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5.0 /5.0

197 Client Reviews

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4.9

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5.0

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Criminal Defense (119) DUI & DWI (109) Lawsuits & Disputes (15) Speeding & Traffic Ticket (8) Administrative Law (6) Car Accidents (4) Appeals (2) Litigation (1)
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Showing 176 - 176 of 176 reviews

Posted by anonymous | November 13, 2020 | Hired Attorney

Review

Joe Higgins is a great OUI attorney. I highly respect his knowledge and advice in that area. Years back I hired Joe for a traffic violation matter. He consulted me and told me he would send someone from his team to attend my hearing. He gave me a price and I paid. He sent an Attorney Ganey to repres...ent me at the hearing. He told me how great of a lawyer Attorney Ganey was and how experienced he was in these cases. I trusted him and felt very confident going into the hearing. During the hearing the officer representing the police department told their side. When it was Attorney Ganey’s time to defend me he started stumbling through papers just to know what had happened. It seemed like he had never defended someone in his life and at the very least he certainly didn’t prepared. He was completely flustered and basically conceded defeat. I then had to step in and defend myself. Of course i ended up losing. After leaving the hearing I went over to Attorney Ganey and asked him why he didn’t do anything. He got extremely offended and told me that he knew i had little chance to win before it even started. I was extremely disappointed that someone would take my money knowing that I had little chance. To me it was all about the money. I was embarrassed and immediately cut ties with Joe and his team. I found a new lawyer who did his due diligence and was able to get overwhelming evidence to discredit the police department and dismiss the case. I did not even need to go back to court. In summary this experience made me feel that the dollar was way more important to Joe than his clients. I’m not saying any malpractice was done. I just think it would’ve been nice for him to tell me I had no chance at the hearing and at the very least send someone who looked half prepared. I hope Joe has changed his ways because he is very knowledgeable. This was years ago so maybe he has.

Joseph Higgins

Replied last October 18, 2023

Dear Former, Existing, and Potential Clients, I have reviewed my file notes and this negative review does not paint a full and complete picture of what actually transpired. The truth is, the client received a summons for a Clerk Magistrate's Hearing that did not work for my schedule. I was already committed to a trial matter in another court that day. I informed the client and his mother that it would have to be rescheduled in order for me to attend. Neither of them wanted the date to be changed. Accordingly, I afforded them the option to have an associate attorney conduct the hearing and that was the option they chose. At the hearing, the police department presented their allegations and the Clerk Magistrate appropriately found Probable Cause to issue the Criminal Complaint. Unhappy with this result, the client terminated my services immediately. He was subsequently arraigned on the charges and the case was disposed of post-arraignment. What is missing from this review is that I was very clear about my schedule and availability, and that I afforded the client and his mother options to address the scheduling conflict. It is also important for anyone reading this review to know that the standard of proof at a Clerk Magistrate's Hearing is one of "Probable Cause". Probable Cause is a very low standard, far less than what is required for someone to be convicted of a crime, "Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt." Also, at a Clerk Magistrate's Hearing, the determination is made solely based upon what is contained in the written police narrative. The proceeding is not the same as a trial. I strive to achieve success for all of my clients and I take my reputation very seriously. While I understand that not everyone will always be happy, I try to make that the exception to the rule. I am proud of the success that we have had over the years for our clients and I look forward to continuing that tradition. If anyone would like to discuss this negative review with me directly, I am available on my cell phone at 508-930-4273.

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