Tyson R. Phillips

just now NEW MONEY GRAB LAW FIRM!! My family and I hired Tyson Phillips to help get my son back, after his father filed a TRO to open the custody battle back up days before his summer visitation was up—I had sole physical and legal custody. We hired Tyson because of his father and grandfather...’s legacy in Texas, in the hopes he would provide adequate defense. He did not. At first, I was told to pay a $5k retainer, but my case should not cost that much. I provided a ton of information to him: pictures of a well-taken care of and happy child, text messages to show how I communicated with his father and my aunt (who played a part in setting me up), his school letter stating how intelligent my son is, videos, etc. Anything that would show the kind of mother I was, which was the opposite of what my ex-husband claimed I was. We lived in Texas for less than a year. We lived in St. Louis for two years. The Judge denied jurisdiction. My ex-husband was allowed to leave Texas after our second hearing and take my son to New York for a month and then moved to California. Tyson did nothing about jurisdiction. He billed for emails, information I sent him, to talk to his paralegal to get ahold of him, time spent in court even on a day he was technically not present. I was present on Zoom and had to call his firm to see where he was because court was over. He was on another case and mine was not progressing. The Judge ordered a drug test because I was accused of being an addict. I failed but not because I actually was. I was given something by my aunt’s friend and that was in my system. My drug results showed I wasn’t even close to an addict or active user. Tyson never raised this issue. Only wanted more money for an expert. Ordered to attend an outpatient program. PASSED. Judge was never notified that I completed the program. It has been over a year and the Judge is not aware of my passing every drug test and having been a 100% sober for more than a year. We have temporary orders that have sat for close to a year. Tyson wanted more money in December and ended up filling a Motion to Withdraw as Counsel but was paid $1,500. I asked him several times to file the right motions and move the case forward because my son is in a better environment with me rather than his father. He did nothing. January comes, he asks me to hold off another payment because he wants me to speak with another attorney that has a conflict of interest might be a better option. I follow up the next day via email, I’ve called, only to never hear from him again. But another Motion to Withdraw was submitted in May and I have no idea for what, as he has not communicated and because he is still listed as my attorney, the Judge will not communicate with me. After many failed attempts to get ahold of him, I eventually sent a certified letter on 8/4/23 terminating our contract due incompetence, unethical practices, and lack of communication. He may look sharp in a suit but his work ethics don’t match. I’m highly disappointed that he’s gotten close to $10k and there’s nothing to show for it on my end other than I get temporary visitation for a 1-time mistake after caring for a child their whole life and loving them. That’s the kind of help Tyson provides. He is more concerned about money as a new attorney, rather than having dignity and true care about justice of the law. I would look for an attorney that actually care about their clients and not just what they can get from them. I will be reporting his firm to the Bar of Associations.