Lucido & Manzella law firm. I don't believe my personal story is the only one of it's kind. However, if you're interested it is as follows.
This law firm was recommended to me by a family member of theirs that I work for. I was in need of representation by someone who spoke both English and at least some Italian for a case involving the custody of my children more or less. Previously, I had singed something that said my ex would get full sole legal custody of our two children. Me, not having any school here in America signed unknowingly thinking it was an agreement for the child support payment. When I met with Vince Manzella, he told me that we are going to try to get that set aside because of the fact that I have problems with reading and writing in English. (A friend is currently helping me write this) I gave them $1,000 retainer fee to start.
Soon after, he gave me some papers to sign. Before signing I asked him, trusting him, what was this for? He told me this was just so that he could represent me in court. So I signed. Little did I know, this paper actually said that he would charge me for 15 minutes per phone call regardless if the call was 2minutes or 10minutes. (His going rate is $175 per hour) Also, he would charge me for what he would pay for parking his car when in court. All the while, charging all of his other cases for the same thing even when they were in court on the same day. (how much money do you need for parking!?)
The $1,000 retainer was gone by the first court appearance and I already owed him an additional $25. The judge denied his request to get the judgement set aside but suggested visitation rights. I asked him to do what he could to get joint custody because my ex kept saying she was moving back to New York (I live in Michigan) and all he kept telling me was, Dont worry about it. After a month my ex filed a motion to move to New York with our children. I called Vince Manzella and his secretary answered and said he was busy and that he would return my call. She also told me that I would have to come back in to speak with him (obviously because I no longer had a retainer).
He never returned my call. After a week or so, I had to be in court for proof of income for child support. Since, he never returned my phone call, and I had used up my retainer I figured that was the end of our business together. However, when I got to court, he showed up (a half hour late mind you) and told me he was here to represent me. I told him I no longer wanted his representation. He spoke with the clerk so that he wouldnt be expected in court as my representation and then told me to come see him in his office to handle the $25 balance. I told him I would mail him a check and that was that.
After a week or so, I received a bill from him for over $200 for reading documents coming from court. I had made it clear previously that I no longer wanted his representation and I already had another lawyer handling my case. I called his office to speak with him about this situation and these costs but he wasnt there as always. Soon after, I was being sued by him for $370.36. So, I went to civil court for this matter and instead of showing up, he sent someone else to represent him. He said he would settle for $300 before seeing the judge and I refused. We went in front of the judge and explained the situation. The judge told me, you signed the paper that said how he would charge you I explained to him I signed this paper because I was told it was so that he could represent me in court. I explained (which is obvious when speaking to me) the language barrier and how I was taken advantage of, but the Judge said because I signed, I had to pay.
The next day I called him, and he told me I had to pay him as soon as I could. I told him I currently cant afford to pay him and if he would accept a payment plan of $20 a month and he refused. I reminded how when we first met and spoke, he told me he would go easy on me price wise because of our mutual acquaintance but that he wasnt going easy on me, he was killing me. He responded, I killed you but youre still alive and hung up the phone. Regardless, I sent him the $20 a month that I could afford for 4 months. Soon, I would find a paper left on my door by a court officer saying that he would be by to pick up my personal belongings to compensate for the $370.36 plus an additional $3.67 in interest and $52.64 for the judgement cost and $94 court officer fee. I called the person who had referred this law firm to me for further guidance hoping his relationship would be useful in persuading the firm to be more lenient with me. He told me he would talk to him and even help me pay off whatever was outstanding because, these guys are dogs. He said he had spoke to them and that everything would be handled. After a month however, someone came knocking on my door, I opened my door (from my garage) and saw that my car was gone and the court officer was there saying in a condescending tone, do you want to talk to me now? He told me they took my car, and that I have to pay the currently increased balance of $575 to get it back. I borrowed money from a family member, paid the officer and picked up my car.
In conclusion, the law firm of Lucido & Manzella, turned what was supposed to be more of a favor into a nightmare. Taking advantage of my lack of knowledge as well as my language barrier and being relentless as well as vindictive over money they should not have even been entitled to in the first place. If you got ripoff from this guys please look for me in facebook and write down you story please!: facebook account:
People ripped off by Lucido & Manzella
clea
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