaking, and made no reference to any portion of my declaration or response that I took so long to write. To me, this is literally a bad dream! That I spent all this money for her to just Sit there (that's right, she didn't even stand for the judge!) and make a nonsensical argument as to why I was looking for more custody to have the judge. Just say we're gonna keep everything the way it is. I have documented this information to the California Bar as a formal complaint against Julie Westerman from malpractice in my case. And I would encourage anybody else to do the same. I hate having to do this, but the person I I was paying to protect me, and my son betrayed me, and I'm not gonna deal with it. And I'm gonna make sure everybody knows exactly the type of attorney. She is one that does not care because clearly her personal life is more important than her clients.
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27 Jun, 2016 by Ken
I recently went through what should have been an amicable but ended up being quite contentious divorce. In the best of circumstances, these proceedings are painful and gut-wrenching, and mine was no different. To say that this experience was pleasant would be an overstatement. However, I am grateful to the Law Firm of Moore, Shulman & Moore for their professionalism, support, guidance and sage advice in helping me with this life-changing event. Julie Westerman and her team (Rita Wagner, Theresa Duginski and Kristin Carbone) were my champions throughout this process. If were not for their help, I do not know how I would have managed. My “Dream Team” walked me through every step, handling my questions and concerns with both great detail and extreme care. All of the “Legalese”, to me seemed like a foreign language, my team explained everything to me in great detail as gently but as forthright as possible. I can honestly say that there were times when the opposing counsel would respond with something and I became quite heated and emotional. But, my concerns were always addressed in an understanding and compassionate manner. While this is not a process I hope to ever repeat, I am glad that I had Ms. Westerman and team as my legal defense and would highly recommend them to anyone who is going through this difficult but important transition.
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16 Feb, 2024 by Lynn
I sought minor's counsel for my daughter after a divorce. My daughter has medical issues and her father (also an attorney) denied and interfered with seeking help. I was also accused of fabricating issues. Heather Milligan never met my teen daughter, reached opinions without seeking the correct information from physicians and sided with her father. Right after my daughter turned 18 in May 2024, I found the right specialist, Center for Complex Diseases. She has Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, two tick borne infections , POTS and a hypermobility of her neck affecting the brain stem. After 10 years of seeking the appropriate care, we finally discovered the root causes. My daughter now has Lupus from not accessing the appropriate physicians. Heather did not abide by Family Court Services evaluation which should supercede anything. She never met my daughter and only talked with her on the phone. She blamed my daughter's behavior on poor school attendance. I knew all along it was medical but we just hadn't discovered what it was. Heather Milligan did not work in the best interests of my daughter, was verbally threatening me with "further" action if I took her to another specialist. My own attorney was surprised at Milligan's actions. She is unprofessional and does not work in the best interests of. children.
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07 Jul, 2022 by Anonymous
Heather Milligan was court-appointed as minors counsel. Attorney Milligan made did not take action for her clients, and was very one-sided for no reason.
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04 Jul, 2014 by Anonymous
Heather is a hardworking attorney,very well prepared. Very ethical. I was happy with her results (as happy as you can be in a divorce case).
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20 Jun, 2022 by Kristin
I was referred to Searcy by his friend/my current attorney and I simply approached join for a civil litigation consult regarding property managers I want to sue if I have the grounds for a case. I contacted for the first time on May 12th. May 17th I reached out again informing him I had expected a response by then, to which he responded that he was currently very busy with his schedule and he would get back to me later that week. Understandable. May 20th he reached out to schedule a time the following week to speak. The following week we spoke on the phone on May 23rd. On Thursday May 26th I had to reach out again to see if he had been able to finally go through the documentation I had sent over on the 12th. I did not get a response until Wednesday June 1st stating that he needed more documentation. I reached out to the attorney that had referred me to him and let him know what Searcy was saying, and he said that he would contact him to see what he needed and would get it to him. That was the last time I heard from Searcy. I have emailed on the 7th, 14th, and 19th of June trying to get a hold of him. I have been waiting over a month for him to simply look over some documentation and let me know whether or not I have grounds to pursue a case. I have reached out to the referring attorney asking if he has been able to reach Searcy and he stated that he may be busy with other cases. This is understandable, but when I can’t even get a response to my multiple emails letting me know when I CAN expect a response then this is completely unprofessional and unsatisfactory. It does not take a month to let someone know something so simple so that we could have moved on with the case. This man told me he would let me know and he has abandoned me and my legal needs rather than at least letting me know that his plate is too full to take this on.
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31 Jan, 2020 by Peter
I highly recommend Mr Searcy. He helped advise me on several legal issues I had with an insurance company and did not charge me very much for the help, I found him to be very knowledgeable and trustworthy. Thank you!
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02 Apr, 2014 by Ron
After 13 months and having represented me with 2 letters of intent Mr Searcy decided it was best to send me a "do-it-yourself' kit with a incomplete and incorrect complaint form. FYI, I am, the client a disabled man and incapable both physically and mentally of suing anyone. I am now facing a statue of limitation issue for my injury. A complete waste of time!
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25 Jan, 2024 by Amely
Murray helped me resolve my immigration issues and fought very hard for my case several years ago. I'm proud to say I am now a permanent resident and about to become a naturalized citizen. Thank you Murray!
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01 Sep, 2019 by Anonymous
If I could give this place 0 stars I would! This has been the worst customer service that I have ever encountered. Terrible, rude employees all the way to the lawyer. I’m truly disgusted by the way this “lawyer” acts. Truly unprofessional. He demeans you and doesn’t let you speak to ask questions. I HIGHLY encourage everyone to look elsewhere. If you don’t like what you do, you shouldn’t be working there. My stomach hurts just thinking about this place.
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11 Nov, 2016 by Charles
Poor excuse for a lawyer. Was always late to the court, and disorganized. He had a paralegal who admitted she had no experience work on our case only to commit 2 big errors that cost us almost 1000 dollars to fix and delayed my wifes papers. After waiting 2 years we went to fire him and he got mad and threatened to call the cops. Then his secretary pushed me and shut the door on my foot. He also lost the case for my nephew. Every lawyer i have spoken to since deciding to fire him all stated he is a joke and not worth hiring in the first place. I have switched lawyers and recommend all who currently working with him should do the same
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24 Jun, 2023 by Anonymous
Got me no care, got me no money,and thinks he’s all that. Funny a review says fraud. My attorney before him was disbarred for fraud .Hmmmmmm?
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03 Sep, 2014 by Tammy
Mr. Wax handled my difficult worker's comp case in an efficient, very professional manner. I have worked in the legal field for over 20 years and Mr. Wax is one of the best attorneys I've witnessed. I never had to call & see if things were being handled timely in my case. Mr. Wax was on top of every aspect if my case. Wonderful attorney, great staff. I definitely recommend Mr. Wax and his firm.
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20 Jun, 2013 by Anonymous
Mike has his doctors create injury where there wss none so he may collect Larger settlements which is insurance. Fraud. Dr Steinhsrdt managed the case his surgeon Wm Previte brutalized me. The AME on the case was a partner in the surgery center that dr Previte also is an owner and is clearly a conflict of interest this is the most corrupt group pf men that have ever praticef medical legal law. Can you say money's
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14 Jun, 2021 by Darleene
He was my granddaughter's lawyer but rather than consult with her he would rubber stamp the decisions of other professionals who agreed with his obvious bias against one parent over another. He quite simply lied to my face on several occasions, made stipulations regarding special occasions (Christmas, birthdays etc.) and then held gifts etc in his office for months on end before actually accommodating his own plans. If I could rate him lower than one star I would.
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06 Oct, 2017 by Anonymous
I found him to let the opposing council run the process. He seemed to never fight/push back. Some numbers were never checked and it cost me thousands. He agreed to a forensic accounting person (who O.C. picked) which I found out later does not have a great reputation for being objective. Maybe someone else would have a different result but in my opinion, I would not hire him again or recommend him.
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30 Dec, 2013 by Joyce
I found Mr. Benjamin to be what I was looking for. Skill and Integrity were my primary criteria. I found him to possess both. He was frank, forthright, and pragmatic ... not just saying what he thought I might want to hear, but rather advising based on what he felt the best course of action to resolve an acrimonious matter in the best way possible. I felt he was cost conscious and in the end, I was extremely pleased with his work. He has handled two other cases of individuals I referred to him ... who have also expressed satisfaction and appreciation.
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19 Mar, 2021 by Robert
Until 2018, this lawyer was Dennis M. Grady when he legally changed his name to Dennis N. Brady and then changed the name of his law firm from Grady & Associates to San Diego Employment Law Group. The reputation of Grady & Associates and Mr. Grady was so bad he had to start over. I hired him in 2014 and he was rude and the associate attorney he assigned the case to was inexperienced and NEVER supervised by Mr. Grady/Brady. I spent over $10,000 and was never told that my case could not be won. Mr. Grady/Brady lied to me and told me the case was worth $300,000. Don't use this shyster attorney or his new law firm.
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06 Feb, 2019 by Esther
Mr. Brady and his team handled my wrongful termination case to a very successful conclusion. He is an amazing attorney and did an outstanding job. The other two reviews on this site are not only absurd but 11 and 5 years old. My research shows that Mr.Brady's firm has the highest (A+)rating from the San Diego County Better Business Bureau. I highly recommend him.
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13 Apr, 2014 by Anonymous
In the duration of this case, I was constantly being hounded for money. I would never have an explanation of what they were doing that they needed to charge me so much, and when I would call for an explanation, they would charge me for the time. Just before we filed, I contacted the lawyer and told them that I was going to go through with filing. I heard nothing back for three weeks, and when I did, it was a letter telling me we had missed one deadline (which was during that three week delay) and we only had a short time in which I had to get them a retainer or we would miss the next deadline. When I finally settled in arbitration, they charged me 25% of the settlement just to create the final document which was 5 pages long. I ultimately lost about $8k when I could have not even filed and been $6k ahead. They indicated that I had a strong case and should continue. Before my case was final, the lawyer handling my case left the firm as well. I only settled in arbitration because of after my huge investment, I knew this firm was not going to be able to represent me well enough to win.
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16 Oct, 2015 by Juju
I found Vaughn via referral service was SUPRISED he was blind. After talking with him and his team of aids I could tell he was sharp as a tack. He made it sound like case was interesting and wanted to help me. He made a game plan right then. It's workcomp, I signed the paperwork to make him my attorney. He asked me to wait it would take a few weeks for everything to be processed. Being workcomp we had alot of paperwork to gather drs to see get the case started. A few weeks turned into months. I was told to wait they were managing it things took time. I was shocked to hear; o we wanted to know would you be interested in settling your case today. Promises of case winning turned into hard sell to settle before he had to put any work into He made promises to insure if u settled that day he would "then" devote energy into the case. But until then it was not worth it for him. Here I am a year into waiting he is know getting to my case three days before trail with no documentation he giving me a hard push to settle for .10% of what he originally said the case was valued. His aid had the contract all written up. I said no. They talked with the insurers she pulled put another contracted pre written up with a higher amount. This went of for half a day. He had 5 pre written amounts instead of starting his client off with the highest going higher he working with the insurer to in courage me to settle low? If you don't mind being sold out to an insurance company by your attonrey, this is the team for you.
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30 Jan, 2009 by Anonymous
I was referred to Pierre Vaughn and hired him for my non-fault auto accident case. Once hired I never heard from them again, no followups, nothing in the mail. My mom called to see what was going on and his assistant appologized for dropping the ball. She asked questions as if she completely forgot about this case and wanted me to do all the leg-work. I might as well as hired myself. I could never talk to atty Pierre Vaughn, he wouldn't take my calls or that's what his assistant said anyway. She seemed totally oblivious as to what my case was about and very poor with followup. My mom tells me how great this attorney was with her case and I know she refers him to alot of people. I wonder if he even knows what his assistant is doing or what she is up to. His new staff has become very impersonal.
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18 Jun, 2015 by Anonymous
Firstly, let me say this. Matthew is a fine young man and I think he will do better in the future. He was fairly responsive and always kept me in the loop on what was happening. This was extremely important to me as my case was of a sensitive nature and I felt that he was there for me the entire way through the process, even though we did lose. The disappointment comes in the sense that it seemed like Matthew was disorganized. The information that I gave him in secret was revealed to others whom should not have known of my case. I believe that these are simply matters of integrity, however, Matthew still was a very nice fellow. I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
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13 Nov, 2008 by Anonymous
I had him represent me, and he wanted union involvement and that cost me my case, and more money for depositions of union officials that where not to be involved and my money was taken, and I told Baranic not to get the union involved, yet he would not listen to me his paying client, and this cause me to lose my case, my job, my money, and even the smallest thing to make sure my job did what little they said they would do, was not done, so 15K for nothing. Just a bunch of paperwork. Then to top it off, his partner told me if he would no "drop a dime" on the real person who cause me my job, so much for taking care of your client, and his partner met me in jack in the box. So much for client respect for strangers hearing your case. They kicked me to the curb,,,,,,, to 15k and a few trees for all that paperwork.
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17 Jun, 2014 by Anonymous
I feel Tracy is not the most intelligent lawyer in this firm. First off she gave really bad advice that not only cost me time but the money I wasted on her lack of knowledge in the particular area I hired her at 400 dollars an hour to know. When she could not make any headway and I called her out on her performance she dropped the case and lead me to believe there was another solution to the case to which was even worse than her lack of performance. Other lawyers whom I have consulted in after to finish my case said her approach was not something that most would do nor would it have been successful in obtaining the contract and monetary gain I needed. The advice was not well thought out and she assumed just using her firms name would cause the client to crumble. With the strength of other attorneys this didn't happen and in the time of need she bailed. To be honest she was the worst attorney I have ever hired and the laziest.
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15 Dec, 2020 by Denise glover
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30 Mar, 2019 by Rose parscal
Beyond rude to people trying to do the right thing and pay off an debit. They refuse to send you anything via the mail such as receipts or agreements for payment contract but want your debit card info, imagine that. The employee Aaron i spoke with hung up on me when asking how we’d go about sending receipts and placed me on hold about 20 times in our hour long bs conversation. Hopefully I’ll be able to speak to someone perfessional to get this resolved as that’s what I was attempting to do.
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18 Sep, 2017 by Tawna jamison
Very Rude when I am trying to give them money!!!!
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15 Dec, 2020 by Denise glover
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30 Mar, 2019 by Rose parscal
Beyond rude to people trying to do the right thing and pay off an debit. They refuse to send you anything via the mail such as receipts or agreements for payment contract but want your debit card info, imagine that. The employee Aaron i spoke with hung up on me when asking how we’d go about sending receipts and placed me on hold about 20 times in our hour long bs conversation. Hopefully I’ll be able to speak to someone perfessional to get this resolved as that’s what I was attempting to do.
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18 Sep, 2017 by Tawna jamison
Very Rude when I am trying to give them money!!!!
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15 Dec, 2020 by Denise glover
Google Maps
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30 Mar, 2019 by Rose parscal
Beyond rude to people trying to do the right thing and pay off an debit. They refuse to send you anything via the mail such as receipts or agreements for payment contract but want your debit card info, imagine that. The employee Aaron i spoke with hung up on me when asking how we’d go about sending receipts and placed me on hold about 20 times in our hour long bs conversation. Hopefully I’ll be able to speak to someone perfessional to get this resolved as that’s what I was attempting to do.
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18 Sep, 2017 by Tawna jamison
Very Rude when I am trying to give them money!!!!
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15 Dec, 2020 by Denise glover
Google Maps
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30 Mar, 2019 by Rose parscal
Beyond rude to people trying to do the right thing and pay off an debit. They refuse to send you anything via the mail such as receipts or agreements for payment contract but want your debit card info, imagine that. The employee Aaron i spoke with hung up on me when asking how we’d go about sending receipts and placed me on hold about 20 times in our hour long bs conversation. Hopefully I’ll be able to speak to someone perfessional to get this resolved as that’s what I was attempting to do.
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18 Sep, 2017 by Tawna jamison
Very Rude when I am trying to give them money!!!!
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15 Dec, 2020 by Denise glover
Google Maps
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30 Mar, 2019 by Rose parscal
Beyond rude to people trying to do the right thing and pay off an debit. They refuse to send you anything via the mail such as receipts or agreements for payment contract but want your debit card info, imagine that. The employee Aaron i spoke with hung up on me when asking how we’d go about sending receipts and placed me on hold about 20 times in our hour long bs conversation. Hopefully I’ll be able to speak to someone perfessional to get this resolved as that’s what I was attempting to do.
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18 Sep, 2017 by Tawna jamison
Very Rude when I am trying to give them money!!!!
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15 Dec, 2020 by Denise glover
Google Maps
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30 Mar, 2019 by Rose parscal
Beyond rude to people trying to do the right thing and pay off an debit. They refuse to send you anything via the mail such as receipts or agreements for payment contract but want your debit card info, imagine that. The employee Aaron i spoke with hung up on me when asking how we’d go about sending receipts and placed me on hold about 20 times in our hour long bs conversation. Hopefully I’ll be able to speak to someone perfessional to get this resolved as that’s what I was attempting to do.
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18 Sep, 2017 by Tawna jamison
Very Rude when I am trying to give them money!!!!
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14 Aug, 2024 by Domingoluis
In my experience when reviewing Ryan Stygar, I proposed a question dealing with AI, employment rights/responsibility, and union rights. I wanted to know if an employee would still have union rights if the reason for their termination was due to the fact that 80% of unionized office workers could easily be replaced by AI today, and that the current economy (recession/depression) would only add to the necessity to replace them faster. His response was to block me. He seemingly asserts that his personal politics are important on the matter but does not want to the admit the current Biden/Harris Administration had any responsibility of in the current economic recession/depression we are in. Further, it would seem like doesn't want to admit that a bad economy (which started with Biden/Harris) would streamline the destruction of the union workers he protects only faster. He had the choice to simply ignore or simply respond, instead he chooses to delete and block. For this reason, my review of his law firm concludes that he is not a rational full-scope person, instead he is one that will delete realities that do not match his preference. Therefore, I would be hesitant to recommend.
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03 Jul, 2024 by Anonymous
It’s been three years since this law firm was hired for my case. In the three years they have not returned calls, were not prepared for hearings, and passed off to other attorneys in the firm. Everything was finalized 2 months ago and Merianne is holding on to the distribution I believe to collect more monthly money. The most unprofessional law firm I have ever dealt with.
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30 Jul, 2022 by Anonymous
I felt she didn’t have time for me even though she takes all cases It seems. Maybe cut down on your cases please and do a better job. She seemed to take the easy way out whenever she could. Didn’t read my input or questions until we were chatting so it cost me while she read and she wasn’t prepared with answers. She knows the law and could pass any law exam today I’m sure but not good at helping people. She allowed the other side to guide the case to my detriment. For some reason she decided she was done although I wasn’t. I believe things got more complicated than she wanted.
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28 May, 2022 by Anonymous
COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND LOST MY CASE. SHE TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER NEGLECT AND DID NOT EVEN PAY ATTENTION TO MY CASE UNTIL IT WAS TO LATE.
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11 Feb, 2014 by Anonymous
I hired this firm to represent me after I was hit from behind while stopped at a red light. The driver who hit me did not attempt to stop and claimed he did not see my taillights, or the taillights of the several cars in front of me, or the stoplight. He was OBVIOUSLY at fault. My attorney never responded to my calls or e-mails, he downplayed my injuries, which were severe enough that I had to change jobs and reduce my working hours to part time, with no potential for physical improvement at this point. I've lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in past and future wages, I have thousands of dollars in medical claims, and he berated me and put me down for not settling for 90K. He yelled at me that I was foolish for rejecting mediation offers that didn't even cover my medical bills. He hired medical experts on my behalf who charged outrageous fees for doing nothing, and then wrote reports that were filled with inaccurate information. They required me to track down medical reports and contact these so-called experts to attempt to correct their inaccurate information, then complained that my case was not strong becasue there were inconsistencies in my medical reports! This is not a good law firm for the average injured person. If your case isn't worth millions, they will ignore you and encourage you to settle for the minimum amount which requires them to put forth minimal effort. When I pushed to refuse the settlement offer, their response was that the opposing insurance company was a tough company and would be hard to face in court. Further, they told me that my pain and suffering, lost wages and medical bills were not factors in how much I could expect to recover.
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22 Mar, 2013 by Anonymous
Did not take my case seriously and wasted my time
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21 Aug, 2021 by Anonymous
Failed to bring facts that were necessary to get my son back. First thing she told me was to plead guilty to child abuse but I am innocent and I lost my son to CPS because of the negligence and lack or care for a family. I hope she one day understands the true hurt she’s caused by ripping apart families for false allegations. Your job as to fight for reunification and I did EVERYTHING I as asked to do and never missed anything while being homeless and car less then she fought to have my parental rights stripped away from me. I never hurt my son but her resolution was for me to plead guilty to child abuse & “just serve a couple years”. Not trustworthy. Will be reporting to the BAR.
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11 Jul, 2012 by Anonymous
I entered the system through a child abuse case. The first words out of her mouth after I met her was "it's illegal to spank with a belt." Later I would have to hire a criminal attorney and find out it was in fact NOT illegal to spank with a belt. I directly pointed this out to her and her response was "I thought is was..." I immediately thought to myself "You thought it was? This is your area of expertise and you didn't know?” I had to have a criminal attorney who didn't focus in child abuse to find out the truth all the while I had an attorney who specialized in child abuse who didn’t know. This was a huge disappointment in my mind of her ability and credentials to really handle this case. Throughout the process I have found information out about the case through social workers or other attorneys and it wasn't till I would email her that I would receive a response confirming what I had heard. I would prefer an attorney who was on top of the case rather than finding things out after the fact. If you sit and watch her working in court she is very good. However, it is apparent that her case load is too much for her to do each case well. In the end the one who suffers is the client because they don't get her best. They get enough to perhaps get them through but it won't be her best because she can't afford the time to do it. Lastly the way she made me feel as her client. But the way she interacted with me at times came across as judgmental and not helpful. I recall one time when I was talking and made a reference to spanking and she interrupted me and loudly said “this is not a spanking!” I had enough people against me I didn't need to pay for another person who was supposed to be on my side to be against me also. I would end up being arrested and the police called her to give her a chance to call me. It would give me a chance to have someone tell me what was going on and let me know that the police wanted me to turn myself in (which I did). However, when she spoke with the police her comment to them was “you can call him.” Again no consideration of what I may be going through as her client. Even the investigator commented to me that she said “uh..okay I can do that.” It was as if even the investigator thought it was leaving me out alone.
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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. What is your approach to handling cases like mine?
    Learn about their strategy, whether they prefer negotiation, mediation, or litigation.
  5. 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.
  6. How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
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    Get an estimate of how long the process may take from start to finish.
  8. Do you have references from past clients?
    Testimonials or references can provide insight into the lawyer's professionalism and effectiveness.
  9. What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
    Understanding potential challenges helps you prepare and sets realistic expectations.
  10. 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:

  1. Verify Their License:
    Check with your state's bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and in good standing.
  2. Experience and Specialization:
    Ensure the lawyer specializes in the area of law relevant to your case.
  3. Disciplinary Record:
    Look up any history of disciplinary actions or complaints through the state bar association.
  4. Client Reviews and Testimonials:
    Read reviews on legal directories like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to gauge client satisfaction.
  5. Professional Memberships:
    Membership in professional organizations or specialty bar associations can indicate a commitment to their field.
  6. Awards and Recognitions:
    Honors from reputable organizations reflect expertise and a positive reputation.
  7. Consultation Assessment:
    Use the initial consultation to evaluate their communication skills, responsiveness, and willingness to address your concerns.
  8. 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:

  1. Relevant Documents:
    Bring all documents related to your case, such as contracts, correspondence, legal notices, court papers, or evidence.
  2. Written Summary:
    Prepare a concise written summary of your situation, including key dates, events, and involved parties.
  3. List of Questions:
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  7. Pen and Notebook:
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How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?

The cost of hiring a lawyer varies widely based on several factors:

  • Fee Structures:
    • 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.
  • Factors Affecting Cost:
    • Complexity of the Case:
      More complex cases require more time and resources, increasing costs.
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      Court filing fees, expert witness fees, travel expenses, and administrative costs may be extra.
  • Estimating Total Costs:
    Request a detailed fee agreement outlining all potential costs.
    Discuss any additional expenses that may arise during the case.
  • Negotiating Fees:
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  • Pro Bono Services:
    For those who cannot afford legal services, some lawyers or legal aid organizations offer services at reduced rates or for free.
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