S. Phillip Bahakel

Mr. Bahakel was hired on April 5th 2018 with a $5,000 retainer. Mr. Bahakel and I had numerous meeting leading up to divorce trial date in which I provided several important documents to support my claim. Mr. Bahakel failed to make competent decisions leading up to and during the trial. Upon each mee...ting Mr. Bahakel provided me homework, after homework which required printing out documents and statements from years past. He boast about how he has the great ability of reading the judge in court, and his experience as judge, but certainly failed in my case. He dried all my funds and my family funds leading up to trial in the court of Judge A. Furr. Mr. Bahakel started off great: pointing out a lot of things that was missed by my previous attorney, answering emails in timely manner, being flexible with his availability, helping me carry files into the court room, treating me to breakfast prior to hearing etc. The trial was continued which should have been a easily won trial being that the defendant (ExWife) had an affair and had a child from a 3rd party during the marriage. Helped the plaintiff accumulate tons of martial debt mostly in my name. Transmitted an STD to the plaintiff. Used the plaintiff to get through school. The only reason the trial lasted so long because of money hungry attorneys and the fact my Ex (defendant) income was approx. $160k and mines was barely $40K during the time. Truth of the matter was I had a higher paying job and helped support her through grad school. Once she completed it was agreed I will take on an entry level job in a new area to gain new experience. However once she finished school late 2016 the beginning of 2017 it was discovered she was having an affair. The root cause for this divorce was ignored. Mr. Bahakel failed to present several vital things to the court in exhibits, therefore in the instance of an appeal new information would not be allowed. Out of all the documents Bahakel requested from me during trial preparation he maybe submitted about 10% (if that). Pose trial Bahakel shook the defendants hand and her attorney like some kind of deal was just completed. It was the most disrespecting thing an attorney could have done at such moment. It was not a well-done post-game team hand shake. It was a deal completed hand shake, specifically between my attorney, her and her attorney . Instead of helping me carry out all the files and documents he asked me to bring into court he shook the opponents hand, told me he will be in touch once the judge makes his ruling and walked out. The judge ruled against our favor and all he had to say afterward give him more money if I want to appeal. Mr. Bahakel is just another money hungry attorney who puts his personal gains and finance before the best interest of his clients. He has great experience and is knowledgeable. Any average person that meets him will think that he is the attorney to have. He is very convincing. However the sad thing is when you paying someone for their knowledge they either can use it against you or for you, and in my experience; I got screwed at the end when it mattered MOST. I learned a lot from the horrible experience.