Courtney Catherine Miller

Courtney Miller was assigned to my case- a hopeless one from the start: a newly wed widow in Louisiana whose husband left behind an old will, not updated to include her name. What I needed at the time (as well as currently) was to be free of an inappropriate legal relationship with my husband's sist...er who was executor and primary beneficiary according to the un-updated will. Courtney Miller failed to sever the legal connection between my ex sister in law and myself- two years later I'm still struggling with a major music royalty company that lumps us together. This tells me that although Courtney told me she had experience in royalty issues and she knew I was not on friendly terms with my husband's sister (duh- death, family and money), obviously not enough experience to even identify ASCAP's unusual payment and tax rules. Did she even look into it at all? I don't think so. In addition to this technical bust, I was very unhappy with Ms. Miller's communication style with the adversarial side and with me, her client. She deferred to them and told me to be grateful for the "gifts" my estranged sister in law either couldn't get (his stuff) or didn't want (his house which was called a "liability") In summary, I felt like I wasn't taken very seriously. But to be fair, how could I be in my position as surviving spouse in Louisiana whose name was not in her husband's will? We had been married only 6 months before he died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Still, I needed someone to fight for me, not have a tea party with the adversarial lawyer who happens to work in the same building? Also, another lawyer was assigned to my case as well to help out? I'm not sure why there were two lawyers instead of just Courtney Miller. But he was not in control in communication either. Courtney had a personal matter to attend to as the case was winding down and I was pushed by this other lawyer to sign papers I had yet to see the final draft of. And he had an emotional outburst on the phone with me. Very unprofessional to say the least. I shelled out over 10K to provide Courtney Miller with continuing education- a practicum. Unfortunately she was far from ready for field work. She needs to go back to school and more importantly, learn how to be strong and effectual for her clients' sake. I actually owed close to 20K for Adams & Reeses' "services" in this matter. A very expensive education for all involved with me, the widow client, left with nothing, footing the bill. Pure nonsense, all of it. What I got out of it is always research the lawyer being considered, always , always- no matter how desperate things are at the time. If you have a mundane easy to solve case which you are not emotional about, Courtney Miller might be fine as an attorney. Like dealing with a clerk at the New Orleans Sewage & Water Board. If it's something easy, chances are things will go smoothly. But any real issue, especially involving death, family and money/property- look elsewhere! Unless you enjoy being frustrated and agitated by weakness and poor communication. I'm sure Ms. Miller is a nice person but as a lawyer dealing dealing with surviving spouses not in spouse's will, she is not up to task.