Attorney Casey represented me in a probate matter, as well as a follow up criminal matter. He said he was experienced with probate, and also had 30 years experience handling criminal matters.
I initially hired Attorney Casey to extricate me from a probate matter that was highly contentious, going ...nowhere, and costing me a small fortune. He took a bold stand in his office, but when we went to court, he was timid and reluctant to speak up to the other side, which was represented by an aggressive, attacking lawyer. He trotted back and forth between us, asking me to make concessions. I felt like he was working for them. I finally said I would withdraw, to which he agreed. But when we stood before the judge, he didn’t give any reason. I asked if he would send a follow-up letter to the other side clarifying things, so we could be sure we had finally ended the matter, but he didn’t want to do that.
Within two months, the other party conducted a forcible home invasion over the probate matter. The person was arrested on the spot, and gave a statement to the police admitting it. I then re-hired Attorney Casey to speak to the DA, who was prosecuting the now-criminal case, to provide background information. I put this in writing as an attachment to the Fee Agreement. Attorney Casey came to court with me to meet the DA, but again he wouldn't speak up. He later told me off to the side that he thought this was the best strategy.
On the day of the trial, Attorney Casey came to court to meet with the prosecuting ADA. The ADA was rushing around and never once spoke to me, although I had been assured she would. Attorney Casey sat passively and never said anything to her. When I expressed my concerns, he kept saying, “What are you worried about? What are you worried about? He’s going to be convicted.” He kept telling me the judge would not admit information about the probate case. To make matters worse, he repeatedly advised me not to volunteer any information, to which I complied against my better judgment.
The defendant was acquitted on all counts. No one – not Attorney Casey, nor the ADA, nor myself – had spoken up for me or provided any context or background to the judge. I called Attorney Casey afterwards to tell him what had happened. He said the ADA "...didn’t do her homework." But I had hired HIM to ensure that this didn’t happen.
Attorney Casey made excuses at every turn for why he shouldn’t have to say or do anything. If he had actually done something and we lost, I wouldn’t hold it against him. But he didn’t do anything and had no backup plan. He provided completely weak and ineffective representation.