Jon David Worth Huffman

A WARNING FROM A SERVICE-DISABLED NAVY VETERAN AND BUSINESS OWNER I hired Poole Huffman, LLC in February 2026 because my company needed timely legal help in a serious dispute involving valuable manufacturing equipment. I'm a service-disabled Navy veteran, former Hospital Corpsman, and small-business... CEO. I expected realistic timelines, careful work, and accountability. I paid an initial $7,500 retainer. Seven months later, when I terminated the representation, the firm demanded another $43,050.39 in fees and interest, which I dispute. What concerns me most is the pattern: more research, more draft pleadings, more anticipated filing dates, and more bills—but no new court lawsuit or judicial enforcement action filed during the engagement. Heather Brown (Sales Staff) handled the initial consultation and claimed the firm was quick and efficient just like all their marketing material and advertising portrays, this was not the case. I understood another $20,000 retainer was required before a lawsuit and initially approved negotiation to manage costs. Shelby McKenzie was my primary attorney. The firm worked on a complaint in March, a Motion to Set Aside in April, and additional complaint revisions through the summer. I repeatedly sought updates about when action would be taken. Filing plans kept shifting as the months passed. None of those new pleadings was filed. I received at least 12 emails identifying reasons for delayed progress or pending action, including other trial commitments, continued research, procedural complications, absences and court filing issues. Diego Bueno billed for legal research and drafting. Near the end, the firm billed $429 to finalize a Notice of Disposition of Collateral, yet the copy I received in the closing file was still marked DRAFT and lacked a date. Timothy Andrews billed $440 to review and edit a proposed complaint that also remained unfiled. The firm did send a demand letter and record a UCC financing statement. But that important filing repeated an equipment-identification discrepancy found in earlier paperwork, despite conflicting supplier records. Timing mattered because we were trying to protect equipment before circumstances changed. In my view, the continuing delays increased the risk to our business and weakened our ability to respond. I expected clearer advice as those risks evolved. I brought my concerns about delays, work product, billing, and document accuracy to managing partner Jon David Huffman, who had signed the engagement agreement. I copied him on detailed emails requesting management intervention. He did not provide me a direct substantive response. Instead, I was told management had reviewed the invoices and work and would not undertake another review. I do not know what occurred internally, but that was deeply disappointing. I recognize that legal research, drafting, and negotiations are real work and that the engagement was billed hourly. My complaint is not that I was guaranteed a result and didn't get it. It is that the overall progress, communication, work-product review, and response to my concerns fell well short of what I expected from a firm charging these rates. As a CEO, I have to answer for deadlines, budgets, and what my customers receive. As a veteran, I value duty and responsibility. When I needed help protecting my company's financial future, I wanted that same sense of accountability from my lawyers. I have submitted grievances to the State Bar of Georgia and am separately disputing the fees. Those proceedings do not establish that any attorney violated a rule. Based on my personal experience, I would not hire Poole Huffman again. If you're facing urgent litigation, get the budget, filing prerequisites, deliverables, milestones, and point of accountability in writing before substantial fees accumulate.