$ 350-350 per hour
Michael Ernest Doukas
also known as Mike Doukas
About Michael
Biography
THE LAW OFFICE of MICHAEL DOUKAS offers both traditional hourly representation and limited-scope, flat-fee representation for many needs. These latter limited-scope services include settling cases for defendants sued by debt collectors, flat fee advice over coffee or on the phone with no further commitment, document review, and writing the occasional letter on your behalf.
“THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM" –Mike’s law practice has encompassed over a 30 year career fighting his client’s battles against all comers–major banks, attorneys, debt collectors, major corporations. It never mattered who was against him.
He has advised or negotiated the resolution of consumer or business problems. Mike has enjoyed the confrontation and the problem solving inherent in litigation or disputes, and the eventual constructive results that are clearly produced, often times on behalf of the “little guy.” Experience has taught him, true success lies in win-win solutions and resolving a client’s problems so they can move on with life.
Mike has successfully litigated several consumer Class Actions with co-counsel Barry Mills of The Law Office of Barry D. Mills, P.C. The most memorable was a multi-case, 11-year crusade against Volkswagen that started in federal court and was finally resolved successfully in San Diego Superior Court in 2016. Mike can provide trusted referrals in this area, but currently performs no litigation or class action services himself.
To better serve the public, Mike has begun offering Defendants in debt collection lawsuits help in resolving their cases on a flat fee basis. If a consumer prefers, Mike will settle the case for a payment plan or discounted lump sum without the need to otherwise litigate. This has turned out to be a very successful tool for individuals who cannot afford full time representation.
He has litigated extensively in state and federal court since 1996. In fact, he has litigated over 50 consumer cases in U.S. District Court here in San Diego.
Mike has also served as a Pro Tem Judge in Small Claims Court for the San Diego Superior Court in Vista.
He is admitted to practice in all the State courts of the State of California, the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Mike Doukas served on the Board of Directors of the North County Bar Association for a three year term from 2013 through 2015. He was elected to serve as Treasurer for 2015, also serving as a Vice President of the Board of Directors in his final year on the Board.
Attorney Michael Doukas is Avvo rated 10 out of 10, or Superb for Lawsuits & cases for consumers sued for money is a strong suit. He has 74+ positive client reviews for you to read.
RATHER GET LEGAL ADVICE OVER COFFEE to discuss a lawsuit, contract, debt, or any legal problem? Meet an experienced attorney over coffee at Starbucks or your favorite coffee shop to comfortably get legal advise.
PLEASE CALL IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS or want to explore whether Mr. Doukas can help you with a legal problem. Get a free telephonic consultation of your options for up to 20 minutes.
Practice Areas
1
Practice Area
Lawsuits and Disputes
100%
32 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Contingency
33%-40%
Retainer
Sometimes
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.
Search our directory
Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.
Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.
Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.
Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 31 years
State: California
Acquired: 1994
No misconduct found
Location
Law Office of Michael Doukas
Virtual (858-876-8485), San Diego, CA, 92130
Gallery
Ad
Transform legal challenges into solutions.
Connect now to review your situation.
Michael Ernest Doukas's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
74 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (74)
Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Case Results (53)
Advocacy (38)
Professionalism (23)
Recommendation (23)
Communication Style (22)
Responsiveness (22)
Cost of Services (17)
General Knowledge (16)
Practice Area Knowledge (15)
Character & Conduct (10)
Payment Plans (3)
Punctuality (3)
Compassion (2)
Trustworthiness (2)
Free Consultations (1)
Showing 6 - 10 of 15 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge
Posted by anonymous | June 11, 2014 | Debt Settlement
Very helpful - Debt and Lawsuit
Mr. Doukas helped with debt/lawsuit which I had previously been told (not official legal advice) I would likely not be able to do anything about. The issue was resolved within a few weeks with a couple of emails. I wish I had known that I could fight it successfully as it would have saved me quite...
Posted by Ken | April 10, 2013 | Debt Collection
Helpful, direct, honest lawyer, with great advice and reasonable fees.
Attorney Michael Doukas gave honest, direct, helpful and much-needed advice on a lawsuit dealing with credit card debt/collection agency. Using a book and the Vista Law Library (very helpful librarians, by the way) I had filed my own challenge and obtained a court date, but other than that, I soon r...
Posted by Jim | March 21, 2013 | Lawsuits & Disputes
A fantastic job at a very fair price
Mr. Doukas helped me deal with a complicated situation dealing with a default judgment caused in part by another attorney abandoning me and my case. He researched my case in a timely manner, gave me a number of options and worked with all parties to reach an amicable settlement. I would, and have, re...
Posted by anonymous | January 18, 2012 | Bankruptcy & Debt
Highly recommend Michael Doukas
“It is my pleasure to recommend Michael Doukas to anyone seeking assistance with debt resolution. Over the past year, Mr. Doukas has guided me through a very difficult financial crisis resulting from a period of sudden unemployment. He has negotiated a workable solution with a significant creditor ...
Posted by anonymous | August 25, 2011 | Debt Settlement
Debt Settlement and Protection Review
Most recent assignment was successful settlement of an improperly placed judgement stemming from a long ago note purchase. Ten years of personal correspondence with the lien holder produced no positive results. Attorney Doukas satisfactorily settled the matter in a matter of weeks. Had I brought him...
Michael Ernest Doukas's Lawyer Endorsements
"I am proud to endorse Mr. Doukas. He is an exceptional attorney with impeccable reputation amongst his colleagues. He is also an active member of the legal community and a member of the Board of Directors of the North County Bar Association."
"Michael is an intelligent and hard working attorney whom I respect."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse Michael Doukas. Michael focuses his career on litigation and consumer matters. Not only does Michael spend time giving free legal advice on Avvo, but he also does pro bono work for people in th military. Michael is an asset to the legal community."
"It has been my privilege to know Michael for 20 years. He represents the best that the profession of law has to offer. He is insightful, courteous and well reasoned in his approach to cases. I strongly recommend him."
"Mike consistently delivers detailed, thorough case analysis and expertise. Mike is a dependable and professional lawyer, with keen insight and sage advice. I endorse this lawyer."
"I have been a bankruptcy attorney for over 30 years and have worked with Michael for over 15 of those years referring my clients that have experienced violations of the debt collection laws or have been sued on collection matters. He has a knack for thinking outside the box and coming up with solutions to help his clients. His relationships with clients is outstanding; I often check back with the clients that I have referred to ask how their matter is progressing and they have universally told me that they truly appreciate Mike's efforts on their behalf. As a litigator, he employs a balance between advocating assertively for his clients, listening to the opposition's concerns, and finding win-win solutions that yield effective settlements. I wholeheartedly endorse Michael."
"I had the distinct pleasure of working with Michael Doukas as co-counsel on several matters a few years ago, and I came to rely on his remarkable knack for quickly getting to the heart of a dispute and formulating an approach crafted to achieve the best result for his client as expeditiously as possible. Michael is one of those rare attorneys who can maintain his professional objectivity toward the matter at hand without forgetting the needs of his clients. He realizes that legal disputes and litigation can be stressful, and his concern for each client is genuine. Additionally, he conducts his practice in strict adherence to the highest of ethical standards. I enthusiastically recommend Michael to any consumer in need of a highly qualified attorney to advocate on their behalf."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have had the pleasure of knowing Michael Doukas for over 10 years because we both belong to the small community of attorneys who represent and seek to protect the rights of consumers with financial/debt issues. Mr. Doukas represents consumers who have experienced debt collection abuse. From my observations, Mr. Doukas is compassionate and provides high quality representation to his clients."
"I enthusiastically endorse this lawyer. Mike Doukas takes on creditors and debt collectors who abuse consumers. He also defends consumers sued in debt collection lawsuits no matter how formidable the adversary. I highly recommend him to consumers who need someone to fight for them."
"I highly recommend Michael Doukas. He has extensive expertise in the area of Fair Debt Collection. He is a dedicated advocate and effectively represents his clients against creditor harrassment and violations of the debt collection laws. I am proud to endorse Mr. Doukas."
Joel Selik
Debt collection lawyer
Casey Ames
Estate planning lawyer
Ikuko Brookshire
Estate planning lawyer
Jeffrey Lacy
Family lawyer
Radmila Fulton
Bankruptcy and debt lawyer
Michael Agruss
Debt collection lawyer
Michael Meagher
Litigation lawyer
Linda Destephano
Contracts and agreements lawyer
Deborah Raymond
Bankruptcy and debt lawyer
Anastasia Ganatsios
Family lawyer
Virginia Lopez
Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer
Experience
Honors
2015
Outstanding Dedication and Service, North County Bar Association
2015
Appreciation, Director/Treasurer of NCBA, North County Bar Association
2014
Outstanding Dedication and Service, North County Bar Association
2013
Outstanding Dedication and Service, North County Bar Association
2012
Outstanding Dedication and Service, North County Bar Association
2011
Outstanding Dedication and Service, North County Bar Association
2010
Certificate, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Panel, North County Bar Association
2005
Outstanding Dedication and Service, North County Bar Association
1998
Exemplary Dedication and Extraordinary Contributions, North County Bar Association
1982
Air Force Organizational Excellance Award, United States Air Force
1970
National Defense Service Medal, United States Navy
Work Experience
2003 - Present
Attorney, Law Office of Michael Doukas
1997 - 2002
Partner, Doukas & Hewell
1994 - 1997
Attorney, Michael Ernest Doukas
1987 - 1994
Consultant, Doukas Group
1979 - 1987
Operations Research, US Air Force
1978 - 1979
Associate Mathematician, Westinghouse Electric Corporation
Associations
1998 - Present
United States Court of Appeals For the Ninth CircuitAdmitted to Practice
1994 - Present
North County Bar AssociationMember
1994 - Present
State Bar of CaliforniaMember
1994 - Present
United States District Court for the Southern District of CaliforniaAdmitted to Practice
1974 - Present
US Naval Academy Alumni AssociationLifetime Member
2015 - 2015
North County Bar AssociationTreasurer
2013 - 2015
North County Bar AssociationBoard of Directors
2012 - 2012
California Western School of LawJudge, Moot Court Honors Board
1999 - 2001
San Diego Superior CourtPro Tem Judge
Sample of Legal Cases
Wieden vs. Cross-defendant (class action cross-complaint) Riverside Superior Court, Case No. INC 047177
The total monetary value of the settlement to Class Members (312 consumers) was approximately $3,699,000 on a claims-made basis.
Thies v. Law Offices of William A. Wyman, et al. (S.D. Cal., July 23, 1997) 969 F.Supp. 604
Federal Judge Rudi Brewster held that the FDCPA applies to the collection of delinquent homeowner association fees. The case changed the way such debts are collected In California immediately and has been cited nationally.
Education
1994
California Western School of Law
JD
1979
American University
MSTM
1974
McDaniel College
BA
N/A
United States Naval Academy
Speaking Engagements
2015
Bankruptcy Section
Selected FDCPA Issues for Bankruptcy Counsel
2012
Bankruptcy Section
Practical Credit Reporting Litigation
2011
Dealing with Debt Seminar
Dealing with Debt
2011
CRES Insurance Services
Debt and Credit
2011
Bankruptcy Section
FDCPA Violations for the Bankruptcy Practicioner
2002
Business-Real Estate Section
Selected Consumer Issues
2000
Bankruptcy Section
Consumer Issues for Bankruptcy Counsel
Publications
2011
North County Lawyer Magazine
Limiting Your Rights to Privacy in Collections
2004
North County Lawyer Magazine
From The Used Car Trenches
2000
North County Lawyer Magazine
LRS Benefits Consumers to the Tune of $8.7 Million
1997
North County Lawyer Magazine
Judge Brewster Brings HOA Collections Under Federal Law
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
If a buyer tries to renegotiate a lower price on an already signed contract, does that void the contract?
23 Dec 2016
Q&A
Is a plaintiff entitled to its attorney's fees to collect a judgment?
26 Dec 2016
Q&A
Can I sue for finding clear boogers on my food from a fast joint
07 Jul 2016