Barton S Balis

I initially hired Barton S. Balis approximately 4 years ago due to serious financial losses which I felt could only be settled by filing bankruptcy; I remain his client as of this writing. At 62 years of age (when first meeting Bart), and after 30 years in public education, vested in a PERA retirem...ent program with some personal investments, I was devastated; I felt simply put that "the bottom looked like up". Personally, and equally emotionally painful, was that the primary reason for this legal issue was due to attempting to help an immediate family member who did not share/reciprocate my support and care. Bart has counseled and supported me in an intelligent, informative, and ("layman level") clear manner such that I felt/feel that an end to this is possible. Equally important, he has offered precise and trusting communication to my wife (directly, or in relation to her with just myself) relative to the possible impact to her financial stability, as well of course, ours. Having had only one prior interaction with an attorney in my lifetime, and for nothing akin to this, I was frightened beyond expression, ignorant of even being able to ask the appropriate questions, and it was all compounded by a very personal, non-related issue. We have just learned that my wife is to be a survivor relative to breast cancer; so throughout the course of this legal issue my wife and I have dealt with frightening "what if's" of a most personal nature. Bart has been aware of this, and in such a significant way, by not only voicing obvious, heart-felt concern ("A.J., your legal problems pale in comparison to your spouses recovery"), but expertly directing/guiding my case, he has made our personal "journey" easier. I will not be filing bankruptcy, but due specifically to Bart's intelligence, integrity, and wisdom, I will see an "end" that is in so many ways more financially beneficial to us, and personally, less emotionally assaultive. And the empathy and personal concern displayed by this gentleman relative to my wife's health "journey" was certainly not required but was without equal in it's positive impact.