Robert Alexander Von Esch IV

He seemed like a shark, at first. BUT during my lawsuit, he knew about this witness that was called by the defense for weeks and, only at the end of the day before this witness was to testify, he asked me for questions/info that he could use because he had "no idea what to do with her". I was shock...ed but spent a few hours, when I got home from the hearing that day, compiling a list of about 20-30 points/questions and sent them to him. We met the next morning at the court, and I asked if he had read the document that I sent, and he stated that he - had not. He stated that his kids were sick, and he didn't get much sleep. The judge eventually ruled against me using this witness's hearsay testimony. I lost my home and about $200,000 and had to file for Bankruptcy. Basically, lost my life and it's been hard on me/us, since. An appeal would have cost $50,000 and would have gone to 3 judges to rule if the judge had made a mistake in any processes. Apparently "hearsay" can be used if the judge decides that he wants to. (This was a bench trial). Maybe there wasn't enough fight against this "hearsay" because Rob was unprepared? I only gave one star because of this - AND because Rob contacted me just after I lost and said that he would bill me for $25,000 which is half of what I owed him, at that point. Of course, that offer was only good if I agreed to it right away and paid. Otherwise, I probably would have had to fight him in court over not paying him at all. Who knows... Also, in the beginning, he had assigned a different lawyer to work with me and I really liked her. Maybe my case was too small for him? But she had quit just before I went to trial. When you sue someone, you are assigned a judge. Because I chose a bench trial, I knew that my case would be judged by that one single judge that was assigned. I happened to get lucky because I felt that this judge was my peer, and we all have the right to be judged by a jury of our peers. If the issue is not worked out in mediation between the two parties, the judge will offer one last time to mediate with a different judge, rather than a mediator. I made it very clear to Rob that I wanted that judge to oversee my trial. Knowing that the defendant could never come to agreement because of his ridiculous “asks” (the mediator agreed) in the first mediation. I only agreed to do the second mediation because Rob told me that I might as well make the guy come into the courthouse that day rather than let him just sit happily at his office or wherever, while his lawyer was there for him instead. Plus, Rob reminded me that I’m having to pay him for the full day because the judge will make us sit there all day, whether we go to this second mediation or not. AND, it looks good to show that you’ve “tried”. So after making clear that I still wanted this judge, I went to a separate room and sat there while both lawyers for the opposing sides went back into the chambers of this other mediator judge. Rob ended up coming out and told me that the judge said that I was “being reasonable” but apparently the defendant doesn’t want to work things out. No surprise there. Rob then told me that I was assigned to a new judge. (Insert major anger emoji here.) I asked Rob why that happened and can we reverse this - and I never got an answer. He just walked down the hall with me looking like he was thinking hard. Fast forward - I was then contacted by his office this year. This is 4 years later - and they asked if I wanted a file that I had given them and they would destroy it for me, if not. I had asked for this file after I had lost 4 years ago and I was told they didn't have it or couldn't find it. 4 years is the statute of limitations that one has if they want to sue their lawyer for negligence or malpractice.

Rob represented in a consumer warranty matter and obtained a very favorable settlement. He also advised me on a property damage matter regarding a golf course that I own and operate. Rob was always prepared, quick to respond to my calls, and professional. I would recommend him to anyone in need of... a good attorney.