Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  03/15/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  In August 2022, I was struggling to save my home business vehicle - a landlord was assaulting me, shot my dog, stole everything I owned and the police would do nothing. ****** is a notorious **** state I hired an attorney ***************************, she said we were going to get this guy - took $1,000, my donations to her native ********************** and then disappeared Would not return phone calls. Finally I got a hold of her to be chastised, blamed for going to her too late, which we already knew we were appealing the court case Told me I was the landlord's "friend" - which strongly implicates that I'm a promiscuous gold digging woman who traveled ***** miles to live in a junk pile and give my life savings to a man who eats from a food pantry? I signed a lease before I arrived in alaska, apparently my landlord went around telling people I was his girlfriend and that's how he got away with this as domestic before I knew what was going on ***** Redmond accused me of being a promiscuous woman who uses sexual favors to get things in life I was raised by my dad - I work on my own cars and home. I was a ***** woman bit by a tick 15 years ago which took away my ability to walk talk and function. I thought hard to walk and talk again just to come to ****** get to get ripped off by lawyers She took my money, told me I was a promiscuous woman, disappeared. Refuses to issue an itemized bill, give a refund, will not return my documents. She has rejected a registered letter twice She's keeping my money - I'm 60 years old I've got nothing left. I'm homeless Shocked and stunned Sonja knows I can't recover. She knows exactly who she targeted to rip off.

  Business response

  03/21/2023

  Re: *****************************
  

  Dear Resolutions Specialist;
  
  Responding with regard to the above referenced complaint. The client in question (hereafter
  referred to as AC) originally represented herself in a Stalking and Domestic Violence case. I do not do
  any type of Criminal Law. The court found she did not prove her case and issued a decision on July 25,
  2022. A party to a lawsuit has 10 days to file a motion for reconsideration of the decision. AC came to
  my office on August 10, 2022 asking for help. I explained that the time allowed for a Motion to
  Reconsider had already passed, but I would attempt to have it reviewed anyway. It took a few more
  days to order and receive CDs of the court proceedings. Due diligence required that I review those
  recordings before filing the motion in order to determine what grounds might available to make that
  request. Which I did. I filed the request and it was not *****ed.
  

  The court determined that AC was friends with the landlord in question. I never on any occasion
  ever suggested AC was promiscuous or used sexual favors to get what she wanted. I have never
  received, much less refused any letters from AC. All of our communication has been in person or by
  phone. I did try to explain that the court did not ***** her request and it was due in part because of the
  time lapse, and partially because of some of the answers she provided to the court in her own
  testimony. I tried to explain how the court arrived at their decision based on the things she said. I never
  at any time suggested I agreed with those conclusions. Legally it was already too late when she came to
  me. I cannot change that.
  

  AC left me a lengthy voice mail (I believe it was roughly the first of the year) demanding a full
  refund and accusing me of targeting her and ripping her off. This was a very angry, rambling message.
  She stated she would be coming to town next week and wanted her file back, a complete refund and an
  itemized statement. I prepared all of those things in a file on my desk awaiting her arrival. She has
  never contacted me again. At this point, she actually owes me for services rendered, however, I was
  and am willing to overlook that as it is clear she is in a hard place.
  

  I am however, not to blame for any of her problems including the fact she is unhappy with the
  results of a complaint to the court where she represented herself.
  

  As a side note, I have no connection to any Native ********************** I am connected to
  the local ********************* to which she donated a few used items. Perhaps that is what she is
  referring to. I hope this information will allowed you to evaluate our interactions. If AC would like for
  me to mail everything she has asked for to her, I would be happy to do so. She never asked.

  Customer response

  04/06/2023

   
  Complaint: 19599798
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

   

   

  All of the information in Redmond's  response is new information. None of this information was disclosed until it was forced through this better Business bureau contact. 

   

  I have not heard any of this information before. I had no knowledge she filed an appeal on this case - I asked for that information several times. She's giving me nothing.

   

  Sonja was contacted by posted mail, registered receipt ******************** of which she refused receipt. It doesn't matter whether it's mailed to her new address or old, she keeps three different addresses on the internet, and the postmaster laughs at that. The postmaster stated that Sonja ****** "refused the letter and would not be accepting it."

   

   They advised me not to bother sending her any more registered letters, because she just simply turns them away to deny communication. They explained and demonstrated how she can look behind the green receipt card that is taped to the registered letter, see who the sender is and refuse the letter, denying anyone tried contacting her. As in this case.  Post office personnel stated I would have to hire someone to serve her, because "she turns away mail all the time."

   

  Then she can proceed to say we never contacted her. Or we leave long rambling angry messages. Standard operating procedure with lawyers. 

   

  I waited patiently gave her time, finally needed to plan a trip, making sure it didn't conflict with any court dates or anything needed here. 

   

  Sonja indicated she was involved with some committee that collects donations baby clothes and *******, I run into resources all the time, do a lot of allocating donated resources getting them to the right folks, so I dropped off those donations, along with the repaired used bicycle that had an additional brand new tire tube attached to it. 

   

  At that time, I specifically asked - "are we all set?" I had another $2,500 at the time selling my mobility equipment to go forward with this case.

   

  Sonja stated "oh yeah, we're gonna get this guy" and for the first time, I had hope!

  Then everything went quiet.

   

  Redmond did not return any calls nor give any information. So I began to leave messages every other week.

   

   I specifically requested that if any Court papers had gone in, any responses I needed copies of those ASAP. I had another attorney to get to. I needed to move to the next step if she wasn't willing to go forward. But she did what many lawyers do, hold on to the case so it can't be passed on in a timely manner. 

   

  Sonja Redmond is a housing attorney. Why did she take this case if it wasn't within her venue?

   

   After being assaulted, shot at, fires set, ******** state troopers refused to take any reports and told me I had to file stalking charges, because of Governor's 30% less crime rate, they're sending these cases to civil court, to keep crime rates down.

   

  Because my landlord had apparently told several people I was his girlfriend before I even arrived in ******, they were trying to view this as a domestic relationship? I didn't know women are required to have *** with their landlords in ******?

   

  I've been protecting my immune system for over 15 years, long before covid came along. Yet I get accused of this by law enforcement and my own attorney? 

   

  Yes, we knew the appeal was too late, I couldn't get money, I couldn't get help - I had to sell off my mobility equipment

   

  Sonja was to appeal the decision based on the fact that I have a disability, I can't advocate for myself anymore.

   

  I did as what was required, however it was a telephone hearing. I have a serious disability that affects my neurological system, can't read, speak properly,  focus, essentially I can walk, I can chew bubblegum, but I can't do them at the same time since I got this serious illness 15 years ago. I fought hard to walk and talk again, now I'm going backwards with this unhealthy lifestyle, my mobility equipment was sold to bring ***** in. 

   

   I had no one to represent me and take the lead on communication. I used to be a legal secretary, if I was able to do any of this I would not be classified as disabled.

   

  Had *********************** gone over that testimony, she would have found several lies and indications in that testimony that my landlord was indeed acting criminally. ******** border patrol had verified all the information, spoke with the landlord, knew this was a legitimate move on my part, this wasn't a friendship or anything personal.

   

  I asked Miss Redmond on the phone, "how do you think I got my house? How do you think I accomplished all of this in 10 months?" She answered - "because your his friend... Helped you out" Yes, it has a strong implication for promiscuous behavior in ******, and she knows it. That's exactly what she meant. It's not the first time I've run into feminists who don't believe I was a ***** woman, work on my own cars, build my own furniture, work on my property.

   

  According to that conversation, all of this was done by my landlord as "favors"

   

  The first thing requested, was get a hold of any paperwork, eviction notices that I was to leave the property or the property was being claimed as his.

  No paperwork was produced. The man who represents himself as "the landlord" doesn't own the property - there's another landlord involved.  There was no need to go back in this direction, there's a whole another court case to be dealt with

   

  I've been requesting the file since I found out in November she lied and wasn't going forward. I never heard back - I'm waiting to hear from a lawyer on a court date. She got no paperwork to me, held up my case so I could no't go forward to get another attorney. 

   

  I worked for lawyers for over 20 years - I used to do their tricks of the trade. I know what she's doing to a disabled woman, she knows my disability and is using it in this case to  carry out this deception.

   

  No one told me my file was ready for pickup, otherwise I would not have gone all the way to better Business bureau, hired somebody, paid them money to use a keyboard for me to go through with this. This is costing me money.

  My old landlord took my entire home, business and life savings, my disability mobility equipment, my physical therapy, and my vehicle. And ***** has blamed me.

   

  This is where this gets very disturbing in the deception, Redmond did indeed discuss native American issues. Perhaps local native American organizations need to be aware that she's representing herself as someone involved.

   

  The stolen property also belonged to my native American son. She claimed she'd would be somebody who looks out for native American rights - that's also why I went this direction. The property that was stolen also belonged to a native American. I can't make up a native American son.

   

  The last phone call I made to sonja was related to the case because

  I was getting blocked in, run off the road, had my service people and handyman chased off by a neighbor who is related to this case. I'm still getting it here in ****** - because everyone keeps taking my case, taking money and files, yet does nothing.

   

  ***** Redmond knows exactly what she's doing. She stole $1,000 from a disabled woman, lied - and refuse to go forward with the case. 

   

  What's absolutely ridiculous, is that I have to hire somebody to go on the computer with me to contact better Business bureau to get any response.

   

  The response I got through the better Business bureau, was the first time I've heard any of this information from ***** Redmond

   

  I apologize if this response is in different font or confusing, I had hired somebody to handle this - they started to help me but I did not get the ability to respond until after they left. I can afford hired help only but twice a month. 

   

  I live over an hour and a half away from Sonja Redmonds office now - she needs to mail my paperwork and refund if she's going to send it back.

  I have gone by her office several times, having experience in the legal field, I know not to do that again - because she will pull the lawyers trick on calling the police, or filing stocking charges on a client. I have seen that trick pulled so many times out of female lawyers since the ****s - it's not new. So I'm not going anywhere near so near ******** office, she has my mailing address

   

   - I've asked her several times to mail it. When you've worked for lawyers that many years? You know better than to fall for these tricks after they show their hand

   

   

  This has gone on long enough.

  I'm about to be homeless because of what she's pulled.

  She held on to my case file, refused to return phone calls, this is the most information I've gotten from ***** Redmond since last August.

   

  She said she was going to appeal the decision based on my disability, not on the content of the case because the facts never got out there - Canadian border patrol knows everything. The landlord deliberately stole paperwork, from the Canadian border patrol. 

   

  I don't owe ***** Redmond anything, she never issued a bill - never asked permission to Bill me further.

   

  Yet anytime a lawyer owes you money? They always pull this trick - suddenly you owe them - I've done their billing, I know how this works. 

   

  I was also a director of a psychiatric halfway house - it's well known that over 23% of lawyers are alcoholics, have mental health issues.  ***** better be very careful pointing fingers out. 

   

  I have documented professional experience in both the legal industry, and in the world of psychiatric care. 

  Redmond better be very careful with slanderous statements.

   

  I read her ad on the internet, claiming she's compassionate and understanding-  she's not compassionate at all - these people are coming at me after my son committed suicide and I'm just trying to start my life all over again - but I'm running into these nasty opportunists.

   

  I have been told very directly, I'm going to be "leaving ****** in a casket."  So far, this landlord has gotten everything he's wanted. 

   

  The truth often makes lawyers angry. Then they go into denial mode.

   

  Thank you for your time

   

   

  *****************************

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

  Business response

  05/02/2023

  This letter is in response to the continuing complaint of ******************************  ******************** is in a tough place.  I understand things are difficult for her, however, none of those difficulties are of my making.  ******************** was the plaintiff in a stalking complaint against her landlord.  She chose to represent herself in this matter.  She did not receive the result she desired and came to me after the fact.  She admitted in her complaint that she knew the deadline for a motion to reconsider had passed before she called me.

  I was hired for one thing and one thing only, to file a motion to reconsider which is very different from an appeal.  A motion to reconsider only asks the judge to reconsider their decision based on a misunderstanding or misapplication of the law.  An appeal goes over the head of the original judge and asks a higher court to review the entire case.  I purchased copies of the court hearing and reviewed the actual hearing.  The court declined to reconsider.  I informed ******************** of that decision and discussed with her the reasoning of the court in denying her stalking request.  I never insinuated I agreed with the court.  ******************** alleges I agreed to appeal her case based on her disability.  Disability is not a legal cause for appeal, completely aside from the fact I never agreed to appeal.  I don't do disability law

  ******************** has subsequently had additional difficulty with her living situation.  From her description, it sounds like there may have been some criminal activity going on.  That however, as ******************** is well aware is outside my field.  I do not and never have practiced criminal law.

  I have never in my life refused a certified letter.  I can only GUESS she sent it to my office physical address where I do not receive mail.  I would be interested in seeing the returned envelope to verify that.  As for the Postmaster telling her I routinely refused mail, that is not possible.  I get my mail in ********, ******************** gets her in *******.  I have never been to the ******* post office and have no idea who the Postmaster is.  I can guarantee that Postmaster has no idea what my routine business practices are.  It appears ******************** must have worked for some shady lawyers at one time and is projecting their behavior onto me.

  ******************** never, at any time mentioned another lawyer and at not time did I tell her "We're going to get this guy."  At her question regarding how things were going, I said it was coming along.  I did not ask for additional money, nor did she inform me she had some.  I know absolutely nothing about her Native ******** son and haven't a clue what he might have to do with the case at hand.

  She did leave some things at my office for the local ********************** but I have no idea what she is talking about regarding Native *********.  I don't do native law.

  I have mailed ************************ file to her at the ******* address she gave you and have refunded the entire amount she paid to me despite having earned all of it plus.  Please advise ******************** that I admire her determination and I am really sorry to hear things have not worked out well for her in ******.  She is a hard worker and deserves better in life.

  Sincerely,

  Sonja Redmond, Esq.

  Customer response

  05/09/2023

  Thank you - I don't have a vehicle I'm getting a ride to the post office on Monday. I'm currently working with a women's homeless shelter to figure out where I can go.  ****** is not a safe state for anyone.
  
  I do not agree with *************************** account, she had given me such hope in making that statement last fall I really thought she was going to go through with something significant. 
  
  But what she did do was hold me up nearly 9 months. This is what lawyers do - they take cases, they don't release them, don't give ** information and then a statute of limitation passes by and they blame **. 
  
  She told me directly she would appeal the decision on the court based on my disability. So her response is not accurate so far. I'll see what has shown ** in the envelope and will get back to you by Tuesday.
  
  I really didn't believe better Business bureau would take on attorneys - good for you! 
  
  I didn't think anybody could or would call them to the carpet - take them out of their element to expose them.
  
  I worked for a lot of lawyers in my time, the terrible things I was asked to do-  I wish you could take them on. 
  
  Thank you again - I will be in touch shortly
  
  *****************************
  

  
  

  Customer response

  05/11/2023

  Thank you. I received a package from sonja redmond, I don't find a place to respond within your form. 
  
  Ms Redmond does not have the facts straight, ex:  I wouldn't go to my own postmaster to ask them about getting mail in ********?  That would be ridiculous. Just another wrong assumption by Redmond. 
  
  Yes, she did indicate to me "we're going to get.. " and it sounded like "this guy" - it surprised me. Actually gave me hope.
  
  Did I get the desired outcome? 
  I got the refund after she wasted 8 months of my life. 
  
  But I don't know how to follow up on the better Business bureau form - I don't see any place to respond, except or reject her response 
  
  Thank you
  *****************************
  

  
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩