Benjamin D Platt

Ben is an amazing attorney. He helped my wife and I in a custody battle with my ex. His professionalism and ethics are the highest I have ever seen. Despite the other side trying to play dirty, he maintained his ethical and professional demeanor and prevailed every time. My being out of state during ...all of the battles was scary, but Ben made sure everything was done for my best interest and the best interest of the kids. I wouldn't recommend any other attorney in Spokane.

I highly recommend Mr. Platt. I have an ongoing custody case that involves domestic violence. Him and his team have held the children's safety at highest importance through my entire case. He is extremely knowledgable navigating court verbiage and situation. When it comes to money, any good lawyer re...presenting you in court is going to cost you. I think of it this way, you get what you pay for... I dont find him to be worth any less than he asked for. He IS the best, honest, fair lawyer I have come accrossed and will hands down send everyone I know to him if they find themselves in a similar situation. You could say he has been an angel of Devine intervention for my family.

Ben Platt seems to be a basically decent guy, but as a lawyer he was instrumental in leaving me in an extremely precarious and vulnerable position, financially drained, and my children regularly in the hands of an abuser. I was referred to Ben by the YWCA, where his wife is a domestic violence leg...al advocate. I did not know this at the time. In hindsight this seems like a conflict of interest. I was trying to leave a violent marriage, being threatened, stalked, financially cut off, and needed to act quickly to secure safety for my children and I. I did not have the strength to self represent. Although I asked for the temporary relief of a restraining order, I was advised not to ask for one. The other party’s lawyer wanted to move through the process quickly in shortened time, and assured no trouble. Ben was aware that the lawyer is one of the more contentious, trial prone attorneys in family law. I was not. Ben advised trusting the other party. Stalking and harassment continued. In later discussions, Ben didn’t even think we could mediate or attempt settlement, and didn't try. Trials are big money for attorneys. Any difficulty was always the other attorney's fault. Communication was poor. Ben’s office did nothing in a timely manner. Preparation was poor. Responses were made in a hurry. Staff turnover was high, and new staff meant more time getting up to speed on my case. My temporary orders were lost by the court, Ben had a family emergencies (but didn’t tell me). He reconstructed orders incorrectly. Had he returned my multiple calls, he could have easily created the orders properly. It cost me thousands, and potential protection for my kids. Although I asked repeatedly, and made it clear that DV should be brought up every time we were in court, Ben would not pursue acknowledgement of domestic violence. It is taboo and makes the court uncomfortable, because they are going to give kids to abusers anyway. Ben made it clear that he could handle only the stereotypical abuser who blackens eyes and breaks bones. Ben blamed me for not pursuing restrictions after he advised I couldn't and wouldn't be successful if I tried. I asked for a loophole free parenting plan. My plan has so many holes it looks like Swiss cheese. The abuser creates chaos with this. I let Ben go after a few things happened that shed some light on the sad state of affairs of family law: #1-He offered to assist me in filing a bankruptcy, after I paid him approx $20k in charges. #2-He discussed in front of me, with another guardian, getting a friend of his into the GAL program who had a previous record of abuse. #3-After multiple post-divorce filings by the litigious ex, he told me that I could only protect my kids if they were being sexually abused or had broken bones or bruises, but that wouldn’t happen if I didn’t force them to go on abusive visits. #4-He texted me while patronizing the abusive ex's place of business, while I was currently retaining him for services. I have chosen to no longer participate in continued abuse through litigation. I have since been fined and browbeaten multiple times by the court for not litigating. I will potentially lose my children. I cannot afford the time and energy that is necessary to devote to fighting with an personality disordered individual. I want to live in peace. While it is bittersweet to know that I was correct in feeling afraid that I wouldn’t be protected in getting out, it is sad to see how others participate in a system that financially destroys and revictimizes survivors. I bear no ill will against Ben, but he was not capable of handling my (unwanted, by me) high-conflict, domestic abuse divorce. If this is not your situation, he might be ok.

Ben is an amazing attorney that has a love for the law and his clients. I didn't feel as I was just a case to him. Ben took my case right before trial. I had spoken to several other attorneys who wanted to have the trial continued to prepare. Ben was on top of it with his excellent staff. They worked... very hard in the limited amount of time we had to prepare an excellent case. Ben was able to listen to my 4 year history of custody hearings and come up with multiple options, leaving no stone unturned. He has a lot of experience with Judges and the court house. Ben was also very respectful to the other party and there attorney. I also liked that he didn't trash the other side. He allowed them to trip on there own testimony. I was very grateful that I wasn't getting questioned by him. Ben has amazing litigating skills. I have watched a lot of attorneys in the court room and Ben is at the top of the list.

Like all the reviews near the end (the older reviews), my experience was very poor in all dealings with Mr Platt. I am convinced from checking around all the good reviews must be written by his "staff" to boost his rating. I was impressed from the time we met until he received my the check from there... it was all down hill!! He never returns calls or forwards paper work and even told me I could stop by the court house and pick up myself copies myself!!! But don't worry he bills on time and for what I feel are exorbitant charges. I have had dealings with 3 other family law attorneys over the last 5 years and he was the most expensive by about 45%!!! He made all kinds of promises before trial (to get my check) that he came no place even close to delivering, we lost BIG!!!! At trial he even got chewed out by the judge who actually said "you are a licensed attorney right"... Then after the trial it took five days to get a call back from him and when he finally did he made it sound like the loss was my fault!!!! Are you kidding me!!! Sad part was I interviewed 5 other attorneys after I dumped him, 2 took no stance and the other 3 said it went so far sideways because he did not handle it correctly at all!!! And it has been fixed by another attorney since then. The saddest and scariest part is he in the "practice" of family law... It is a scary fact that some one my hire him for custody or to help children.. Ben if you read this PLEASE consider just sticking with criminal law, DUIs, slip and falls etc...