Palak Chopra

Mr. Palak Chopra was retained by my wife and I to represent us in a chapter 13 bankruptcy, on 9/16/2010. His fee was $3,000. During the time between the retainer date and the date the court dismissed the case, on December 21, we were not allowed to talk with Mr. Chopra. We were only allowed to dea...l with his assistant Robert Melendrez. Each time I called to talk with Mr. Chopra, I was told that he was in court in San Diego or out sick. I later found out that he and a family member had some medical problems and that was the real reason he was never available. None of my messages to him were ever returned and my several request to meet with him were denied by Robert. Our meeting of creditors was scheduled for 11/3/2010 at 11am. In every meeting with Robert between the time I retained Mr. Chopra and this meeting on 11/3/2010, I was assured by him that either he or Mr. Chopra would be there to attend with us and that there were no problems to worry about. On the evening prior to the meeting, I received a call from Robert telling me that neither he nor Mr. Chopra would be attending the meeting but they would send another attorney. The attorney who showed up had no knowledge of our case and in fact the trustee asked her to not waste any more of his time with her lack of preparation and missing documents. I called Mr. Chopra once I left the court, but did not reach him. I spoke with Robert and told him that I required a meeting with Mr. Chopra the next day to get the case back on track. That meeting was held with the outcome being that they would stay on the case and handle every detail without fail and keep me informed about the progress. I was told at that time that there would be no more substitute attorney’s. Many times between that meeting and the scheduled Confirmation Hearing on 12/21/2010, I tried to reach Mr. Chopra, again without success. In my numerous conversation with Robert, I was assured that all was going well and not to worry. He told me not to worry about the monthly payment plan as those payments could be submitted to the trustee at the confirmation hearing on 12/21/2010. I took the three payments that were due to the confirmation hearing, as I was directed to do so by Robert, so that Mr. Chopra could present them to the judge or trustee. On the morning of the confirmation hearing, I received a text from Robert stating that again neither he nor Mr. Chopra would be attending the hearing. Still another attorney would make the appearance with me. No name was given so contact was not possible. As I sat in the court, and my name was called, the substitute attorney went forward and said, ”I was sent to ask for a postponement” Nothing more was said by him. Since payment on the plan had not been made, the judge denied the postponement and the case was dismissed. I tried to talk with the judge at that point but was denied. I also tried to get out to meet the attorney who was to have represented us, but he had already disappeared My last contact with Mr. Chopra or Robert was in early January at a meeting that I demanded to have. The outcome of the meeting was that in his opinion, he did no wrong and that is just the way it goes. He took no responsibility for his lack of representation. If you want good honest representation stay away from this attorney. You will no doubt be throwing your money out the window and only getting strees in return.