Julia Kathleen O'Connor

Julia O'Connor

This client hired me in December 2020 for “a couple” municipal cases and we agreed on a price, then as I moved into the case, I learned she had left out cases in multiple other jurisdictions, so we agreed on a total flat fee of $3,000. Only $2,100 of which was paid over the course of 9 months. I entered appearances on each of the cases, requested recommendations, and provided proof of same to client. I notified her of any and all updates and what I was being advised was needed to resolve her matters. It was a full 18 months after her first payment before I received the necessary requested documents from client. Client also continuously messaged me on Snapchat, despite being advised in writing and on phone calls that I often miss Snapchat messages and emails would be the best way to reach me. Client moved out of state without notifying me of a change of address, and the updates (including court documents) that were being mailed to her address on file never were returned to my office indicating it was a bad address. Months went by before she contacted me on Avvo in January 2022 stating she hadn’t been able to reach me “by phone, email, or messages,” of which had only been Snapchat messages apparently which I no longer had access to, as I searched my message history for her at that time, as well as my call log and had nothing for about 6 months. That is when I learned she had moved out of state. We began communicating via email at that point. And by then, I had to file all new entries and requests for recommendations on some of her cases, due to the length of time and lack of follow-up on her part with the information I needed. In June 2022, I notified her that I was having a personal emergency (I did not state family emergency, as the nature of my personal affairs is not something I share with clients) and that I was having another attorney take over my cases as I was unable to continue to handle them at that time. I provided her all of his contact information and turned over all of her case files to the other attorney. She apparently continued emailing me despite being notified that I was going to be unable to represent her (or any other clients) due to my personal matters - all of those emails were met with my out-of-office reply and auto-forwarded to the other attorney. That, and communicating via Snapchat after being advised it’s not how I typically conduct business (since things can easily get missed that way) and prefer emails, are the only times I’ve been “difficult to reach.” I’ve never had any other client have issues of this sort, but they generally notify me of address changes, don’t take a year to make payments on a flat fee, pay me in full, and send emails to get updates about their cases. I’m sorry if she’s having difficulty reaching the other attorney, but I’m also not privy to their communications, whether or not she made the final payments to his office, or anything else regarding the cases, as I’m no longer the attorney in any of these matters.