I hired James J Everett to represent me before the IRS in a tax dispute. I hired him in July and paid him over $4500. During the next year. Nothing was happening on my case and every time I called with a question I got another bill for $400. Or more. I finally found out that in Sept of '08 his license was suspended by the AZ Bar Assoc. And he was disbarred in Jan! He never disclosed this to me and continued to let me believe that he was still representing me as my lawyer and continued to bill me!
According to our original agreement his legal assistants were to do any routine legal work for a fee of $225. An hr and if his attorney skills were needed he would charge me $400 an hr. Every bill I received, even if it was paperwork filing or answering a phone call question, I was billed at the maximum $400. An hr rate. He did little more than file a freedom of information act request which anyone can do for free and sent out a couple of letters.
The real crime here is that he is still out there representing himself as a tax lawyer even though he is disbarred. He is NOT in good standing with the IRS and they will not allow him to represent clients before them in any capacity. Check out the yellow pages - he has a new large ad there. I sure he has some sleazy way to get around the fact that he is not a licensed attorney in AZ. Or maybe he is just operating illegally. I have requested that he return the fees I paid him under false pretences but he did not bother to reply. It is my intention to see him out of business in AZ unless I can get my fees refunded.
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