Gerald Maggio

(1) Any attorney wants a happy customer. A vast majority of my clients have been very satisfied with me and with my efforts on their behalf. However, there will be situations where a client might not be satisfied and that is unfortunate. (2) What has troubled me with this review is that it is there are many misstatements of reality. This review was written not by my former client, but her mother, whom I only ever met once in court and whom I had never otherwise spoken with or discussed anything concerning this case, and not one that should be making any remarks concerning whether I was “trustworthy,” “responsive,” “kept me informed,” etc. What is further troubling is that I was never contacted by my client or her mother for that matter concerning these complaints. After I was no longer counsel on this matter, her mother posted these slanderous remarks on more than one website with the apparent intent to inflict harm to my reputation while seeking a refund, because she simultaneously sought 2 chargebacks through her credit card company for the valid payment of legal fees. The appropriate method for contesting legal billing by an attorney is to file a fee arbitration, which my former client has chosen not to undergo because my billing was very appropriate based on the amount of work done in the case, as I do in ALL of my cases. I have only had 1 fee arbitration filed against me ever, which I ultimately prevailed on. It is unfortunate that my former client’s mother has taken this route. I frankly do not even desire to respond to this review because I have no wish to engage any client in such a manner. However, when misrepresentations are made that are clearly meant to go to the heart of my reputation, I really am left with no choice but to respond. (3) The heart of the issue is the claim that there was “proof of sexual abuse” against the child at issue in this case. I could go into great detail on the circumstances of this case, but I cannot for ethical considerations that professionally constrain me. However, there were many professionals involved in the circumstances of this case, including physicians, police officers, and child protective services, all of whom had/have an absolute legal obligation to report/investigate suspected sexual abuse of a child. Moreover, an emergency court investigation was conducted in this matter. The proceedings in this case were pursuant to a restraining order and the emergency court investigation, and the court found the restraining order to not be appropriate and the emergency investigation did not substantiate the allegations made. So to say that “we have proof that (dad) sexually abused her” is simply not correct. I was soon thereafter relieved as counsel in this case without prior notification from my client. (4) I care about my clients. I care about my client’s children. I have children of my own. For anyone to say “if you love and value your children, do not use Mr. Maggio”...well, I really don’t know how to respond to that other than to say that I am disappointed at a minimum. I met with my client on the weekend, I was always available by phone and email when she called, which was almost daily. For someone not even a client to essentially make a claim here of definitive proof of abuse that was not addressed by me is so egregious and slanderous on a professional level and so hurtful on a personal level that I really cannot put anything further into words in that regard. My client received the billing on her case. My work included 3 court appearances, as well as substantial additional work. My client signed a credit card authorization form that authorized the payment of legal services rendered in her case. The claim of unauthorized charges is false. On a final note, I wish all of my clients and former clients well.