Joel Bennett

I was referred to Mr. Bennett by a former U.S. Marshall who later became disappointed by his representation of her case. For me, he was initially knowledgeable to a point and recommended that I file an EEOC complaint despite my objections and preference to file with the Merit System Protection Board.... I followed his lead, but nine months in, I became disillusioned with his strategy. In Summary, Mr. Bennett questioned everything I did at work even though it was in my job description to do those duties. I paid a total of $12,500 to him to drag my case out beyond my patience and understanding and had consistant disagreements with the fact that he could not reach a resolution with the USDA. At the end, after giving a final $1,500 for a meeting with management to rescend their proposed removal of me as a OIG Special Agent, the meeting was like a visit to the library, with very little said on my behalf, and even worse results. The meeting only produced a one week extention as I received a final notice of proposed meeting 3 days later and was removed the following Friday. I immediately terminated the services of Mr. Bennett and advised him to send the remaining $700 with my file to my new attorney. I never received the check or a final bill and description of services, as I would normally receive from him on a monthly or quarterly basis when there was any activity on my case. To my dismay, my new attorney discovered two letters in my file in which the EEOC gave me permission to run a concurrent claim with the MSPB, the very same strategy that I initially told Mr. Bennett that I wanted to persue. Of course, the time to file with the MSPB had expired in May of that year, and my new attorney who received my file in September had a settlement in my favor before the end of November. Effectively, my new lawyer resolved my case in less than two months, despite Mr. Bennett having prolonged my case nearly 22 months. My new lawyer cost me 1/3rd less money and recouped the $12,500 wasted with Mr. Bennett, but advised I could attempt to sue Mr. Bennett for mishandling the lion share of my case which would have been $200K to $250K, with the Merit System Protection Board. To add insult to injury, Mr. Bennett filed for a judgement against me for $1,100, after I filed a complaint with the DC Bar Association.