John Robert Setlich

John has helped me tremendously throughout the years with my custody and child support case. He's really knowledgeable, gives great advice, and doesn't beat around the bush. Whenever I had questions or concerns he always made himself available and somehow was always able to stay patient and calm, eve...n when I was not, I really appreciated that about him. I felt confident that John was representing me and my interests/wishes and going into court I never had to doubt that my case was in great hands. I've recommended John to my friends and if I need more representation or legal advice in the future he will be my first call.

Based on John's good reviews, I hired him in April. He not only did not prepare my case, he didn't even know my case, completely unreachable, irresponsible and entirely negligent as well as delusional. I have not talked to him for more than 30 minutes from April to July. And when hearing mid July com...es, he didn't even know why we were there in court. Judge asked him questions, he could not answer. Judge demanded answers as to the evidence provided raising concerns to the criminal accusations raised in a family case, he simply said "aren't we going to have a trial to address this case? " to avoid answering cuz he didn't look at my case thus having answers and embarrassed himself as well as me altogether. He even contemplated not showing up entirely for the utter lack of preparation. His office took 2 weeks vacation in early June then he took 2 weeks vacation mid June. Then upon the return early July, he had a family funeral, gone another 2 weeks. My hearing comes, we walked in like total strangers. He acted like it's just unimportant and it's just a casual walk on street, no biggie and my case specifics are irreverent... Until judge asked him several questions when my case was called, he acted like let's just talk about this stuff at trial not now. From April to may, my case sits. From may to June, paralegal worked on it forever despite it's simplicity and full of obvious and idiotic errors, and John was nowhere to be found. From June to July, everyone was on vacation. July to hearing in mid July, playing disappearance and tried to convince me that it's just preliminary hearing, it's not important. Then the rest was history. The hearing was an utter disaster. John didn't even know why he was there in the eyes of the judge, certain opinions were formed and with all eyes watching. It hurt my case tremendously by not having a defense to the fabricated declaration from the opposing party submitted, and it hurt my case further by not having a defense from my own attorney at times of hearing when the judge demanded answers to the concerns of the court. The whole thing was an utter disaster. This is a case of negligence, misconduct as well as a case of defrauding its own client. I'm going to report to BAR with my case details and all communications. Whether he dropped my case only and not others, or that he over committed and dropped my case, or he had done this to many people, it doesn't matter anymore. His attitude of utter negligence was absolutely vivid and utterly blunt. When I pleaded with him to please look at my case and study the facts 3 days prior, 2 days prior and 1 day prior writing up summary to assist him with the content he must learn in order to defend me and fight for me in court. I did not get a response, and evidently, he didn't do that and continued to enjoy his weekend as usual so to show up on Monday hearing like a walk in a park with a careless demeanor that everyone in the court knew that he didn't even look at the case unable to answer any questions from the judge. It was awkward, embarrassing and damaged my case. Such acts at the important turning point of people's lives under devastating circumstances with their livelihood is not one to be played with , especially when life and death is involved considering illnesses and having a roof over their head. These dire issues are to be taken with respect, not just legally, but morally specifically. If you can't do the case, don't want the case, have no time for the case, don't lead your client on. If you know the hearing is around the corner, read it. If you can't read it insisting on a vacation, then do it after you come back. If you still don't do it after you come back, then prepare for the hearing so you have answers to handle the questioning of the judge. None doing, negligent and absolutely incompetent. Just deplorable.