Paul Stephen Walier

1st time we filed chapter 7 about 10yrs ago Paul was great and walked is through the entire process and handled everything with our case. He was 5 stars. Now about 10yrs later after a lot of hardship we had to file 1 more time and went through Paul since he was so great the 1st time. Now he only spok...e to us during the initial consult over the phone and during the actual hearing. Never advised us or helped with the paperwork in-between. He left everything up to Amy his paralegal who had only been there a few months before we filed in May. Paul wasn't present for our 1st meeting to complete the paperwork or ask us the appropriate questions and walk us through it. Anytime we've called to speak with Paul directly he's never available and Amy down plays every letter we received after the hearing regarding our reaffirmation agreement to keep our suv. They said the bankruptcy would be discharged within 60 days which was Aug 7, 2023. Now today we have a hearing regarding the reaffirmation agreement and Amy refused to put him on the phone or have him call us back. The letter stated the debtors and debtors attorney must be present for this hearing either in person or by telephone. We went to Paul's office 40 mins before the hearing in case they asked us something we didn't know the answer to and so he can advise us. But he scheduled a custody case and went to that and literally would not even take 10 seconds to talk to us. Now after paying $1600 we feel completely ignored and tired of being treated as an inconvenience through this whole process. Apparently their divorce and custody cases are top priority and anyone filing bankruptcy is an inconvenience and get rushed off quickly. I included a copy of the letter that states our lawyers must be present as well as us. We went to the office thinking he was going to call in to the hearing after being rushed off the phone once again by Amy the week prior. After the chapter 7 hearing we received multiple letters from the bank for my suv so we could resume that 1 loan to keep the suv. Amy kept telling us everything was fine that they did everything they were supposed too. Which lead to a reaffirmation hearing because the Judge didn't have all the information needed to determine how we would be able to afford our suv payment. Welp after having the reaffirmation agreement from my car outside of Paul's office, I was left to feel completely embarrassed and humiliated with my attorney not there to help with the Judges questions. Thankfully my creditor's lawyer for my Suv was able to supply information from my lawyers emails and some other lady read something that reminded me what one of the debts I had was abbreviated for so that I could answer the questions properly and honestly. Paul's office did not file my paperwork properly but kept telling me that Ford wasn't uploading the documents correctly and then saying they changed their paperwork for the reaffirmation. Come to find out they didn't include the information that 2 of our monthly expenses from before the bankruptcy were no more since we went down to one car and I was no longer working with a debt consolidation company.

I hired him to do a bankruptcy. Over the phone the charge was $750. By the time we ended the appointment he jacked it up another $350 for other charges he "forgot" to tell me about on the phone when I clearly asked him if this was the complete cost. Then after I sent all my paperwork, he proceeded to... tell me that it would be another $10 for every creditor over 10. He forgot that part as well. I refused. The kicker is this: when you file for bankruptcy you have to do a Pre-Counsel and Post-Counsel to receive a VERY important certificate. I did the pre-counsel and the company had no problem sending Mr. Walier the confirmation. Afterwards, I again completed the post-counsel and received my certificate. Again, figured the company sent the post-counsel verification and certificate to him. Bankruptcy done right? Nooooo. I received a letter from the court saying it would not be discharged since they didn't receive the certificate. I immediately called my "Attorney" and he informed me with a chuckle "oh, yeah, this happens to my customers a lot" Did you catch that? "my customers"...."It will be $220 to re-open the file and $350 for my services....." I said thanks but no thanks I'll do it myself and hung up. This is clearly a financial scam he runs. I called the courts - I was sent a letter, which I did not receive or see but found out Mr. Walier received an electronic notice that they did not receive the certificate and he NEVER notified me. With regards to ethics and due diligence at most, and courtesy at the least, he should have followed up with me. He is an unethical attorney and a financial fraud artist. He should be disbarred. DO NOT RETAIN HIM!!!!