There are several corrupt attorneys in Rockbridge County. This firm is absolutely one of them. Do…read morenot hire them for anything!
In a nutshell, my experience was so bad that I reported her to the Virginia Bar, yet an attorney from the Bar defended her & my report was minimized. However this firm has still broken the law & still refuses to give me my complete case file when I now have to represent myself. They would rather argue as if they know the law better than I do & simply take my $4,000 and run instead of admitting multiple mistakes. Not only were they extremely unprofessional and hateful, not only did they not defend me adequately or have all evidence or even call me back when I requested to speak about my case, but they are still refusing to even give me my case file which is my property.
Here is the letter I sent to the Virginia Bar, who I am sure this law firm paid off (etc) to remain "in good standing."
"I contacted this lawyer in the very beginning asking for information & a meeting to discuss my case. I was stonewalled & ignored for almost 3 months. The first time she ever spoke to me, almost 3 months later, it was only 2 days before the trial. The entire law office was biased towards me & sided with my accuser. Sandra said, "You just think everyone's out to get you, dont you, and that everybody's lying!" She and other staff members were extremely unprofessional in how they spoke to me. I was not properly represented, I was not given due process. I was coerced by my attorney to accept a no contest/guilty plea without proving that I was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, as is the law. I did not want to go to trial, & she was aware that I was now desperate to protect my elderly mother & special needs child (I cannot go to jail). The attorney insisted on taking a deal with the commonwealth without being interested in any of my evidence or my side. She did not fight the false charges or perjury against me even when the fact is that my case was built on perjury. She did not counter-sue the other party for their damage to my property or for my mother's injuries due to their damage. At this time, I have accepted that no one in the local Rockbridge Court system cares what the truth is or what happened. There was extreme bias towards my case, & I am lucky to do no jail time - but I was told I was guilty. I was coerced into pleading guilty. I fear retaliation from this attorney because I am filing this complaint. She seems to be very popular in the local community but there is underhanded corruption going on. At this time I have (verbally) formally requested information in my case file twice, & I have also sent two formal emails requesting my entire case file. This law firm is now refusing to give me my case file & all information in it, which is the property of me, the client. They are refusing to allow me to see any of the evidence used to convict me. I have never been allowed to see any part of my case file to help make an informed decision. I do not think this lawyer cared about me at all, only the money. Please help me find another attorney. I fear retaliation from this attorney. I would like to keep this complaint private because I fear my case will be further sabatoged because of it, but I cannot let this go. I was not guilty of any crime & my lawyer did not try to fight for me or communicate with me in a manner that I felt I was making an informed decision that was not coerced or forced."
This letter was in fact, not kept private, and was sent to this attorney against my requests.
I now have to represent myself on this case. They refuse to give me my complete case file which is legally my property. I am entitled to the full case file especially when I now have to represent myself, & they are breaking the law. They even think that I will sign papers allowing her to drop me as a client. She can go ahead and drop me herself. I dont owe these people anything. They are so rude and DO NOT CARE about their clients. They care about MONEY. Their other reviews, their "cougar" motto, it's all for show, it is all a lie.