Joseph Charles Crudo

Let me begin by saying I have been estranged from my three children for more than ten years. Ten years without meaningful contact with my children. It has been agony every single day. What does this have to do with Frank and Joe Crudo? I'm getting there. In 2011, they referred me to a...n attorney to pursue an appeal of a misdemeanor conviction. In fact, I was told Joe Crudo had partnered with him to form Issa, Crudo & Huffman. Years later, when questions arose regarding that firm, I was told by Frank Crudo that I had imagined it. According to him, there never was a firm by that name. The evidence later established otherwise. Needless to say, the appeal was not handled as expected by Mr. Huffman. In fact, he never filed the Notice of Appeal, resulting in my spending 82 days in custody away from my family. When I was released, I asked him to apologize and compensate me for some of the expenses I had incurred. According to my recollection, he responded: "What are you going to do about it? You aren't a lawyer." Needless to say, I saw red. I became obsessed. None of this had to happen. I had already posted a $50,000 bond and could have remained out of custody while pursuing my legal remedies. Instead, I spent years pursuing the matter through the appropriate channels, eventually filing a malpractice action against the firm. What made the experience particularly painful was Frank Crudo had been like a father to me. I was first referred to him in 1999 following a personal injury matter. He represented me again in 2002. His firm did an excellent job in both cases, and I trusted him completely. At a State Bar deposition, Mr. Huffman acknowledged the existence of Issa, Crudo & Huffman. That testimony stood in direct contrast to what I had previously been told. The California State Bar later concluded that serious misconduct had occurred, and Richard Dennis Huffman was disbarred in 2017. My conviction was subsequently reversed and remanded, and the underlying allegation was ultimately dismissed in 2015. Despite that outcome, the consequences were significant. My marriage deteriorated in large part because I became consumed by the case, and my physicians later concluded that the extraordinary stress associated with these events likely contributed to serious mental health challenges. That experience taught me the difference between an unfavorable legal result and legal representation that falls below reasonable expectations. After concluding that I had exhausted every available avenue for resolving my concerns, I filed a complaint with the State Bar. Mr. Huffman was eventually disbarred, but by then the damage had already been done. Reasonable people may disagree about the value of the services I received. This account reflects my assessment of the representation, the outcome, and the value I received for the fees I paid. As for Frank Crudo, I bear him no ill will. If he eventually becomes a character in a future television project, I may even help select the actor who portrays him. I wish him well.