Bert Whitehead IV

Bert Whitehead

First of all, this was not my client, so this review should not have been posted on my Avvo profile. The attorney for this client is another attorney at our firm. Second, though, I did find out from that attorney what happened here. The client signed up for full representation in March2022 which includes unlimited legal advice, all of their hearings throughout the case, unlimited negotiation with the opposing attorney, plus preparing, filing, and serving a Petition for dissolution of marriage AND preparing, filing, and serving an emergency ex parte order for temporary custody, which was granted after a hearing. The cost that the client agreed to was $2395 and then $99 per week for as long as the case continued. We filed the Petition for Dissolution and the Petition for Emergency Ex parte order for temporary custody, which was granted after a hearing on 4/8. We worked to get the OP party served on 4/27, we were successful, and the OP filed an answer. We filed proof of service. After only a couple payments of the $99 per week, despite the client agreeing to keep paying $99 weekly payments for all of these unlimited services (advice, negotiation, hearings, review of pleadings, responses to pleadings), he then started complaining about paying the $99 per week (which he agreed to), so we literally stopped it after only two payments as a kind gesture. Despite that, the attorney at our firm continued to represent him for no additional costs for MONTHS more, without getting paid any more money from client. Thus, the client, although agreeing to get all kinds of unlimited services for modest up-front payment and weekly payments, then reneged on his contract with his attorney and our firm. After the first three hearings that his attorney at our firm attended, the court then ordered mediation. His attorney prepared the mediation order and filed it with the court. The parties held mediation which was partially successful, and both parties appeared for the fourth zoom conference on 7/11. Discovery cutoffs were discussed and the case was continued to 8/11. Meanwhile the attorney at our firm was contacted by the opposing party's attorney and discussed the case at length. On 8/8 the client notified us to tell us that the Respondent was firing her attorney and they were reconciling. The attorney at our firm reported that the parties were reconciling at the 8/11 (5th) hearing and that he would be filing a Motion for Voluntary Dismissal, which we prepared and filed; case was dismissed on 8/22. So now, this client, who would have paid any other firm at least $3500 MINIMUM retainer, non-refundable to START a case, and would have by now racked up thousands more in fees, has only paid us a total of $2593, and yet we prepared/filed/served a Petition for Dissolution, prepared/filed/serve a successful Ex Parte order for Temporary Custody, prepared for and attended five ZOOM appearances, prepared and filed a mediation order, prepared and filed an order of dismissal, and provided unlimited legal advice and discussion with the other attorney, and NOW he is complaining that we didn't give him a refund? The nerve! If this client had stuck with his original agreement, and if WE forced him to stick to his original agreement, we should be sending him a bill for at least $1,500 more, which would STILL be a bargain compared to other typical attorneys. But some people don't mind agreeing to something, getting as much as they can out of it, pushing us on an "emergency" basis to get their ex parte orders filed, and then once they get value out of it, then trying to suddenly go back on their word. There is only one party in this situation who was jipped out of money, and it was this attorney who had to deal with this ungrateful client who refused to pay what he agreed to pay and now is even asking for a refund. Although I was not the attorney, I give this client ZERO stars. Bert Whitehead