Michael David Hoffer

Please seriously think twice before using Mr. Hoffer and his Paralegal Zany Dunlap. Keep looking until you find a more reputable firm that truly wants to work hard for the justice you deserve. I am a professional athlete, who in June 2018, 4-weeks out from a major event, due to no fault of my own,... slipped during a workout session in the aerobic studio of a well-known Health Club chain. Apparently, there was a wet substance on the floor. My Achilles tendon was ruptured requiring reattachment surgery, followed by 6-months of physical therapy. For 2-months post-surgery, I was on crutches, in a surgical boot, and housebound. For 8-months I was unable to work-out, work, or run my health and fitness business. After more than a year of sitting around with NO response to our claim, Mr. Hoffer finally sent a "Letter of Demand" to the Health Club and we waited the 30-days stipulated for a response. Though more than a week late, we received a written response; however, the Health club’s attorneys were pushing back on our claim indicating that a release of liability waiver had been signed, as well as pointing out the potential legal fees that we might incur should we lose our case. Upon reading this, Mr. Hoffer, a “seasoned trial attorney” suddenly "turned tail" and felt that our case was threatened. He forwarded me a copy of the letter and rather than call me to discuss it, Mr. Hoffer stated within the email that “perhaps, I should reconsider pursuing the lawsuit?” I was in utter shock! I replied stating that he was the “legal expert; thus, wasn’t this something that we should have expected, and should discuss as a team?" After-all, Ms. Dunlap was aware of the waiver but had neglected to do the required research; stating on several occasions “that no waiver would hold water in my case due to the clear negligence of the club”. However, rather than schedule a phone call to discuss something so important as stepping back from my case, Mr. Hoffer sent me another email indicating that due to what was stated in the letter we received, he would no longer be able to represent me. And so after exactly 1 ½ years of waiting for the green light for Mr. Hoffer and his team to actually dig in and do some work, Mr. Hoffer added insult to injury; by stating in his email that the “statute of limitations” was coming to an end, in 6-months; thus, I should move quickly to find another attorney to take my case. I have more than 15-years of professional experience working in large corporate law firms, and never in my life have I seen such a blatant lack of regard for a client, yet alone a personal injury client who is physically suffering from injuries. But, perhaps more disturbing than his desire to drop my case, which he was initially adamant he could win; was the void of professional courtesy and decency. To drop a client via email, without at the very least speaking or meeting with the client to explain such drastic steps, is the height of unprofessional, bordering on unethical. It is clear to me that after so many years of his working with large-scale national insurance defense firms, Mr. Hoffer has lost much of his humanity, and does not have the experience, or necessary empathy to work with individuals. His focus is to do the least amount of work. God forbid he should actually work for the many thousands of dollars he expects to make from his clients. Please do your due diligence -- do your research! Keep looking until you find an attorney who will WORK HARD and FIGHT FOR THE JUSTICE you deserve, or at the very least - return your calls. *** Does Not Return Calls / Original Engagement Agreement lacked important details and terms / Poorly written legal documents containing numerous spelling and grammatical errors / No Adherence to their own deadlines / Did not do research for information which was public and critical to the case / Does not pay attention to details.