Merrianne Elizabeth Dean

It’s been three years since this law firm was hired for my case. In the three years they have not returned calls, were not prepared for hearings, and passed off to other attorneys in the firm. Everything was finalized 2 months ago and Merianne is holding on to the distribution I believe to collec...t more monthly money. The most unprofessional law firm I have ever dealt with.

I felt she didn’t have time for me even though she takes all cases It seems. Maybe cut down on your cases please and do a better job. She seemed to take the easy way out whenever she could. Didn’t read my input or questions until we were chatting so it cost me while she read and she wasn’t prepared... with answers. She knows the law and could pass any law exam today I’m sure but not good at helping people. She allowed the other side to guide the case to my detriment. For some reason she decided she was done although I wasn’t. I believe things got more complicated than she wanted.

I am writing this review 5 years after my case but I haven’t forgotten. Ms. Dean took my case knowing I was in a terrible financial situation. Her “pride” of business statement is, “she requires a $5,000 deposit at intervals”. She bills as most attorneys do, by the minute, but she assured me she...’s different by requesting an additional $5,000 when the deposit is nearing depletion. So the final bill is not a shock. The largest final bill should be no more than $5,000. I was involved in a case which seemed, clear cut, to her group that I was in “the right”. Bottom line, my case was lost and after a very disappointing experience where I felt she was severely distracted, she billed me for an additional $23,000. She did reduce her bill to $18,000 but never acknowledged her “pride of business” by retaining deposits upfront so her clients aren’t met with a hardship. She did allow a delay in payment, which was greatly appreciated. The purpose of this review is mostly to state that I was recommended to contact The Dean Law group to represent myself and I only Chose them by Ms Deans pay policy, which I thought would protect me. It did not. In a position where your world is crashing down on you and a professional spells out how they are different and on your side, please be very cautious. The Dean Law group did not follow their policy of collecting an established amount upfront before you fall into debt.

Merrianne Dean was instrumental in helping me file for conservatorship on behalf of a close family friend who was a target of emotional and financial elder abuse. We succeeded and I learned how challenging the process would have been without talented legal representation. Merrianne is knowledgeable,... compassionate, communicative and was incredibly effective at driving the process to remove the former power-of-attorney holder from a position of abusive authority and control. I highly recommend both her and her firm.