Reviews

Patrick is the attorney that you want in your corner when you are facing a OWI/DUI charge in Michigan. I am so happy that I found an attorney that cared about me as a person and but his heart into my defense. Patrick talked to me about "me" and helped with the anxiety, depression, alcoholism, and uncertainty before we discussed the facts of my case. I can't say enough about Patrick and the Barone Defense Firm. Don't have any regrets about the attorney that you hire to defend you in this matter. I don't, because I hired Patrick.

I think the best and most advisable thing at time when hiring an attorney beyond speaking with them and reading reviews is to read what they have written. It goes as evident if they know what they are talking about and if they can be persuasive. I mention this because this is the realm of Amazon and false reviews about books, just as it is the realm of the review below me from someone who posted the exact same review all over the place and goes by a false name to discredit. Or people posting adds on Craigslist to write positive reviews on YELP. You can email me if you want. I don't go about recommending or giving referrals lightly as it's a reflection upon me. I have no doubt that Mr. Barone is the best DUI defense attorney in the State and one of the best in the country. If you think he'll charge you just $1500, however...that really isn't my thought process unless things have changed dramatically or its some kind of near pro-bono case. Hiring him the prosecutor doesn't escalate anything, the prosecutor in an Oakland County for example quits because they don't want the headache and everything changes to bending over backwards not to have to work hard as a prosecutor and dealing with someone with firm chemistry knowledge almost always knows more about the datamaster or what is in use than the officer that uses it, or the technician that is required to check it, and every single nuance. There are many attorneys that will represent you but are terrified of actually going to trial and having to be on their feet. The prosecutors know these attorneys, in the long run. Mr. Barone seems to relish it. The prosecutors know this. My experience is they don't like losing and you need the threat that when Mr. Barone says he'll go to trial what it implies inherent with it and the likelihood of the prosecutor having to do work for a living and probably doing so at home...and losing anyway. The entire process involves so much literature that upon reading it in the end, if you wish, you'll probably know more than the "jack of all trades" lawyers that don't specialize in anything. DUI law is extremely complicated, at times more so than some murder cases and..at times DUI and murder cases are the same thing of which Mr. Barone also has experience. I recommend checking an attorney for what they specialize in. Some do Criminal law and personal injury law, etc. Some do just Criminal law...then some do just DUI cases. Mr. Barone just does DUI type cases. There's a point to this. Somebody who has written DUI books about DUI in Michigan that every defense attorney that does them and every prosecutor in Michigan has read probably has done enough research they won't charge you for the additional hours spent learning something new, because he's done it already. A large part of who you hire and not going to trial and getting a good deal has to do with the circumstances the prosecutor has to go through in moving forward. Not to give an association.... but when Geoffrey Fieger of all people mentioned how when you hire him prosecutors go...(#$#$#$) to themselves or other attorneys he had a point. He's the best there is and has likely saved lives from all the anxiety and hell people go through with these kinds of cases.

I had a miserable experience. One thing to notice, dear reader: Almost every review site you visit, has Mr. Barone with 5 Star scores. If you know anything about how business works, you will find this is highly unusual. The sheer number of 5 star scores, and the similarities of reviews for Mr. Barone across all of these sites, is highly suspect. In my humble opinion and being his client, I believe Mr. Barone hires a SEO (online agency ) to filter, comb and create these 5 star reviews. Reader's Digest version: ME: Facing a misdemeanor driving offense. I sent an email to Mr. Barone office on a Friday, and received a call within an hour. We agreed to meet on a Saturday. He charged $1500.00 on my credit card, stating this would be the full amount barring trial, or paperwork (subpoenas) After our first court appointment, he angered the prosecutor, who then enhanced my charge (!) When we reviewed the tapes of the arrest, Mr Barone proclaimed that I would have a 50-50% chance of the case being dismissed, if he challenged the case. His reasoning: I was not given field sobriety tests. He then demanded that I pay him another $1200.00, to once again appear in court, to challenge my arrest. That was not our agreement. Additionally, I did not have $1,200 sitting around (he would only accept full payment, payable and due immediately.) I replied in an email and said "no Patrick, our agreement was you appearance in court would be included with the $1500.00" That week, instead of replying or calling me, he went to the court and removed himself as my attorney. So, I paid him $1,500.00 to show up for court (1 hour of his time,) and for him to order the arrest video ($50) and review it with me. The review lasted about 30 minutes. Avoid this guy. I would guess that 90% of the positive reviews are made up by him posing as a client, or a SEO service inflating his rankings. Good luck hiring Patrick Thomas Barone as your attorney.