Jesse V. Harris

In November 2017 I hired Attorney Harris to represent me on an eviction action which had no just cause. From the moment he took payment, I was unable to reach him via text, nor did he respond to voicemails. The night before trial he contacted me to state he had 'made a deal' with the other side's... attorney. First, he had zero authorization to make any deal - we had not spoken since he was paid, except for his stating he received payment, and he was completely aware the goal was to go to trial to get a dismissal. He had not called me first to even DISCUSS calling the other attorney, never responded to a single prior text or voicemail asking about getting witness testimony or meeting to go over strategy, etc. Not one. I told him I absolutely would not accept any deal (which gave me basically a few days to get out, something impossible for me), and asked him why he thought it appropriate to make ANY deals without asking my permission, which he had no answer to. He then failed to show in court the next day. The judge agreed with the opposing attorney that 'any deal made between counsel should be honored' no matter how I stated that the attorney had no authorization to make ANY deal. The judge refused to look at texts I sent to Attorney Harris throughout the past weeks, begging him to get in touch, or after the call the night before reiterating that HE needed to resolve this as he had no authorization to make any deal. I had no way to remove my belongings - the belongings of someone who, when working made 48.00 - 60.00 per hour - I had broken vertebrae in my back late 2015 so was not currently working but I had many expensive things - within the alloted time and lost everything. The goal, clearly discussed, was to get a dismissal, since I had never been given 30 days notice, was not behind in rent, had not broken lease terms, had never been given ANY notice by the landlord prior to reporting him, and retaliation is illegal in Illinois, so it is NOT opinion to state that the dealing behind my back with the other side without permission directly resulted in resulting events. When considering an attorney, ask yourself if you would like an attorney who, once taking payment, does not respond to you, and who will decide for himself what deals he should make without consulting you. If so, then this is the attorney for you.