Abused a $3,500.00 retainer fee by allowing process server to have conversations with them knowing I was no thappy with the server I chose. Making rude statements to me that if the lawyers talk about my case I am charged even if it is a simple question. Client lawyer relationship abused.
In late December I did an internet search for a divorce lawyer. I found a web site called Illinoisdivorce.com and called the number. My call was returned in a fashionable manner the same hour. I visited the office located at the address listed as I booked an appointment with Wes Cowell. Unable to get to the office on time I was on the phone with Mr Cowell and prior my arrival he suddenly had to leave and I was introduced with Gordon Nelson who claims Mr Cowell got sudden food poisioning. It was explained to me that my case is not hard to handle and in fact, many cases like mine are easily represented in cout. I felt assured this law firm knew what they were doing. I paid $3,500.00 retainer fee. A pleading was filed in cook county courts which needed to be served by process server.
I chose to find my own to save on costs which were suppose to come off of my retainer fee. I went to http://www.servenow.com and called a process server spoke with me and called me leaving voice mail to contact him. Upon calling he wanted to talk to me about his "web site " which was his rock and roll band in Atlanta. He then went on to discuss how he only charges 65 dollars for two attempts to serve and later on
increased his fee by $10.00. He then went on to discuss that he wants to set up survellance. I did not want this. I spoke with both lawyers and expressed my dis-satisifaction with the process server and the fact that no one ever returns my calls from this law firm. I explained that I have done all of my own research and located my husband and that I would allow two more attempts to have him served and that my cost for process server would be $150.00 and then no more. It was agreed upon both in writing and via phone. A statement was amde by Wes Cowell to me that everything costs money when I call the office and that if he had to discuss my concerns about my case to Gordon Nelson he would charge me a fee even though they work together. I stopped calling the office once I learned it was costing me money off my retainer fee. I requested no more conversations with the Atlanta process server and to PLEASE discontinue him as of Jan 16th as it had been 10 days since and no progress was being made. Today, I received an email letter from Wes Cowell telling me to pay the process server out of my own pocket which is yet another insult to me as a client. The process server has been verbally abusive to me saying send me money before I attemt to serve, and then telling me he will not be speaking to me and will only communicate with my lawyers. I feel that this law firm is only good for returning phone calls reguarding anything related to new clients who will come in, pay a retainer and have little or no results. My case is not local yet they told me it was not hard to do for a divorce with property yet from how the communication is more focused on tme instead of approach
I feel financially abused.instead my money was used to have wasted conversations with a process server who the law firl knows has been unsucessfull and harsh using my law firm as a go between accusing me of harassing him and the law firm knew I wanted let go after two attempts to have my husband served with no sucess knowing that they were charging my retainer have allowed survellance to be set up allowing the bill to increase knowing $150.00 was all I would pay and knowing I did not want private detective services. I have been charced for all conversations to the law firm by process server on way too many occasions. I can feel the law firm has no intention of doing anything for me yet wishes to have my money be paid to themselves for focus on literally all unimportant things in this matter causing me to become upset. To cry, and to refuse my wishes to stop the contact with the Atlanta process server and to approach the courts in which they have failed to do. I find them to be a disgrace to lawyers and have asked them to return what is left of my retainer and I feel that my cost should be adjusted fairly as it is now going to cost me additional fees to search for a lawyer once again.
Furthermore, other lawyers have mentioned to me proceedures they feel should have hapened reguarding this law firms approach to the courts in which was neglected because of the focus of paying each other and a process server knowing that me as a client felt abused.
Joann
Schaumburg, Illinois
U.S.A.
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