This man single handedly gives attorneys a bad name. Snake in the grass is an understatement. I was facing two seperate charges. I hired Bergesen law to represent me on my first case because I didnt feel that the public defender was going to be able to help me. Mistake #1. From the beginning Bergesen seemed like a slick, competent attorney. Oh was he. He was slick at screwing people over not helping them out. I had a co defendant in my case that hired an attorney out of the phonebook. She was more at fault than I was an walked away with a misdemeanor and I recieved a felony. Bergeresen was never concerned with hearing my story. He had me convinced that he already had a plan in place. I went along with it.
After 2 court appearances were continued for lack of recuperation I began to lose my confidence. When I was offered a deal I was floored. It was the same exact deal that was offered to me by the public defender 3 MONTHS and 5000.00 later. I ended up getting charged with a felony and sentenced to 270 days in jail. I had 30 days to report. On the way out of the sentencing hearing I was livid. I told Bergesen he was fired and that I would go at my second case alone. He advised against it and told me that he had no control over what the judge sentanced me to.
After a few days of contemplation I called Bergesen to talk about my options. He conviced me that going to court without paid counsel was suicide and id be sentanced to 14 years in prison. I told him that think he overcharged me for my first case and I was not please with his results. I told him if he would take my second case for 2000.00 instead of 3000.00 I would continue to use him as my attorney. I go to jail to serve my sentence. Bergesen decides that he didnt think that I was going to have to serve time and now he is concerned about repayment for his services. He tells me, my fiance and my aunt that he will not make another court appearence until the fees are ALL paid.
Bergesens fees were on a payment schedule that didn't come due until Feb 09. All this was happening in Nov 08. Bergesen got in touch with my aunt in California and convinced her to pay 4000.00 pay off his fees so that he would schedule my early release hearing. While I was in jail Bergesen would not return any calls I made to him. I had my fiance calling him daily and she couldnt get a hold of him either. I started leaving messages threatening contact of the BAR association. Of course im able to get a hold of him next day. I asked him to visit me in jail so we could discuss the upcoming court date and to ensure all conditions of early release were met. He refused. After another week of asking him to come see me he finally does.
He notifies me that I cant have a release hearing because one of my conditions has not been met. Mind you, he is the only one with this list of conditions. Our relationship turned rude and argumentative from then on. I spent nearly 2 weeks longer than I needed to in jail because Bergesen refused to inform me what was expected of me and refused to schedule the court date until he was satisfied that it had been done. Once I finally got out I filed a grievance with the Idaho State Bar Association. Once Bergesen got a copy of the grievance, he began telling me I owe him 2400.00.
I had my restitution hearing today where the amount requested was DOUBLED and he did not argue or do anything. As soon as I walk out the courtroom doors he has me served with a suit for 2400.00 after I have sent him copies of canceled checks adding up to the amount we agreed on.
Hypersvt
Boise, Idaho
U.S.A.
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