Kevin T. McDermott

Kevin McDermott

I am sorry to hear that you are dissatisfied. My recollection of this matter is quite different. When you first retained me I quoted you a reduced fee because of your financial circumstances. You also had mentioned that you previously filed for divorce with a prior attorney but withdrew that action on the day that matter was set for trial, and that you had spent large sums of money on that attorney and were dissatisfied with that attorney. After you retained me I also counselled you on other family court matters and requested no separate retainer for those matters. We set up a meeting with your husband and his attorney in my office and it was agreed at that point your husband was to pay for all of the carrying costs for the house and continue to maintain the residence. Your husband was belligerent but I handled him professionally. Despite his belligerence, you were still voluntarily letting him back in the house to make repairs, against my advice. When I appeared in court with you the Judge was advised that your husband was paying for all of the carrying costs of the house, and giving you cash for other expenses. The judge ordered that to continue. Notwithstanding that you wanted me to file a motion for support but I advised you based on what your husband could demonstrate he was paying you, that motion would not be successful and deplete the reduced retainer you paid me. In fact, the Judge confirmed my advice to you. You then filed another family court matter for an order of protection against your husband on your own (without telling me first) and wanted me to represent you on that matter. The emails I regularly sent you were to document the advice I was giving you which you were not following (ie that you were already getting money from your husband, and that you wanted to litigate this case in a way that was beyond your financial situation). At that point your retainer was depleted I advised you I could not represent you in another matter without an additional retainer, and that your original retainer for your divorce was depleted and that you actually owed the firm money. At that point you became upset and advised me you had a relative who worked for an attorney who could represent you for free. Ironically, in summer 2014 (after you secured your third attorney) you called my office and left a message indicating that you wanted to hire me again. Apparently after I declined to do more work for you, you decided to prepare a less than truthful review. I would be more than happy to discuss the above with you if you care to.