Dane OBrien

Dane OBrien

This comment is WHOLLY inaccurate... We will address the issues as they are raised. We had spoken to and advised this person at length prior to the decision to retain our services. In arranging to meet this person to execute the agreement and accept payment they wanted to proceed immediately so I explained that I could meet that day around lunch time or in the afternoon because I had court beginning at 130pm. They agreed to meet near the courthouse at 12pm but didn't show up until 1230pm. I explained that I now had less time before court and we went over the agreement. I explained it all to include the idea of a flat fee. I explained it as the amount that is charged regardless of how much or how little work is ultimately required to accomplish what was agreed. I asked if she understood it all or had any questions, to which she went out of her way to tell me how good her background in these areas were and that it was all ok and she signed (or executed) the contract. At 9pm on that same Friday night we receive a text telling me they had been able to recover the contested property and to wait to do anything until we hear back from them, we agreed and did do not do anything further, including emailing the contract over the weekend. We receive an email from our clients at 0430am on Monday morning indicating that we should now move forward and under what terms. We were able to review this email in the office first thing at 8am, It asks us to contact her if we have questions, we did not. That morning I am in court with my phone off and apparently during that time at 1030am I missed a text asking if I had made contact and at 1pm We received a call and voicemail from the clients mother berating us for being out of contact and threatening to stop payment on the check (it was from her). We were finally able to turn our phone on and receive both the text and voicemail after which we immediately reached out to our clients (who now refuse to answer the phone or call back). Later that evening we receive an email from our clients basically outlining the same as they have here. We responded similarly to how we have here and pointed out that stopping payment and forcing collection efforts could make it more expensive in the end. As for whether work was done or not.... First the agreement was regardless how much or little work was required, Second, there was preliminary work done for these clients...we consulted multiple times, office meeting 1hr, built the client file, attempted contact with opposing counsel. Lastly, how much work was the client expecting to have been accomplished? Signed the agreement at 1230pm Friday and had indicated I had court all afternoon and likely would not be able to reach out to opposing counsel until Monday (they don't work over the weekend). We were told that night at 9pm to stop work. We were told to again start work on Monday at 430am and no longer taking calls by 130pm...... So really, what should have been accomplished by then?? The reality of this issue is that very shortly after entering into an agreement with our firm the facts of our clients situation changed slightly, likely giving them the belief that they no longer needed legal services to accomplish their goal, but rather than contact our firm to discuss this, they have instead made these wild statements in an effort to force the issue and harm our business.