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14 Apr, 2019 by Sharon
He was patient kind and got the job done!He did what he said he was going to do and made sure I knew exactly what was going to happen.
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11 Feb, 2017 by Denise kilfoyle
I have to disagree with the negative reviews on here. I hired Mr. Pinsky to handle my divorce. He was extremely knowledgeable, and thorough. He was very clear about the expectations of my case, and I ended up with a great settlement. Even after the divorce was finalized and other issues came up, Rand was always available to take my calls or answer my emails. Just recently we had to go back to court over alimony, and thanks to Rand, I ended up getting twice the amount the ex wanted to pay. I found him to be very professional, patient, and organized and would not hesitate to refer to him to friends.
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20 Aug, 2013 by Anonymous
I hired Rand Pinsky concerning child support issue. This was the worst mistake I had ever made. He didn't have any ambition for helping me in my case and no concern for my young daughter. He just agreed with the plaintiff's lawyer ; be never tried to fight for me at all. I would of been much better off representing myself, I trusted him to do a good job for me; instead he talked me into signing to agree with plaintiff with out myself fulling understand what he was convincing me to do. Needless to say now my young child and I are struggling much worse since child support was decreased by 50%.
I fired Pinsky soon after that ; then he refused to return the remainder of my retainer deposit. Before I started using him as my lawyer I asked about if I don't use all the money in retainer for his services -I will be reimbursed for the unused amount and he said ,yes ! But lied, he said he won't reinburse the unused money after all. He tried avoiding all my calls and hanging up on me. His secretary apparently was told to ignore all my calls, also. I had to file a dispute with my credit card company just to get my money back.
Avoid this lawyer so you don't have to experience what I had to. He will act friendly to you at first, but he only wants easy money, he doesn't care about his customers well being at all. Please don't be fooled by his lies, he'll only make things worse for you if you hire him.
I hope that anyone that reads this review will not hire Rand Pinsky -
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07 Feb, 2021 by Anonymous
Very disappointed hired her and she sent someone else to court and I had to speak up for myself. Hired her again and she Lost the TRO. Asked her to represent in a civil suit she stated she needed to check for other counsel to help her. Nice mature lady sharp temperament means well.
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09 Oct, 2020 by John
Our lawyer recommended we call Marianne Borselle regarding squatters that would not leave a house we inherited. Marianne did the impossible. Through her efforts and her efforts alone, they just vacated the premises. I highly recommend her for this sort of problem.
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02 Aug, 2019 by Anonymous
Ms Borselle had to deal with a tenant that didn't pay rent and broke his lease in other ways as well. She did this with a judge who was sympathetic to tenants.
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12 Oct, 2024 by Anonymous
Lorie is amazing and has great expertise! She walked us through the legal processes very clearly and spent time to explain each step and every question. She is very familiar with the California laws and negotiated well on my behalf. It was a pleasure working with Lorie!
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21 Feb, 2024 by Brian
This is not something I typically do - writing a review for an attorney - but thanks to an “unhealthy” and highly litigious ex-wife, I’ve had more lawyers in my life than I care to admit. Since I unfortunately have a lot of experience within the family law system, I can say with the utmost confidence that Lorie Nachlis, without question, is the best family law attorney you will ever find.
My case had a little bit of everything but, from the moment I met Lorie during the search for representation process, I knew she could expertly handle it all, and she most certainly did. I worked closely with Lorie for years - yes, it took years as my ex had us in and out of court as if it was a revolving door - yet Lorie remained invested, focused, and vigilant through it all.
Lorie is ultra-professional, super organized, highly experienced, brilliant and a very compassionate attorney. Never once did I ever question her preparedness or performance; she is always nothing but top tier across the board. But what I find almost important as her courtroom prowess is her caring heart. Lorie is as tough - or tougher - than any lawyer I’ve ever seen in action. Yet she is every bit as gentle and caring as she is strong and aggressive.
My three kids are my world, as I’m sure yours are for you and, as a family law attorney, Lorie knows it and will fight with all she has for you and your kids. Lorie genuinely cares; even after our work together concluded she still sporadically checks in. How many attorneys out there can the same be said of?
She fought for my world and got exactly what we were asking for. Lorie is worth every penny. If you are where I was a decade ago: hurt, confused, scared, and searching for the best representation, your search should stop here. Lorie is the absolute best lawyer and a gem of a human. I am so fortunate to have had her represent me, and my kids, during the most challenging time in my life. I am eternally grateful for her, and her wonderful and supportive staff.
I simply cannot possibly recommend Lorie Nachlis and her firm highly enough. Hiring her will be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made.
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25 Jan, 2024 by Anonymous
[Disclaimer] I did not hire Nachlis Cohade Lopez-Whitaker LLP (NCLW) for family law services, I am only sharing my experience in their evaluation/intake process. I was searching for family law services and reached out to NCLW via website, email, and phone 4 times over a two week period before getting a response back from them. Once I was able to connect with someone from NCLW, we set about scheduling a consultation but communication & expectation-setting around their process was piecemeal. I characterize my overall experience with them as unresponsive and unprofessional.
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03 Aug, 2024 by Troy g
06 Nov, 2023 by Charan andreas
I highly recommend Attorney Frank Kim. He represented me on a wage/hour issue and gave me a great result. Mr. Kim is compassionate and easy to work with. He is highly knowledgeable in this field.
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31 Oct, 2023 by Anonymous
“Michael” is a professional con-man. His review is merely an attempt at extortion. In this new age of technology crime, it is critically important to properly vet any professional you hire. Please protect yourself by doing so thoroughly!
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04 Feb, 2021 by Michael
I hired Jim Cherry to draft a very simple civil complaint. He was impressed with my background as a litigation expert witness and consultant; I am a retired CPA with 30 years litigation experience. He wanted me to help his son...exchange services. He also asked me build a computer in him in which I did. He charged me $8,200 and never paid for the computer. Stay away from Jim Cherry.
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20 Feb, 2024 by Anonymous
Mr. Soleimani destroyed my case. He took an exorbitant retainer from me after making inflated promises he quickly contradicted, sat passively on my case in circumstances that required action/caution/strategy, mis-advised me on important decisions, and left me in a severely compromised position from which I could not recover. He had a conflict of interest and should have never taken my case in the first place, compounding my difficulties and praying on me in a time of great difficulty. On top of it, he breached my confidentiality through the mismanagement/incompetence of his staff. All show/sweet-talk, no substance.
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28 Jul, 2011 by Unhappy client
He does not know how to practice law. He promised me the world but he messed up my case to the point that he did not get a penny for me. Please runaway from his office.
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25 Oct, 2023 by Aimee roberts
What can I say,
She's better than the best.
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19 Jul, 2023 by Pamela mccormick
Laura charges 400.00 /hour. Does not get the job done. Weak communication skills
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17 Aug, 2023 by Deirdre
This attorney is a scam. After the nterview he has predetermined your claim for a fast win. He has installed doctors to lie for you if need be. Once you hire an attorney while in appeal, you can fire him like I did. But this lawyer wouldn’t leave. He was a failure at my appeal. The judge said she would deny the whole appeal but she remand it. From that point I never seen him again. I fought my appeal writing letters to the judge, veterans counsel, , the bar association answering my on C&p’s They are still in operation because like me once the contract is signed just as in the military you are held to it. Just find another one. It many!!The government g a v e him 25%of 33% he was try to take. Over $$100.000 folks for nothing. Hoorah!!!!
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25 May, 2015 by Anonymous
He did for me what five different Veterans Service Organizations could not do for me. This in spite of the overwhelming evidence the VSO's had in my favor. Mr. Jahizi used the same evidence and turned everything around for me, he made things happen and made this veteran, a believer, in that there is hope for us Veterans and it is in Mr. Oliver Orod Jahizi. May you continue in your quest on helping other veterans attain what you did for me and God Bless you!
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30 Oct, 2008 by J carlo cannell
I think Belinda is far better than most.
My only regret / complaint is the efficiency with with work was processed in my four year divorce.
My emails and her replies were frequently copied without my consent to many other lawyers both inside and outside the firm which compounded the billing exponentially. Because my case was complex and outside of her core are of expertise, I was often frustrated.
She gnerally knows her stuff and I feel is ethical.
It is the lower ranks of the small firm that are weak in my opinion.
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16 Jan, 2024 by מיכאל יגאל maimon מימון
24 Sep, 2019 by Leah forrest
13 Mar, 2014 by Anonymous
What this attorney is good about is trying to extract as much money from the other side without any regard to ethics. She is not particularly good at that either. Between my ex and I we spend 10s of thousands of dollars because of this attorney's suggestions which unnecessarily complicated matters.
This money could have gone towards our children's needs for help and support during very difficult times.
Instead, the money went into the attorneys` pockets.
There is a lot to be said about how divorces are handled in the US with all the greed of everyone involved in this disgusting industry.
Attorneys like this should be taken their licenses away because they pretend to protect their clients when in reality they are motivated by one thing only - money.
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19 Jul, 2012 by John
Pro's: easy to talk to, explained concepts well
Con's: disappeared for months at a time, did not respond to requests for status, had to be threatened to get a response, did not file paperwork in a timely manner, did not have appropriate "presence" in court (too timid).
She's no longer in Campbell, btw.
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30 Nov, 2010 by Tiffany
I hired Jessica initially to help with visitation and support for a move to a different state. She wrote up the document but didn't fight very hard to get me the child support recommended by California State, it was about half of what California said I should get, then when I contacted her again to rewrite this document with a new schedule and child support associated she totally dropped the ball when she couldn't get my ex-husband's financial information then wouldn't return a call or email for over 2 years. I finally got the half written document from the receptionist after Jessica left the firm. So now I'm out tens of thousands of dollars in child support which could have gone for my sons college education. I'm also terrified to go to any other lawyer for fear they are going to take $10,000 for not much work.
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27 Aug, 2024 by Melissa gladstone
16 May, 2024 by David hill
17 Apr, 2024 by A. shah
Mike Flory deliberately tripled my restitution in a criminal case several years back. Just read an OC Register article that he tried to drop the hammer on others as well. Questions: why does he still work here? How does 1 get reimbursed for malfeasance?
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27 Aug, 2024 by Melissa gladstone
16 May, 2024 by David hill
17 Apr, 2024 by A. shah
Mike Flory deliberately tripled my restitution in a criminal case several years back. Just read an OC Register article that he tried to drop the hammer on others as well. Questions: why does he still work here? How does 1 get reimbursed for malfeasance?
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25 Jun, 2024 by Zoraida cordova
If you’re a creative, especially in film in LA, find a law group that knows how to handle a contract and negotiate things in favor of their clients.
I’ve been an author for 12 years, and I would not recommend at all.
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25 Jan, 2024 by Pau wes
They are ambulance chasers. They search court records for new filings and then email you to get your case. Never ever use them
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28 Sep, 2023 by Christian daniels
Stay away. They don't make you feel like a priority and they do very sloppy work. I had to constantly stay on then, almost begging them, for progress on my case. Their good lawyers of the firm left years ago. That tells you something.
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16 Feb, 2024 by Bradley ball
In my opinion, the Attorney for this firm, Natasha Domek, lied to me and it cost me money. Do not trust
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16 Aug, 2023 by Kerrington johnson
50 state partner….. they are the best at insurance defense
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10 Dec, 2019 by John freed
30 Sep, 2020 by Anonymous
Private Judge, Leslie Morgan, is efficient and professional. Clients sign a document appointing him as Private Judge, for just the one case. He is able to review written agreements prior to signing so that you are sure your document contains all the necessary information and required forms have been filed. Once the agreement is signed, Mr. Morgan has the documents filed at the court and returned to you. This process takes days, as compared to weeks or even months, depending on what county you live in. Mr. Morgan is very organized and responds immediately to emails or phone calls. I can't say enough about him. So grateful for his help and would recommend him to anyone!
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27 Jun, 2015 by Joan
I was recommended to him by my sister because he represented a dear friend of hers. I was not able to come up with his retainer so he agreed to barter with me to photograph two of his daughters bat mitzvah's and a shoot with the kids Ginnie pig's later. I'm out $15,000. Without a single filing, no mediation date set, I don't know what to do.
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08 Oct, 2014 by Lori h.
I used Leslie Morgan as a Private Judge in my divorce. My attorney encouraged me to hire Judge Morgan; it would make the divorce very fast. Instead, it took 4 years to get the decree, 5 years to get division settled and it's been almost 10 years since the divorce began and my ex still owes me > $150,000 but I still have to take him to court to get it.
He overlooked EVIDENCE and my testimony and accepted the testimony of my ex and I lost the opportunity for a BIG CHUNK of cash. Another time, he made an Order dividing everything and concluded the only difference was that my ex had $200,000 more than I did. At one point, he was trying to get me to agree to receive less and told me that I needed to give my ex "a light at the end of the tunnel."
He constantly accepted my ex's false testimony over my evidence or testimony. He refused to hold my ex accountable for disobeying his orders so I had to keep taking my ex to court and he still didn't respond effectively. In the end, I lost about 80% of my half of the assets. Lastly, he is no longer ‘sharp’ which I attribute to his age. He had difficulty remembering what he had ordered and allowed issues to be re-argued over my attorney's objection and he changed his mind and made new orders that SHORTED me money. I could add more complaints but then it would be more like a book than a review.
If you want to lose most of your assets to your ex....please use Judge Morgan.
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22 Jun, 2022 by Hamed taghavirad
My Wife had an argument with her sister of the condo they bought together with the down payment of their parents. However the title was on the name of the sister. Sister started to evict my wife. Bruce assured my wife he would get back the condo. And the other party would pay the wages. He conned my wife to also take responsibility of her eviction case then Bruce charged my wife $30,000 just to lose the case. The other party also took $30,000 from her bank account. And still taking twenty five percent of her wag
The condo worth about $700 Monthly. My advice is that before signing any contact with these dishonest lawyers be careful!
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14 Feb, 2019 by Kns one
A UCLA law grad with 40 years of experience, Bruce knows the law, the judges, and is one of the smartest attorneys I know. I have used him many times, and have always been satisfied with the quality of his legal work and his razor sharp wit.
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05 Oct, 2018 by Tangojo tangojo
Attorney Bruce T. McIntosh is primarily an appearance attorney for the "Paralegal service" "AAA Lessor Services". Basically, McIntosh signs his name on documents that AAA Lessor Services prepares, and appears in court if necessary - this is illegal and unethical for an attorney to do this. It would be one thing if AAA Lessor Services actually did quality work. Besides sharing an office with AAA Lessor Services he also has another office up the street on Lake Ave. McIntosh is about as qualified as the owners of AAA Lessor Services (the Doolittle family), and can only be successful when he knows he will get things rubber stamped. Also McIntosh seems to spend an exorbitant amount of time trying to take down and oppose bad reviews (there have been multiple), and getting his friends and colleagues to post positive reviews. Maybe if he spent as much time being a quality attorney, we wouldn't have such a problem with him.
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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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15 Oct, 2024 by Andrew samuelson
26 Sep, 2024 by Sonja brooks
10 Jul, 2024 by Ryan o'riordan
A warning to out-of-state attorneys. I have paid and applied to take the Bar this month. Just found an email in my junk folder stating I need a certificate of good standing or else my application will be cancelled and no refund given. From where I don't know. there is no contact information. No correspondence on my applicant portal. After paying over $3000 I am astonished how poorly this process has gone. My application and admission to Minnesota was nothing like this. Impossible to talk to someone on the phone. All this after my application was not accepted because there was no button to submit statements on the application. Incredibly poor performance.
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20 Jan, 2016 by Anonymous
As other reviewers have mentioned, Ms. Brauer charges high fees, but did very little. She is hard to reach. I don't think she needs new clients, or it's a strategy to make her seem important. In any case, when I asked why they are recommending that I withdraw the case at the end of my ordeal, she (or her assistant) told me that it is because they did not expect the other attorney to do so much research and build such a strong case. Really?
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04 Jun, 2014 by Anonymous
Laurel Brauer and her partner Colleen Hemingway have absolutely no business practicing family law. They present horribly in the courtroom, Ms Brauer stumbles and fails to articulate minor points. Their fees are exorbitant, and they are judgmental, rude, and lazy---they never arrive in the office before 10, and they are never in court either. Ms. Hemingway was buddy buddy with my ex husband, and was blatantly taking his side even though he violated a number of court orders regarding custody. If they had an issue with me, which they did, they should have made their bias known, and I would have sought other counsel, which I did ultimately, but $60,000 later and too late. They refused to represent my interests, and were clearly only experienced in financial issues regarding family law, not custody issues, In a 3 month time frame, they collected over 60k and resolved almost nothing. They were so late in filing emergency orders when my ex husband decided to move against court orders it proved disastrous to my children. They attacked me, my parenting, my personality, my clothes, and my relationships with every person in my life. Ms Hemingway has no children, but dispensed more parenting advice than legal advice, I was mocked and ridiculed by them for taking my kids out for fun weekend events, rescuing and keeping a stray dog, and having big birthday celebrations for the kids. They were supposed to fill adverse interests on the 401k and did not, enabling my ex to move funds and deplete the account. I don't know how they stay in business, but if you are going to pay $500 an hour I suggest you contact an a phenomenal female attorney in Tustin with a great reputation in the courts that actually works to represent your needs. These are two of the most dishonest people I have met in my 2 year divorce nightmare.
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12 Jun, 2013 by Anonymous
I never received a statement from this attorney (for three months) until I fired her (she claimed to not have email for 50 days). The bill was $9,000 for one filing of a boiler plate document and for a very unprofessional letter she sent on my behalf without my approval. The rest of the bill was padded with redundancies and review after review of what? I don't know! She additionally missed a filing deadline with the Court and expected me to pay for drafts of which should have been filed that I never saw. I cannot understand an attorney who claims to have no email for 50 days and whose website has been "temporarily under repair" for weeks on end. There are some very good attorneys out there and Laurel Brauer is not one of them. I have filed for an arbitration hearing regarding my statement and have filed a complaint against her with the Orange County Bar Association. She won't even respond to my letters regarding disputing her fees. She has her associate do so. She also informed me when I hired her that she had an office in Los Angeles. Apparently she does not and has not for some time. Find another lawyer.
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17 Mar, 2022 by Eric pressley
Nan johnson is no good for me ive called about 150 times over the corse of 4 months affter my court she was suppose to be helping my see my daughter but she has not answered my calls not one of them shes suppose to be helping me get my daughter back and she has done nothing for my i dont no if its becouse im black i just dont know im eric pressley erica browns father my number is 6282406728 and she still has not answered any of my calls she has not helpted me not one bit i had inadicet counsle and i need a Lowyer that will help me get my daughter back shes doing the same thing that another county dd to me they looked over me ive not had a chance to be a father to my 2 year old and its killing me i cant even think straight i want to get my daughjter back i need help
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11 Mar, 2022 by Eric
Nan Johnson is no good she is the reason why I don't have custody of my 2year old daughter ive called her phone for over 4 months leaving message after message pleading with her to help me and yet still no answer she have lied to me and on me my name is Eric pressley I'm Erica browns father it's been over 4 months no contact she is supposed to get my visit going with my daughter I have not seen her since she was 4 months old she still has not helped me or even tried to me she have been dodging my phone call she is no good to me and know one else how can she not return my call knowing that im trying to get my daughter back its not right she needs to get her job took for male practice.she have not represented me in no way
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06 Dec, 2023 by Angela
My experience with Lisa Fraas in a professional capacity was anything but pleasant. With over a decade in family law as a paralegal, I've encountered numerous personalities, and Lisa stands out as one of those attorneys universally disliked.
Despite not engaging our services or making any payment, she believed we were somehow obligated to file her client's documents.
Subsequently, she engaged in harassing emails when we couldn't accommodate her request. We had to issue a formal cease and desist email due to the nature of her communication and the use of abusive language.
My sympathy extends to anyone relying on her services and opposing counsel tasked with dealing with her. It wouldn't surprise me if her relentless emails were an attempt to deplete her client's retainer, a suspicion that prompted me to share this.
Upon reviewing her state bar records, it becomes evident that her unacceptable behavior aligns with the various suspensions she has received. Proceed with caution.
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24 Jan, 2022 by Melany antio
She told me to give away my children because I had a DVRO against me which wasn’t tried yet. She also told me to give my ex husband a waiver of alimony. I paid 13 grand for her to give my ex husband everything that’s mine. Two years later my children are still out of state and every other attorney said this was a horrible move.
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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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24 Feb, 2018 by Anonymous
I was assigned mr warren as my public defender on my last case ...... I dont know where to start he was the WORST public defender hands down , he is VERY argumentative , does not have your best interests in mind , I found my self often in shouting macthes with him , or I would ask him a question and he would flat out ignore , he failed at keeping my mom and family updated on my status , ( I sat in county for 3 months ) and when I asked him why he never called my family after weeks of asking him daily to let my mom know about my case , he told me in a verry rude manner that hes "to busy for my family" my case was very simple .... well lets say he runied my case , then ran off on me and I had a new public defender assigned , even she said he did a HORRIBLE job and she should of came in sooner , mr warren is a very unprofessional man , and in his line of work that is not good , and he gets mad when you ask him simple questions ? he speaks over you , and he constantly down talks you , I hope no man EVER gets him assigned to defend there life , this man is horrible at what he does , hes better off at Mcdonalds flipping burgers for a living.... if he can even manage that
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15 May, 2017 by Anonymous
Mr Ferreira took my case with 2 weeks of anticipation for evidentiary hearing, my case has been going on for 8 years and there is a volume of actions in the history of the case. I wanted to recover my lost joint legal and increase my custody time with a female judge that has not been sympathetic with rights of the father. He said he was going to be prepared and spent time studying my case but that he also had other cases that he needed to finish. At our hearing, he was not able to litigate the credibility of the moms allegations or present valid objections to the opposing party arguments. I didn't feel protected or looked after much less defended or advocated. Seem like he was putting up a show with no direction or goal and did not presented or establish evidence correctly in front of the judge. This greatly help my opponent. In addition, after he was told to prepare OAH, took 9 months to submit to Judge for final approval. This is clearly against the local rules which established a clear period of time if opposing counsel don't respond. I will definitively stay away from this attorney do not recommend. Don't waste your money.
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23 Feb, 2014 by Jeffrey
Tim Blaine was retained to represent me by my Personal Liability Insurance Company in a matter where I was being sued. I am a retired FBI Agent who is a bonded and licensed private investigator in California. At one point in his representation, Blaine attempted to force me to settle with the plaintiff against my will, but failed in his attempt. The law suit against me was eventually abandoned after I retained other counsel and I paid no settlement in any manner. Tim Blaine's representation of me was lack luster, and in my opinion, he placed his own interests first, his firm's interests second, and my interests last. At one point he was an eyewitness to another attorney's misconduct and took no action to protect me, or my reputation.
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06 Oct, 2023 by Julie
I obviously cannot go into all of the details in a short review, but we unfortunately retained Kelly Bennett for two business cases and they were both hands down the worst experiences we have had with any attorney - ever. In our extensive dealings with her, we found Kelly Bennett to be extremely difficult to deal with, unreliable and ineffectual. She advised us to make moves like filing nonsensical cross complaints, motions, etc that cost us ridiculous amounts of money and got us nowhere (except huge legal fees). We learned the hard way that we mistakenly relied on her detrimental advice and did so for far too long. After you're in a case(s) so deep with an attorney and you've already paid so much money, it's hard to make a switch - even when things are not going well.
She is also obsessed with billing. She sends a bill every 2 weeks like clockwork and she instructs her revolving door of staff to start hounding you for payment literally days after the bill hits your inbox. We've never seen anything like it.
Being involved in legal issues is already stressful enough, and Kelly Bennett makes it exponentially worse with her inconsistent, erratic and aggressive behavior. There is so much more that I could expound upon, but I'll do so after Kelly Bennett comes back with an aggressive response to this review, which I fully expect from her because that is her standard operating procedure.
We have a business and completely understand that some online reviews unfairly tarnish the reputation of a business, but believe me when I say this one is very well deserved. Be aware that she has recently changed the name of her firm from Bennett & Bennett to Sapere Law for some reason.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Mediation Lawyer Can Do for You
A mediation lawyer specializes in resolving disputes outside of the courtroom through a process called mediation. Mediation involves a neutral third-party mediator who helps the disputing parties reach a mutually acceptable agreement. Mediation lawyers can represent clients in various matters, including divorce, business disputes, employment conflicts, contract issues, personal injury claims, and more.
Unlike litigation, mediation is a less adversarial and more cost-effective way to settle disputes, often leading to faster resolutions and preserving relationships between the parties involved.
When Should I Hire a Mediation Lawyer?
Consider hiring a mediation lawyer when you’re involved in a dispute and want to avoid the time, expense, and stress of going to court. Common reasons to hire a mediation lawyer include:
- Divorce or child custody disputes: A mediation lawyer can help you reach a fair settlement on issues like property division, alimony, and parenting arrangements without going to court.
- Business or contract disputes: For disagreements such as contract disputes, partnership conflicts, or intellectual property issues, a mediation lawyer can assist in resolving the matter through negotiation.
- Employment disputes: Issues like wrongful termination, discrimination, or wage disputes can be addressed through mediation to find common ground and avoid lawsuits.
- Personal injury cases: Mediation can help both parties agree on compensation in cases like car accidents or slip-and-fall claims without a prolonged court battle.
- Property disputes: Disputes over property ownership, landlord-tenant issues, or boundary disagreements can be settled more amicably through mediation.
- Family or inheritance disputes: Mediation can help resolve conflicts over wills or trusts without further dividing the family.
What Does a Mediation Lawyer Do?
A mediation lawyer provides a range of services to help clients resolve disputes through negotiation and mutual agreement. Their responsibilities often include:
- Representing your interests: Acting as your advocate during mediation to ensure your rights are protected and you understand your legal options.
- Preparing for mediation: Reviewing the facts of the case, gathering necessary documents, and advising you on potential resolutions.
- Facilitating communication: Helping to facilitate open and constructive dialogue between parties to clarify points of contention.
- Negotiating settlements: Assisting in negotiating fair and balanced settlement terms that are in your best interest.
- Drafting mediation agreements: Preparing the official mediation agreement that outlines the terms of the settlement, which is often legally binding.
- Avoiding litigation: Aiming to reach a settlement that eliminates the need for a court trial, saving time and resources for both parties.
- Handling complex legal issues: Explaining the legal implications of various settlement terms in cases with complicated legal matters.
How Are Mediation Lawyers Paid?
Mediation lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the case and the time involved. Common payment methods include:
- Hourly rate: Charging an hourly fee ranging from $150 to $500 or more, depending on experience and case complexity.
- Flat fee: For simpler mediations, some lawyers may offer a flat fee covering all legal work involved in the process.
- Retainer: In ongoing or complex cases, a retainer may be required as an upfront payment billed against as work progresses.
Discuss fees and payment structures with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand the cost of mediation services.
How Much Does a Mediation Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a mediation lawyer depends on several factors, including the case's complexity, the lawyer’s experience, and the time required to resolve the dispute. General cost estimates include:
- Hourly rates: Typically between $150 and $500 per hour.
- Flat fees: For simple mediations, fees may range from $1,000 to $5,000.
- Total mediation costs: Can vary widely, from $2,000 to $10,000 for straightforward cases, up to $10,000 to $50,000 or more for complex disputes.
Always request a detailed cost estimate during your consultation to understand total expenses.
Top Questions to Ask a Mediation Lawyer
Before hiring a mediation lawyer, consider asking the following questions:
-
What experience do you have with mediation cases like mine?
Ensure the lawyer has relevant experience in handling similar disputes. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify the fee structure and request an estimate based on your specific case. -
What is the likelihood of resolving my case through mediation?
Seek an honest assessment of whether mediation is suitable for your situation. -
How long will the mediation process take?
Inquire about the expected timeline and number of sessions required. -
Will you personally handle my case?
Confirm who will manage your mediation and represent your interests. -
Can we pursue alternative dispute resolution (ADR) if necessary?
Ask about other forms of ADR, such as arbitration, if mediation doesn't resolve the conflict.
How to Check the Credibility of a Mediation Lawyer
To ensure you're hiring a reputable mediation lawyer, take the following steps:
- Verify their bar status: Confirm with your state bar association that the lawyer is licensed and has no disciplinary history.
- Look for mediation experience: Review their website or professional profile for specialization in mediation and successful case histories.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Check platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google for client feedback.
- Ask for references: Request references from past clients familiar with their mediation skills.
- Check for certifications: Look for certifications from organizations like the American Arbitration Association (AAA) or the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR).
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To maximize the effectiveness of your initial meeting, bring the following:
- Relevant documents: Any materials related to the dispute, such as contracts, emails, financial records, or court filings.
- List of key issues: A detailed list of the main points of contention that need resolution.
- Timeline of events: A chronological account of events leading up to the dispute, including prior resolution attempts.
- Goals for the mediation: Be prepared to discuss your desired outcomes and areas where you're willing to compromise.
- Questions for the lawyer: Any queries about the mediation process, fees, or their approach to dispute resolution.
Being well-prepared will help the lawyer assess your case effectively and provide the best possible advice for resolving your dispute through mediation.
