Richard L. Katzman

A friend referred me to this attorney when I needed representation in a criminal case. I met with him in a coffee shop and I paid him the retainer fee. My arraignment was a few weeks away and he assured me that i didn’t even need to attend because I had him to attend for me. I felt uneasy with that a...nd said I’d be there anyway. As it turns out, my court date never made it to his calendar and he was out of the country the day I showed up for my arraignment. This was explained to my by a man who identified himself to me as his “partner” over the phone. There was a series of cell phone calls, the partner (later identified as a disbarred lawyer who then became a commercial real estate sales sales person) assured me it was OK, he’d send another attorney to represent me. I no longer trusted anything from this situation and declined. Sure enough, an attorney from the office across the street at a different law firm who had bus stop advertisements showed up as I was in the courtroom hallway calling someone for advice on how to represent myself. I told this attorney I realized he’s showing up in the middle of a conflict that had nothing to do with him and essentially “thanks, but no thanks”. I ended up with enough last minute free legal advice from friends and associates who answered the phone (fortunately) and I Even got a friend’s financial attorney who ran over from another courtroom to give me some basic info about how to handle myself in court. In the end, I took my free advice and plead out, then filed for early termination of probation, then I filed for and was granted a dismissal. Did I spend a lot of time at the law library? Yes. Did this attorney request to be a connection of mine on LinkedIn a few years later? Also yes. Absolutely did not accept! I would absolutely never recommend this attorney to anyone. Did I have to fight for a refund of my retainer? Oh yes I sure did. Ultimately he returned approximately 1/3 of my money because of time he reports spending preparing for my case.

Richard katzman was so nice to me till he got my money then he turn on me instead of working for me he started telling me to take a deal. I told him i thought i paid you to help me and fight for me? He called me a lair abd said i couldn't win the case and that i was dumb for not taking the deal? I k...new he was wrong but couldn't take all of his name calling. He called me a dummy, and a lier all beacuse i wouldn't tale his so called great deak. I wouldn't recommend him to one obe. He's all for his dollars in his pocket. Sad but true