Sharon Beth Morris

When I first contacted the Law Offices of Lawrence Taylor for a DUI, I was led to believe my case had multiple possibilities to explore for a dismissal. I was quoted a price of $7000 for the DMV hearing and handling the case to avoid trial. I read all the positive press (apparently self-generated) ab...out the firm and was given a confident explanation that the services they could provide would lead to a desirable outcome. I'm not a fool that expected the best from a bad situation but the attorney assigned to me, Sharon Beth Morris was absolutely the worst. From the start, they provided no defense in the DMV hearing. That was dispatched immediately with a negative result. When the outcome was explained, they acted like I should have expected a negative outcome, given the circumstances. A complete opposite answer from when I first called to inquire about the possibility of a positive result. After that, things just got worse. In California, you are able to see your case minutes online. After numerous calls and minimal or no response, I looked up the case to see where it stood. To my dismay, an attorney I had NEVER heard of nor EVER been told would be representing me showed up as representing me on the docket. I asked Sharon Beth Morris about who this other attorney was, she denied that anyone else was ever in court on my behalf. She flat out lied to me and told me she was the only one in court. When I told her I saw the case minutes online, she started to backpedal. Then my calls were ignored. If this weren't bad enough, NO defense was ever mounted in my behalf. The only thing the law firm did was enter continuance after continuance. I specifically asked during the initial call to be kept informed and have input to my defense. I never was afforded this opportunity. I continued to monitor my case online and found that the DA offered a plea bargain. I was never contacted with this offer. After some digging, I found that it is illegal in California for an attorney not to apprise his/her client of an offer. After a few weeks of this bizarre behavior, I contacted the firm to ask for another attorney. I sent a letter explaining my displeasure and the illegal actions. Their Operations Manager called back to discuss my concerns - with Sharon on the other line! I can appreciate avoiding mud slinging with this approach but in my opinion, it is completely unprofessional. He should have contacted me first to explore my concerns and then had us on a call together. His approach was intimidating and I felt like I could not be honest with him knowing she still might be representing me after the call. He brushed off my concerns, stating that he's know Sharon for 13 years and that's now how she behaves. He completely dismissed my concern about the illegal actions of not presenting my offer. When I expressed how unprofessional it was to not be kept informed of my case and for her to not take or return my calls, he explained that I was not a $100,000 client. When I brought up that a junior lawyer was representing me in court - a lawyer I had never spoke with, never discussed a defense and never approved to represent me - he simply stated that its not unusual for attorneys to use junior counsel in court. To my disappointment, he kept Sharon assigned to my case. As a result of this incompetence throughout the organization, I felt I had no other options but to take the offer and put this behind me. The firm wanted $2,500 more dollars just to take it to court. I felt I had already been fleeced enough. In summary, I spent $7,000 to be treated unprofessionally, ignored, lied to and abandoned. I would have been better off using a public defender.