Johnson, Morgan & White contacted me about a client they have who claims my company owes them $20,000. The company we "owe" never even performed the service or delivered the product which cost the $20,000.
We cancelled our contract with the company because we felt that they were attempting to defraud us. This company claims to produce a TV show about new and innovative products. They learned about us after we issued a press release about our new product. I contacted the TV networks which were supposed to broadcast this show, but they said that they had never heard of the show. I told the "TV producers" this and told them I refuse to do business with a company with such deceptive practices.
My company is essentially doing no business at this time due to the economy and our inability to raise much-needed capital to expand our inventory and get publicity and promotions going. The company is my employer, so, without income, that essentially makes me "unemployed". They know this.
A few months later, Johnson, Morgan & White contacted me and said that we would be sued in Florida court if we did not pay up the $20,000. Suddenly, the company was willing to settle for the $3,250 which they claim they had expended on our behalf towards the production of the "TV Show". I consulted a lawyer who said that he thought that they were scums but that they may have a case and sort of recommended that I settle for the $3,250.
I agreed to the settlement and requested the settlement contract in writing from Johnson, Morgan & White. Then, they told me to start making payments and that they would put the contract in place later. Ridiculous. I refused to begin making payments towards a settlement amount which was unknown. We went through this back and forth for several weeks until finally their "lawyer" (I'll get to that in a minuet) told *ME* to draw up a settlement agreement. I agreed and sent one within 3 days of the request.
I didn't hear from them again... Until...
This week (3rd week of December). Another "lawyer" in the office said that the file had been moved to the "Litigation Department", and that I was running out of time to settle before they go to court. I told them that I had done everything previous "lawyer" had asked and he never sent the agreement back to me. This new "lawyer" says that their client has not agreed to the $3,250 settlement amount and that I had better make a payment before the end of the year or else someone would be making a trip to Atlanta to get it out me one way or another!
The problem in GA is that in order to use a recorded conversation in court, you MUST inform all parties on the phone that the conversation is being recorded. Plus, I didn't know he was going to threaten me with physical harm or else I would have tried to arrange to record the conversation when I spoke to him.
About these "Lawyers"...
I went to the Florida Bar Association website to look up this law firm. Neither of the two "lawyers" are listed in the Florida Bar database as lawyers. One of the two names appears 4 or 5 times, but none of them are in or near the city of the address of Johnson, Morgan & White.
What makes me suspicious of Johnson, Morgan & White is that they keep beating around the bush about a settlement document. Plus, they have actually threatened me with physical harm. I can go to the police about is but I have no proof and no more money for a lawyer. The "lawyer said that they would send me a settlement letter immediately but its been five days and I haven't received anything from them.
I'm not sure what to do next without money for a lawyer. I have contacted the Florida Secretary of State after looking them up, but it may be a while before I hear from them.
If you are being harassed my this company, I would contact a lawyer ASAP to see what can be done in your case. Do NOT trust ANYTHING ANYONE from this company says to you and if you can record conversations with them then BY ANY MEANS do so.
Playgrip
Atlanta, Georgia
U.S.A.
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