Christopher J. Garner

Christopher Garner

I recognize this client. He called me on a Friday afternoon (11/22/19) representing that he had an urgent situation regarding a lawsuit that had been filed against him. He advised there was a hearing in the Superior Court on the next Tuesday (11/26/19) at 9:00 am. I discussed his situation briefly on the phone and scheduled a late afternoon appointment at 4 15 pm that Friday. We discussed the need to make immediate contact with an attorney who represented the Plaintiff in an effort to continue the upcoming hearing so as to buy time and explore various legal options including potential bankruptcy alternatives. Not all the facts or documents had been presented in that first contact. I advised that when there is a need for immediate involvement in a clients case that I cannot accept personal checks and that he could obtain a money order or bring in cash . I proposed a modest fee of $750 to initiate my involvement in his matter. He signed a standard fee agreement which outlined in detail my role and his financial responsibility. We met for 30 minutes or more. I did not bill him for that appointment. Immediately after he left that appointment I called the Attorney representing the plaintiff at 5 pm on a Friday afternoon and left a detailed voice mail regarding this client and the hearing on Tuesday. On Monday 11/25/19 I had a phone conversation with the other lawyer who provided information that potentially jeopardized the clients option of utilizing bankruptcy relief as a solution to his lawsuit. I called the client that same day and advised him to appear in the Court the next morning so as not to be found in default. At no time had I ever indicated to the client that I would appear in a civil lawsuit for the fee we discussed and he paid. The client appeared in Court himself. Over the course of the next 60 days there was contact between client and myself on a number of occasions, contact with 2 attorneys involved in the legal dispute, review and analysis of numerous pleadings and other documents involved in the case. I ultimately concluded that a bankruptcy filing would be problematic given the allegations being made against the conduct of my client. I called client on 2/20/20 to fill him in on the status of the case and my opinion that bankruptcy was not a good option and probably cost prohibitive given the anticipated objection to his claim. He apparently did not fully understand the information that I was trying to convey to him and asked what had I done for him? I advised him that I did not think we could continue to work together given his position. I told him I will run a billing statement and return to him the balance of his initial retainer. The next day I composed and sent him a detailed letter summarizing my involvement and what was being alleged by the entity suing him and another party to the dispute who was likely going to sue him also. There was only a small retainer left of $28.00 as I spent significant time on his matter. The next day he called and demanded I give him $500 (of the total 750 )back or he would sue me or damage my reputation. Hence the negative review. I stand by my professional job that I did and it is unfortunate that some people want to blame others for their mistakes.