James J. Williams

The complaint about 17k is nonsense, designed solely by an abusive alcoholic to smear me. He was convicted of drunk driving twice, went to jail, got out, got drunk and assaulted his wife, who promptly filed for divorce before he went back to jail for 8 months for the assault and alcohol. He hired m...e before he went to jail. I received an agreed retainer fee, knowing the extensive time required to handle his case while he is in jail. I handled his divorce, custody and friend of the court matters, went to court hearings for him, visited him in jail and spoke with him by phone, kept the case alive so he could see his child when he got out of jail. I accomplished all that, filed pleadings when needed, basically spent 8-9 months handling his case while he sat in jail for alcohol and wife abuse. I successfully fought with court staff to preserve his parenting time, but when he finally was released from jail he didn’t like the very generous parenting time order from the court so he fired me. I sent him a final bill, all hourly rate as agreed. He used up the retainer and still owed 2.5k. Six months later he hadn’t paid, said he never got the bill, asked me to deliver a copy to his home that evening, I did so, he wouldn’t answer the door so I left it in a secure spot on his porch. He still wouldn’t pay. Just an angry and hostile alcoholic who refused to accept responsibility for his actions. I offered several times to meet with him and discuss his issues, but he refused. He complained to the state bar, who agreed with my performance and dismissed his complaint. He of course can write anything he wants in this website, but that doesn’t make it true. Another complaint is the family friend who hired me to file her divorce, changed her mind, and a year later asked me again, sort of, then didn’t like the timing and the cost. I couldn’t make her happy no matter what I did. More dishonest and one-sided venting , misplaced frustration from an unhappy marriage and divorce. The state bar defended my actions. I have never mishandled one penny of client funds in 45 years. The lady who claimed “con man” never once mentioned such with me, greatly appreciated my starting her divorce case quickly and without the customary fee, met me at my office twice, voluntarily paid additional fees months later and without being requested, and we talked often to make sure she was safe and protected legally snd financially. I later had an accident and was medically off of work for a few months, and then I suddenly learned she hired another attorney, which is her right, but then defamed me and said all sorts of uncalled for nasty things about me, name-calling, dishonest things, to the court. She never mentioned them to me, wouldn’t talk with me, just vented and attacked, without discussing any of her claims with me. She needed another attorney after I was disabled, but her attacks and name calling were dishonest. I’ve been in practice for 45 years in all types of cases, and have a completely clean record with the State Bar. My clients virtually always become my long-term friends. Only recently, a few disgruntled divorce clients have decided to vent and attack me. With misplaced hostility. And at times to avoid paying their bills. Their complaints are unfounded, the State Bar complaints have been denied, and the fee obligations have been upheld in court. I have provided a wide range of legal services for 45 years, with an impeccable reputation for legal service with kindness and efficiency, often with low fee rates. I’m disappointed by the recent baseless complaints written here, efforts to discuss the issues were denied, and this AVVO service does not demand honesty in their complaints. The out of state people wanted a 5k service for 1.5k, I tried to help them but didn’t get it done timely, they accepted my work then wanted their money back. I did so, thus worked for free for them. I couldn’t make them happy.