Carolyn Cook Robertson

Carolyn Robertson

I took this case as a favor to the friend who referred her case to me, charging only half of my normal hourly rate and accepting only $400 as a retainer. Most retainers for highly contested divorces are $5,000 or more. While this person said that she missed "a" payment, she actually refused to pay even 15% of the highly discounted fees and expenses which were billed to her. We even tried to set her up on a payment plan for $50 a week, and then only $20 a week, and she continued to refuse to pay her bill. How many attorneys are willing to do that? My out of pocket costs for expenses on this case totaled more than she ever paid me - therefore, not only did I not get paid for my work, I lost money on her case. The fact that there was an error in her final decree is a direct result of the fact that she refused to review or sign the decree before it was signed by the judge. As she had already refused to pay what she already owed me, I did tell her that I wouldn't correct the error unless she paid down her previous bill. She sent me $20.00 despite owing me thousands. At that point, I prepared the paperwork and even had the other attorney and opposing party sign off on it. I offered her the file along with the paperwork to correct the error, which she only needed to file with the Court. I had to refuse to file those papers myself, to avoid becoming her attorney of record for the post-divorce proceedings which would have resulted in me doing more work without being compensated. She didn't bother to even pick up her file or the necessary paperwork. I guess no good deed goes unpunished, and there are some people who get very angry when you refuse to let them continue to take advantage of you. This person filed a grievance with the State Bar which was completely investigated and then dismissed as I had committed no misconduct.