Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  01/25/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Lawyer ***************** and his assistant **** have done a horrible job at representing me. First they sent me to unnecessary doctor's ************ that only took away from the value of my case. When my case settled for a total of ****** dollars they forced me to sign a release so that they could take their money leaving me with little to nothing for the past two weeks i have been contacting various doctors and the VA to see that my medical bill were paid so that i can reeceive my portion of the money cause i'm getting evicted from my home don't have the money to pay. They say the VA has a lien that they are trying negoiate payment for the VA everyone from doctors to the VA i've called several times i always get an answer **** and **** claim that they can't get in tpouch with anyone which is a lie i've caught the firm in various lies pertaining to my case they were quick to collect money for work that they did not do i have to suffer the rest of my life and im getting evicted they can careless was only concerned with me signing a document so they could collect their money. I've had nothing but problems with this law office and i've done all the work on my own. I want the full amount of my check they've been holding for two weeks minus the three medical bills they didn't work for it so they should not get paid for it. I literally almost committed suicide because of these people lies, lack of consideration and plain out and simple "dont care" attitude toewards me AND my case. The ***** dollars they took from my case I deserve it cause i did all the work so i want the ***** dollars they took plus the amount thats left over after my medical bills.Thanks *****************************

  Business response

  03/08/2024

  We closed out the client's case to her satisfaction, and she signed the closing statement and release of all parties in acceptance. This is the first we're hearing of any dissatisfaction from client.

  Business response

  03/08/2024

  **************** signed a contingent fee contract with Donaldson & Weston entitling
  Donaldson & Weston to a fee equal to one-third of any settlement that the firm secured
  for her. After a brief course of medical care, Donaldson & Weston received ******************
  permission in writing on November 16, 2023 to send a demand letter to the negligent
  drivers insurer for the negligent drivers policy limit of $10,000.00. Shortly thereafter, we
  were able to successfully secure a settlement for **************** for the entire policy limit
  that we demanded entitling Donaldson & Weston to a one-third fee as expressly stated
  in the retainer contract she signed. Contrary to ****************** assertion, at no point in the
  process did we force her to sign anything.

  Given the nature of ****************** complaint, its important to provide some background
  information. Following the accident for which Donaldson & Weston represented her, Ms.
  ****** received medical care from a *********************** (VA) facility. As we
  explained repeatedly to ****************, the VA has an automatic lien on any settlement
  funds in a personal injury case where the patient receives medical care from the VA
  related to injuries sustained in the negligence case.

  As her attorneys, we could not violate or impair that VA lien, and ************ known to
  **************** on multiple occasions. **************** repeatedly demanded that we ignore the
  VA lien and give her the entire amount of the net settlement proceeds and that she
  would handle it on her own. When we explained that we could not do that, she grew
  increasingly agitated. We explained to **************** that we wrote to the VA immediately
  after the settlement, as required by law, to ascertain the amount of its lien and that we
  would then attempt to get the lien reduced for ****************** benefit.

  We checked in regularly with the VA to see how our request was progressing. Initially,
  the VA asserted a lien of $4,820.00. Over the course of the next few weeks, Donaldson
  & Weston was able to negotiate and secure a $4,320.00 reduction of the VA lien for Ms.
  ******* benefit, and the VA agreed to accept $500.00 in full settlement of its lien. Three
  business days after we secured the massive reduction of the VA lien for ******************
  benefit, she signed a Closing Statement where every dollar received and spent related
  to her case was accurately accounted for, and she received the full remainder of her net
  settlement proceeds.

  Customer response

  03/08/2024

   
  Complaint: 21200387
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

  Customer response

  03/11/2024

  The attorney ***************** and his secretary **** were of no help even after my case settled for such a small amount they held on to the money for over three weeks but demanded their part that they didn't work for at all. I was forced to call and negotiate with the chiropractor whom will also verify speaking to me three times and also the VA rep after been giving the wrong number purposely by **** and the wrong person of contact I reached out to the VA on my own this can also be verified I spoke to the rep and was given the correct person of contact by which she stated that she's been calling the law office repeatedly but they refuse to answer the phone settle with the VA this law office was horrible I've never received such terrible treatment from anyone as a US Veteran I'm encouraging all Veterans and anyone else to never use this law office your best interest is not at heart. They were so horrible that I fired another attorney in their office that was representing me on my Veterans benefits matters. They don't return calls I've only spoken to the lawyer ***************** three times during the entire ordeal though I requested he call me several times. I took out a small loan so in order to go pay the loan back and not receive further charges their law office blackmailed me by adding their fees along with the loan payment so to pay my loan I had to pay them too which disgusted me that they would get paid almost an entire month before the client who is a suffering disabled Veteran. I've even thought about running an article in the papers to deter people from their practice. The blackmailing me was the worst in order to not get more fees added on to your small loan you gotta pay us and then they told me cause without me signing for the money for the claim they couldn't collect their money so they blackmailed me into signing. I want his license to be honest his integrity is not good to be an attorney and I'm requesting all money from my lawsuit sense I did the bulk of the work all they did was blackmail me and lie back and forth and not return calls always too busy to come to the phone and the lawyer was always busy. 

  Business response

  03/19/2024

  Were going to stand by our initial response to ****************** complaint. We categorically
  deny all her false and scandalous accusations. We will not put details regarding our
  representation of **************** on public display in this response even though that would
  make it very clear that her version of the events surrounding our representation of her is
  not based in reality. We did not blackmail her or do any of the other outrageous things
  shes accusing us of doing, but we choose not to expose her communications and
  interactions with our office that contradict completely the picture shes attempting to
  paint here. We will continue to take the high road and wish **************** well in the future.

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