Jeffrey Thomas Sheehan

Jeffrey Sheehan

I found the adoptive mother in this case to be extraordinarily self-centered with little empathy for my client, the birth mother. My client is a single mother with a child and was living paycheck to paycheck and just scraping by. I sought and obtained approval from the court for a reasonable living expense budget. Because the adoptive parents were not particularly timely in payment of the living expenses, I advanced the initial $500.00 of living expenses for my client to keep the lights on. And, no, I don't see a struggling single birth mother's bills the same as those of the adoptive couple in this case. I provided all pleadings and documents in the 156 page bates stamped packet I prepared for ICPC clearance. Everything was above board and yes, I do require clients to advance monies for my birth mother's approved living expenses. I want to ensure I have the money to pay her bills on a timely basis. "Pay as you go" is unacceptable because I have a client to represent-- the birth mother, and my job is to protect her. At the end of the day, the legal fees in this case were just over $6,000.00. The advanced retainer paid was $5,000.00. My fee agreement provides as follows: "It is understood by the parties that the legal fees are an estimate based on the facts of the case as known at this time—however, if additional time is required, after the retainer fee funds are exhausted, Adoptive Parents agree to pay said fees. In the event less time is required than projected, a refund of earned fees/costs will be provided to the Adoptive Parents at the conclusion of the case." I had a birth mother that had real needs and real issues to deal with. I had more meetings with her than is typical and traveled out of county with her to terminate her rights. Her baby was born on Monday, her rights were terminated that Thursday, and the adoptive parents were able to go home the following Monday with ICPC clearance. I worked very hard to get the legal work done quickly and efficiently, and accomplished those goals. The adoptive couple left Idaho knowing that they had a court judgment and the child was theirs with no risk to the placement. At the end of the case, because of resistance to payment of the fees, I reduced my fees, and had previously no charged several hours of time. I paid for some of my client's counseling out of my own pocket, because I care about her. I make no apologies for that. My client, the birth mother, was very happy with my services, and that is what matters most to me. I am sorry the representation required about 5 more hours of billed time than projected. Those hours were spent on serving my client's legal needs and fully detailed in the bills.