John Kern is a Con-Man. He has no integrity, and calling him incompetent is being kind. Don't just take my word for it, but definitely do a reference check on this guy before you even remotely consider the losing proposition that hiring him as your lawyer will entail-- I hired him from out of state to probate my fathers estate, and my mother hired him to sell their house at the same time.
He was given a $3500 retainer and another $1000 for fees. Nine months later after dozens of Spelling errors, improper names, improper services, improper and bogus forms he filled out, lies to the realtors, lies to his clients, breach of attorney client privilege..... at one point he was telling us there was a lien with the IRS which turned out to not exist. We were forced to terminate him. He lied about having a relationships with judges and the clerk of courts in Suffolk county. No one knows who he is or respects him.
We flew in the day of our court appearance, that I was finally able to set up, and no one in either the Surrogate Courtroom or the courthouse building knew who he was. He was unprepared, as usual, and took $8000 cash from my sister which was part of the estate in the court-room foyer which he did not disclose to me. He also told me the amount was different from what she gave him. We fired him that day and he has been reported to the New York State Bar.
We now have Sue him for our retainer, because he is unable to provide an accounting and will not return the bulk of the retainer for contracted work not performed. I had to pay another lawyer $5000 to clean up his mess, close on the house and redo a majority of the paperwork necessary to probate the estate. It was a BREEZE with someone else.
Like I said: Don't take my word- ask John G the director at Compass North America (631) 987-2449 if he would refer him or Call Michael the Clerk Of The Surrogate Court himself in Riverhead (631) 852-1745. Feel free to call me as well, Robert (619) 203-7401- I can forward you a dozen instances of what a con man this guy is with his own emails. Good luck. read more