Scott Adam Miller

I retained Mr. Miller in his new location in the Hudson Valley to represent me on the closing of my house. He has no sense of duty to his clients. He is recklessly disregardful of facts that apply to his failed performance. It's one non-meritorious claim after another, with knowledge of the falsity o...f his defenses raised to avoid taking ownership for the adverse consequences he produces for his clients. Instead, he changes the subject and makes bogus allegations. His bizarre claims and lack of professionalism are shocking not only to me but the bank I had to work with for 2 weeks after the closing into which he deposited unverified checks into 0 interest checking account that would be on hold for a long time, a fact he did not mention, and he knew I keep no money in the account and have a high interest account. Admits he doesn't care what his clients think of him (or any other.) Irresponsible with client's funds. Will transfer title to a seller's home not caring if seller receives no proceeds and when learning the seller has not, takes no action to rectify it, doesn’t want to hear any details, and instead insults the client. He denies evidence of the loss he causes that is before his eyes in writing. There is no misunderstanding with his clients. He was copied on bank correspondence and made no attempt to conceal his sarcasm, abuse, denials and allegations made up of whole cloth, even raising eyebrows of bank executives who handle such transactions. His sellers have to fend for themselves, even though he takes legal fees for services not rendered, makes false claims to get hires such as he works for his client and would not do anything his clients don't agree with. He later admits the falsity of his inducement to retain him. His denials and insults are intended to change the subject from his failure to perform his duty under his license and to disown it. Cooperates with the adversary who requests that he not help his own client. Won’t voluntarily make reparation for the loss he produces or the amount of work he creates the need for his clients to do, far more than he does, which amounts to very little. Demands money on the spot, requiring credit card number, expiration date and security code if not able to do immediate ACH transfer, a security risk for the client, but despite learning that funds are not kept in a checking account, he will put unvalidated checks in them, which the client’s bank justifiably considers fraud and restricts the account. He never asks the client if it’s okay with them to lose $1k or more in interest (due to length of hold he conceals when wiring funds of over half a million dollars produces no hold. Tells client no need to attend closing and schedules for a time when the client can't make it, then tells the client they must attend, regardless of impossible timing. After repeatedly telling him there must be time to meet and discuss in process matters about closing, he says then drop everything and make another long distance trip immediately. Never gets to the subject of wiring funds and how to handle proceeds. Falsely promises he will make sure client gets every penny entitled to, but when told the buyer needs to provide info for his client to pass on to their bank, he complies with adversary's request to not impact buyer's enjoyment of seller's house. It's his job to work with buyer's attorney to resolve payment of mortgage check that he blithely accepts in seller's absence at closing. Miller threatens to not close, days before a scheduled closing. That's how seriously he takes his job. Takes no responsibility. Sets up long distance appointments for clients and never contacts them to say he can’t make it and says he doesn't have to apologize after client makes trip, the client knowing no better than to want to meet this person. Cuts off seller's bank manager when trying to explain problem, then incredulously tells client only problem is client calling bank responding to calls from fraud depart.

I have a case in housing court that has perhaps a few more layers of complexity than the usual landlord-tenant dispute. My landlord filed a completely specious petition alleging that I owe him upwards of $20,000 in back rent and $4K in unspecified "maintenance" charges. I provided documentation of... payment for the months specified in the petition. The twist here is that in June, my landlord stole checks from my mail, then forged my signature and deposited them in his own account in PA. That's at least three felonies in two different states. Further, he has repeatedly verbally harassed me both in person and to my neighbors, and falsely certified to HPD that he has corrected lead violations in my apartment. So getting him to back off and settle this absurdity should be a no-brainer, right? That's what Mr. Miller indicated when I hired him, but since that time he has been entirely unresponsive to my repeated, specific requests that he do what is necessary to force a settlement. Instead he has suggested that I cooperate with the court appearances necessitated by the landlord's further specious allegations-- a list of 6 other months I allegedly didn't pay rent, hastily scribbled on a yellow legal pad in the waiting room at housing court after the original petition was exposed as nonsense. A list that he and his attorney refused to even show me-- and this is a "petition" that I have to disprove in court? Absurd. I vehemently and repeatedly disagreed that spending my time and money playing the game on my landlord's terms was in my interests, or even necessary at all given all the facts. But Mr. Miller ignored my objections and kept scheduling court appearances as if he was taking my landlord seriously-- as if he was working for someone other than me. When I asked Mr. Miller yesterday what his plan was for bringing this matter to a speedy conclusion in a way that serves my interests, he quit. A $1500 retainer, and nothing to show for it but Mr. Miller's next ski weekend paid for and another nail in the coffin of my trust of members of the legal profession.

I retained him to represent me in a landlord/tenant case. He took my money and did nothing to prepare for my case. He never gathered any evidence or filed any subpoenas. Scott said there would be time to do that after the trial started. He showed up unprepared to hearings and lost every motion to t...he opposing lawyer. He literally did nothing but bill me hours every week. WHEN I CALLED HIS OFFICE 2 WEEKS BEFORE MY TRIAL TO ASK FOR A MEETING TO PREPARE I LEARNED HE HAD GONE ON A SKI VACATION AND WOULD NOT BE BACK UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE MY TRIAL While Scott was on vacation I found a new lawyer. I had to go before a judge to get permission to change lawyers. Somehow Scott found out I was changing lawyers - he was still holding my $3000 retainer I was not going to get that back . Scott showed up at my hearing and TESTIFIED AGAINST ME. He tried to get the judge not to allow me to have a new lawyer. Then he billed me for his time. AVOID THIS LAWYER AT ALL COSTS!!!!!