One thing I've learned as a local business owner is how important it is to ensure ""customer service"" at all levels.
In this particular case Cheri Patrick did what we initially hoped for in winning our case and putting in motion what we needed. The major downside however comes at the shocking cost of our wallet and also lack of general communication.
When you hire a lawyer you are expected to pay a retainer; we paid this and asked to be informed of our balance many times. We never once received notice of our balance and ultimately in the end now owe more than we hoped/budgeted for. I feel had we been appropriately notified of our balances when we asked for them we would have kept the final cost lower. In my speaking to them about this the obvious response was given: ""[Well sorry but this is your balance plus 18% annual fee if not paid in full today!]"" Crazy!!
Lastly in our last appearance before court my wife was put on the stand with no prepping or warning to the questions she would be asked and was asked questions she knew nothing of; financial matters that only I knew. I seriously thought we would lose our case that day simply out of not being prepped.
Cheri was and is a very passionate person and while she took our case very personally and made us both feel she actually cared we both in the end are reeling from the lack of communication and what seemed at times our ""bothering"" them with our desire to know said things. It's a fine line that's hard to remember: personal passion to create good versus pay for those things you take on in life and getting your value. In this case the taste left in our mouth taste of what all the lawyer jokes speak of. Sorry
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