Thomas S. Durst

I had a similar experience as another reviewer. Mr. Durst took months to send me a bill and when I finally received it he had trumped up outrageous charges. This attorney does not appear to have any staff and charges attorney rates for things such as copying and printing out documents. I was unable to resolve this issue with this attorney.

I had an unfortunate experience with Mr. Durst. I retained him to represent me in a matter in NJ. He was utterly unresponsive, rang up unreasonable bills after charging me (and collecting) 166% of what he agreed to handle the matter for in the first place, then threatened in no uncertain terms in writing to sue me for additional amounts. This was a real problem, as I needed professional, careful representation in a family matter. The time charges were simply outrageous. Mr. Durst sent me an invoice three times what plaintiff’s counsel charged in the matter. When I brought it up, he simply said, via email, “my billing rate is much higher”. Mr. Durst appears to have no staff ... not even a secretary to answer his calls. Yet his billing rate is that of a senior partner. He charged me -- and now seeks to collect for -- exceptionally high fees for tasks that an administrative assistant or paralegal could easily handle for a fraction of the cost. I have never met an attorney – let alone one who represented my legal interests – be so utterly unresponsive and unzealous in advocating a client’s interests. Mr. Durst did practically nothing. His final emails to me asking for updates were simply thinly veiled excuses to hit me up for payments – I contend that he was not interested in or taking action on the legal matter. This may be the unusual misfire, but the vehemence with which Mr. Durst is pursuing his right to collect unreasonable fees after doing a sub-par job on my matter in the first place, is very troubling. Equally troubling is that when I raised my concerns in writing, his next action was to send me a letter threatening a lawsuit. I wish he had been as zealous in representing me as he is in representing himself.