Barry Louis Miller

I retained Mr. Miller's firm for an Action in Partition defense. I was lied to by his partner Robert Garcia. He told me he was going to file a Motion for Mediation, prepared it, billed me for it and never filed it. He failed and refused to get a matter to mediation three times, under the guise tha...t he was trying to save me money, after which I told to get on with and that he would be paid, and he still refused. Mr. Miller even told him to file the Motion and get the Judge to sign an Order. Mr. Garcia still failed to do so. Then when I became angry at his failure to act, he fires me! Then there was the matter of the $2,500 retainer I paid these people. I had to ask for an itemized bill. I eventually received an email of what was left of my retainer. Upon receipt of my bill, I discovered that I was billed close to $150 for preparation of a Motion THAT WAS NEVER EVEN FILED WITH THE COURT!! Unless it's filed, it's of zero value! THEN I was charged a $15.00 fee for "filing" another motion. THIS is purely a secretarial function! This takes minutes at best. I have worked for law firms in three different states, and know of NO reputable law firm who bills their clients for pleadings that are NEVER filed and for secretarial services. The descriptions Mr. Garcia entered on the bill are inadequate. I've billed my time, and my time entries were NEVER called into question because my descriptions were adequate! I was taught well. You simply cannot enter "email with opposing counsel," and a next to nothing description of that email unless, of course, you don't mind redoing billing entries! When I questioned these email charges, I requested copies of those emails I was being charged for. Mr. Garcia requested that I give him essentially "carte blanche" to have his secretary figure this out and send them to me. He added I would be charged secretarial time and he had no idea how much that would be. Now, once again, I know of no reputable firm that does this kind of thing! IF you want copies of something, you are charged per copy what the Clerk of the Court charged PERIOD! There were NOT that many entries I was questioning. They failed and flat out refused to address the billing issues. I asked Mr. Miller if he would agree to the Fee Dispute Arbitration Program of the Florida Bar. He failed to respond. IT'S FREE! I also sent another offer to amicably resolve the matter, which also went ignored by Mr. Miller and Mr. Garcia. There was a $600 difference between what they took as their "fee" and what I believe their sub-par work and what they put me through was worth. Many times, both Mr. Miller and Mr. Garcia stated "we do not nickel and dime our clients." Just because they say this, doesn't make it so. I am a Senior Citizen, living on Social Security. These people ripped me off as set forth above, disrespected me, and took advantage of me. I do not want anyone else to have to go through this with these horrible people. Use them for closing, as closing are cookie cutter. BUT do not use them for anything else. Also, this website https://www.expertise.com/fl/orlando/real-estate-attorneys, scored 141 real estate lawyers in Orlando and arrived at the top 33, Mr. Miller's firm is conspicuously not among them. They were scored on availability, qualifications, reputation, experience and professionalism. It appears obvious to me that Mr. Miller's firm must not have measured up. Now Mr. Miller and Mr. Garcia may attempt to refute all of this. BUT Please know that I have each and every email sent to my by both of them that will substantiate everything and then some.