ComplaintsforThe Diggs Law Firm, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  05/24/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This complaint is lengthy but necessary, I met Mr. ******************** August 23 2021. I paid a $100 consultation fee. We talked for ***** minutes about my case. I was transparent and excited he agreed to take my case. He told me $1000 down and monthly payments of $500,or $250 every two weeks, to cover the court cost, Motions, appearances etc. I paid $1000 Sep 30 with the remaining balance of $4000. My $250 bi-weekly payments were current from start date in AUG to April 29th, totaling $5000 . Still hadn't been to court, no appearance's. I held up my end of the agreement to the contract. I did not receive the services I expected to get. This has been very stressful very unethical, this is not fair. I am looking for justice. I received nothing but heartache and pain. This has been a struggle and financially hard. I email Mr. ******************** multiple times and sometimes he wont answer at all, or a month later. My case is coming to an end only because me and my kids father came to an agreement and even now he's taking his time. I told him yes draft the agreement April 19th after he sent me the rough draft and still nothing. Today is May 24th I feel truly taking advantage of by this law firm. I have been nothing but kind, and corporative to the firm. I need to speak out so this won't happened to another mother wanting her children. I am currently being sent invoices and no services been done for me. I am so embarrassed because a dozen people told me to let Mr. ******************** go, but I invested so much I was scared to start over. I have multiple emails reaching out but I will never get a response until I threaten to not pay. He called at 8 at night one time and I did not answer. I am seeking some kind of refund and way more than $1000 seems that's how he shutting people up. I took this very serious and I paid Mr. ******************** before I paid any other bills and struggled since SEP. I am not happy with his service and it's sad it had to come to this, but that is the truth and I have all the proof!!!!

  

  Business response

  06/23/2022

  To Whom It May ****************** style="color: rgb(24, 50, 71); font-size: 14px; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">

  During our representation of ************, multiple emails were sent and reviewed; multiple calls were had with ************, Opposing Party (while pro se) and Opposing Counsel; there were several court appearances; documents were reviewed; motions drafted; and a final Judgment reviewed and edited. In an effort to amicably resolve cases, we encourage parties to communicate with each other in order to reduce unnecessary litigation.

  In this case, not only were we able to assist the parties in coming to a settlement, we restructured several of Ms. ***** payments, so we could continue representation. Our decision to withdraw from Ms. ***** case, or any clients case, is always a hard decision. The specifics of our representation are covered by attorney client privilege, and we will not be discussing these in a public forum. However, we have sent several messages to ************, encouraging her to contact our office to discuss any issues she has with representation or her outstanding invoice: **************. 

  Thank you,

   

  ************ Diggs

  The Diggs Law Firm, LLC

  ***********

  Suite 3800

  *******, ** 60603

  Customer response

  06/30/2022

   
  Complaint: 17249965
  
  I am rejecting this response because, I am reading his response and it say nothing.  I am going to address everything he stated in his response. 

   

  During our representation of ************, multiple emails were sent and reviewed; ( I SENT MULTIPLE EMAILS AND ALL OF THEM WERE NOT RESPONDED TO) (I HAVE THE *****)  multiple calls were had with ************, (DURING THE **** OF BEING REPRESNTED I MADE THE APPOINTMENTS TO TALK TO MR. ********************** AND YES,, HE LET ME VENT AND HE SAID THAT HE COULDNT GET INCONTACT WITH THE OTHER PERSON AND MAYBE HE WAS BLOCKED. I CALLED THE OTHER PERSON AND HE SAID NO, MR ********************** IS NOT BLOCK HE DID NOT CALL ME. THE ONLY **** MR. ********************** CALLED AND EMAILED HIM WAS WHEN I KEPT ASKING ABOUT IT, SO YES HE FINALLY SENT THE OTHER PERSON A EMAIL ASKING FOR A PHONE CALL BUT HE TOLD MR ********************** TO RESCHEDULE BECAUSE HE WAS WITH FAMILY. AGAIN I HAVE ***** IF IT NEEDS TO BE SEEN.)0pposing Party (while pro se) and Opposing Counsel; there were several court appearances; ( WE HAD 1 COURT DATE AND IT WAS TO GET ANOTHER JUDGE. MR ********************** TOLD ME THAT THE JUDGE THAT WE ORIGINALLY HAD WAS NOT A NICE ONE AND MAYBE WE SHOULD GET ANOTHER JUDGE. I AGREED..... THERE WAS NO MORE COURT DATES AFTER THAT. THIS WAS BACK IN AUGUST)  documents were reviewed; motions drafted; and a final Judgment reviewed and edited. (5/2/2022) I TALKED TO MR ********************** ABOUT MY AGREEMEMNT. I TOLD HIM THAT WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT ( FINALLY). ME AND THE OTHER PERSON, NOT ME AND MR. **********************. I SENT HIM THE AGREEMENT THROUGH EMAIL AND HE PUT IN THE DATES AND ****S. HE MADE IT TO WHERE IT WAS SPECIFIC. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD DRAFT IT AND SEND IT BACK. A WEEK PASSED AND HE NEVER SENT IT BACK. THE PAPERWORK WAS ALREADY WRITTEN UP BECAUSE AS I STATED IT WAS AN OLD AGREEMENT. ALL WE DID WAS CHANGE DATES.) In an effort to amicably resolve cases, we encourage parties to communicate with each other in order to reduce unnecessary litigation. (MR ********************** NEVER ENCOURAGED ME TO TALK TO THE OTHER PERSON WE DID THAT OURSELVES. SOME WERE GOOD AND SOME WERE BAD, BUT MR. ********************** NEVER TOLD ME TO TALK TO THE OTHER PERSON MYSELF, THAT WAS ALL ME. I WAS TRYING TO FIX THE ISSUES AND IN A ****LY MANNER. MR ********************** HAD NO PARTS IN THAT.
  In this case, not only were we able to assist the parties in coming to a settlement, ( HE DID NOT, AS I STATED MR ********************** DROPPED ME AS A CLIENT BEFORE PAPERWORK WAS FINALLY SIGNED. I HAD TO SIGN A RESPONDENTS PRO SE AGREEMENT FROM THE OTHER PERSONS ATTORNEY SO I CAN SIGN MY OWN AGREEMENT WITH OUT MR **********************.) we restructured several of Ms. ***** payments, so we could continue representation. ( I ASKED COULD I PAY TWICE THAT MY PAYMENT WAS LATE AND THEY AGREED, YES BUT THAT WAS MONTHS OF ME ALREDAY PAYING ON ****. I PAYED ALL MY PAYMENTS ON **** EVERY TWO WEEKS) I HAVE THE ***** AS WELL. Our decision to withdraw from Ms. ***** case, or any clients case, is always a hard decision. (HE PUTS THAT IN ALL HIS CASES HE DROP)( NO IT WAS NOT I DID NOT GET A PHONE CALL OR AN EMAIL EXPLAINING WHY I WAS DROPPED) AFTER I PUT IN MY COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB I KNEW THAN. THEY TOOK MY MONEY AND DROPPED ME BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF BEING TAKING ADVANTAGE OF. I SENT EMAILS AND LEFT VOICE MESSAGES WITH THE ***** AND NOT ONE CALL WAS RETURNED AND NOT ONE EMAIL WAS RETURNED UNTIL I COMPLAINED ABOUT STOP PAYMENTS, THAN I WOULD GET A EMAIL AND OR PHONE CALL  AGAIN I HAVE ALL THE *****. The specifics of our representation are covered by attorney client privilege, and we will not be discussing these in a public forum. However, we have sent several messages to ************,encouraging her to contact our office to discuss any issues she has with representation or her outstanding invoice: 

  I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE IN THIS CASE I WILL ALLOW MR ********************** AND HIS COMPANY TO DISCUSS THIS CASE IN PUBLIC FORUM BECAUSE I WAS NOT REPRESNTED BY MR. ********************** AT ALL. I WAS NEVER DISRESPECTFUL, I NEVER ARGUED WITH HIM OR HIS STAFF. I PAYED MY BILLS I ALWASY COMMUNICATED AND GAVE TWO OR MORE WEEKS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE AND NOTHING!

  I NEED MY MONEY BACK, THIS WAS A WASTE OF ****, PAIN, AND HURT WHICH I TOLD MR ********************** IN CONFIDENCE HE KNOWS MY FRUSTRATION WITH THIS CASE. I SENT HIM AN EMAIL CRYING ASKING HIM DID HE REALLY WANT TO REPRESENT ME BECAUSE I FELT I WAS BEING IGNORED, AND STILL NO RESPONSE FROM HIM. I HAVE THAT EMAIL IF THE BBB NEEDS TO SEE THIS. THIS IS CRAZY!!!!!

  SO YES I AM LOOKING TO BE COMPINASTED. THEY SENT ME EMAILS GIVING ME ANOTHER ****. I PAYED TO THIS DATE **** WHEN THE CONTRACT SAID ****. THE **** WAS FOR **** OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I WAS INSULTED AND FLABERGASTED. THAT THIS COMPANY HAD THE ***** TO SEND ME A **** WHEN REPRESNTATION WAS NOT GIVEN.

   

  I GOT MY CHILDREN BECAUSE I DID ALL THE HARD WORK, I GOT MY CHILDREN BECAUSE I WAS DETERMINED. PLEANTY OF PEOPLE THAT NEW ABOUT THIS CASE TOLD ME FOR MONTHS DROP THIS LAWYER, HE IS USING YOU. LOOK AT HIS REVIEWS. ALL OF THE CLIENTS ARE SAYING THE SAME THING ******. YOU DO NOT NEED A LAWYER, THIS IS THE SECOND LAWYER THAT SAW YOUR VONERABILTY AND IS USING YOU. LIKE ISAID I WAS SCARED TO NOT HAVE A LAWYER AND BY THAT**** I HAD ALREADY INVESTED **** SO I STAYED. I AM NOT TRYING TO TARNISH THIS MANS IMAGE BUT THIS IS MY EXPEREANCE WITH THIS FIRM AND IT WAS NOT A GOOD ONE. 

   

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

  Customer response

  07/25/2022

   
  Complaint: 17249965
  
  I am rejecting this response because: This is the exact response he gave last time. This company did not help 
    me at all and I am looking for my Money back. They wait until the last minute to respond and when they do its just a re write from the last. i attached the response they gave last month and it is the same. I repeat DIGGS LAW FIRM did not help me get my children. I did. I payed **** to this firm and nothing!!! we did not have any court dates.

  he was not present when i signed my papers to get custody.

  he withdrawal from being my lawyers says prior

  and what i signed was not drafted by mr ********************************* other lawyer drafted it and took out some of what mr ********************** put in there, 
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

  

  Business response

  08/08/2022

  To Whom It May ************************* stand by our original response. We value our clients' privacy and ************ is more than welcome to contact us at **************, in which we hope to amicably resolve any outstanding issues with her case. 

  
  Thank you.  

  Customer response

  08/12/2022

   
  Complaint: 17249965
  
  I am rejecting this response because: If I am not due for a refund than it's nothing I NEED TO SAY to this firm, they stand by their response with no evidence and I stand by mines with all I have to show they did not do their job. They have my number as well ********** and my address, they can call me and ask where to send my check.
  

   

  Is this supposed to be a itemized list? Where do you see what I am being charged for? Other than me making my payments and all on time, maybe except 2!

  Where is the breakdown of everything they claimed they did that has real value? I will take this farther if I have to I am more aware of how this lawyer works, Other lawyers told me about him and its sad how he takes advantage of venerable people. that's what he did to me, He made me feel like he cared and as soon as I speak out of the negligence I received he dropped me, talking about differences! This firm is a Joke and I wastes hard earned money on this man.
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  02/11/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I hired attorney **** ******************** to represent me in an appeal case with DCFS. Mr. ******************** charged me 5000$ for the case. Mr. ******************** missed the deadline for the appeal. After I paid the money, he stopped answering my calls and replying to my emails. After repeated calls and threatening to messages about the money, he finally got back to me and said that there was no case. He sent me an invoice totaling up to 3000$ for fees. Mr. ********************, lead me on just to get money from me, he misses my appeal date, and I feel that he just totally robbed me. Please help. Thank you *************************

  

  Business response

  02/22/2022

  To whom it may concern:

  
  **************** hired my firm to do a review of her case file and previous judgment in anticipation that we would need to get up to speed if we were going to be able to assist her in an appeal or help her re-establish her relationship with DCFS, so she could get her grandchild back. The scope of our representation was not to file an appeal on her behalf but to review her file. My office reviewed her case file and did research on her behalf however, she did not have a viable appeal. I advised **************** of this and she was initially thankful until she received an invoice and refund, after which, her tone changed. Please see the enclosed emails.

  
  Although we stand by our ****, I understand Ms. ******* frustration with the court system and with her previous counsel, so as a courtesy we would be willing to give **************** back an additional $1,000 to amicably settle this matter.

  Customer response

  02/23/2022

   
  Complaint: 16755343
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I hired the firm to do an appeal for me. They stated it was 5000,00 . I did not hire the firm to look into my case I had already did all of that. I was looking for an attorney to help my do an appeal and that was stated in the beginning. I had to scrape up the Money to pay for that. I did not hire an attorney to do an investigation, because that would not be something that I could afford. I was told that way after the fact that they couldnt help me in my case , But they still took *******$ from me. I understand the time of going through the paperwork, but to charge me ******* was misleading me. I still did  not get to appeal my case, he missed the deadline and then still charged me , and told me they couldnt help me I feel robbed. I would accept there 1000,00 offer, but I dont believe they would pay it up. I dont think they are practicing in honest. Thank you
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

  

  Business response

  02/24/2022

  To whom it may concern:

  Although there are gross inaccuracies in ******************** response, as a courtesy we have already refunded the additional $1,000 to ****************, to resolve this dispute. She should allow between 5-7 business days for the refund to fully process. 

  We wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors. 

  Customer response

  02/28/2022

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

• Initial Complaint

  02/01/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Hired Mr. ******************** in December. My court case was at the end of January. In between that time I had only been able to speak to mr ******************** twice. The first time being two days before the meeting where he asked me for a plan and suggested he withdraw from the case if I could not. The second time was the day of the hearing where he again mentions withdrawal and then proceeds to file a motion of withdrawal. I believe this attorney did not act in my best interests and completely failed his fiduciary duty to me as his client. Since then I have been trying to make contact with the law firm from attorneys to paralegals to billing and miraculously no one is available to speak. They are trying to stop me from getting my money back.

  

  Business response

  02/12/2022

  To whom it may concern:
  
  Summary: 
  
  Prior to my firms engagement, **************** owed $120 in child support, $1,500 in attorneys fees, and his child support was increased from $40 per week to $100 per week (see enclosed order). Due to his failure to pay these fees and his failure to appear in court, he was granted an additional ten (10)days to pay the outstanding balance to avoid a body attachment, which would land him in jail. 
  
  Consultation:
  
  Although our consultation agreement was for a thirty-minute consultation, I talked to **************** for over an hour and twenty minutes. During this consultation (without reviewing his documents) I advised him that if the judge was bringing him in person for his failure to pay these fees that he may also issue a body attachment order, which would mean **************** would go to jail. 
  
  I also advised **************** that rather than hiring an attorney, he should take the money he would use to hire an attorney and pay the fees ordered by the court, as paying an attorney to go into court with him could exacerbate the situation. Despite my warning,**************** stated that he wanted to hire my firm for the child support issues and additional parenting issues that he may have (see attached retainer agreement).
  
  Retaining the Firm:
  
  When **************** retained my firm, it was right before we closed for the holidays between December 23rd through 26th and December 30th through January 2nd (see attached flyer). As we were closed during the holidays with limited availability by appointment only, we began reviewing Mr.******* file at the beginning of January. At any point between the time *************** retained our office until his court date on January 28th, **************** had the option to:
  
  - Contact my office to schedule an appointment with me at a specific date and time; 
  - Email me questions regarding his case or to set up a time to discuss his case over the phone; 
  - Schedule a time to discuss his case using the calendar link provided to him in our January 14, 2022, office flyer, which was emailed to all current clients, including **************** (see attached flyer for MLK Day Closure). 
  
  Despite having several options available to him to communicate with me, **************** did not schedule an appointment, nor did he email me. On January 25, 2022, my office contacted **************** and scheduled him an appointment to discuss his case.
  
  On January 26, 2022, I contacted **************** and spoke with him for an hour regarding his upcoming case, in which I learned he still had not paid the additional child support amounts he was ordered to pay and had made no payments towards the attorneys fees for his previous contempt. *************** also informed me that he was terminated from his previous employment and could not pay these additional fees. I asked **************** to contact his father and offered to have a three-way conversation with his father to try and convince him to pay these fees on his behalf. **************** declined and stated that his father would not pay his outstanding fees but would only pay for an attorney.**************** had also previously informed opposing counsel that he would not be paying the fees ordered by the court (see email communication). 
  
  **************** also told me that he may have difficulty coming to court due to being arrested for driving with no license during that week and that he was also engaged in an altercation with the opposing party at a police station. I informed him he needed to appear in court on January 28, 2022, which was in-person at the courthouse. I suggested to ***************, as he still had not complied with the courts orders, that my office could withdraw from his case so he would not incur any more fees and that he could use that money towards complying with the courts orders. **************** indicated he did not want me to withdraw. I then emphasized his need to appear in court. 
  
  January 28th court date: 
  
  On January 28, 2022, I appeared in court where I waited for **************** to appear. When **************** did not appear, I called him to ask when he would be arriving. **************** provided several reasons for why he was not coming to court, including a job interview. I informed **************** of the same things that we had discussed on January 26th, namely that he would be doing substantial harm to his case for not coming to court and going instead to a job interview. Despite his failure to appear, I informed the court that he was at a job interview and that he was having transportation issues, and also that he had informed me that within thirty days he would be able to make payment. Based on these representations, the judge gave him an additional ten (10) days to comply with this order before the body attachment would issue (see attached order). 
  
  Withdraw from the case:
  
  On January 28, 2022, due to Mr. ******* failure to appear in court and failing to pay the outstanding debts ordered by the court, we filed our Motion to Withdraw from the case. The Motion to Withdraw, which was originally scheduled for February 28th, is now scheduled to be heard on February 15, 2022, at 9:30 AM (see attached motion and order setting date). On February 2,2022, I emailed **************** to inform him that I would only be communicating with him via email so there would not be any misunderstandings or misconstruing of our communications (see attached email). 
  
  We have sent the Motion to Withdraw and orders to ****************, along with a copy of his invoice for services rendered. Please note, **************** has already received over $950 worth of discounts on his invoice. Once the court grants our withdrawal and we no longer represent ****************, he will receive his refund which totals $96.91.

  
  **************** needs to appear via Zoom in court on February 15th and he also needs to pay the outstanding purge ordered by the court. 
  

  Customer response

  02/15/2022

   
  Complaint: 16698148
  
  I am rejecting this response because: 

  My father and I had a consultation phone call with mr ********************** on 12/17/21. The phone call was an hour and a half where mr ********************** mainly spent the time selling himself and making it seem that this case was extremely do-able and even bragged about knowing the judge and having described their relationship as positive stating he typically rules in his favor and the judge treats him very nicely. Mr ********************** handled my case with little care and did not fulfill his fiduciary duty to me as an attorney. He did not represent me to the best of his abilities or act within my best intrests.

  
  

  During the consultation mr ********************** advised my father and I that the court hearing was set in person with the courts intent to lock me away but also went on to say that its suitable for attorneys to show alone for compliance hearings though it would look a certain way given the situation if hed appeared regardless of who paid him.

  
  

  From the time of hire, my first contact with mr ********************** was 1/26/22. Having realized I hadnt heard from him I made attempts to contact the firm on or around 1/14/22 which resulted in the receptionist telling me that she would have mr ********************** call me at his earliest convenience and advised me to email any concerns or relevant information to help my case  which was done so on 1/18/22.

  
  

  On our first call on the 26th mr digs emphasized that he would be of little help to me unless money was paid and told me I needed to come up with a plan and that if I couldnt I should hang up and take the money my father was using to retain him to pay court fees. I emailed him a plan that night, and then another more detailed one after our short phone call on the 27th.

  
  

  On top of not having any contact or updates until just 2 days before the hearing, I received an email from opposing counsel on 1/12/22 and mr ********************** was not CCd or attached to the email in any way, only to find out opposing counsel was not aware of mr ********************** presence on the case until the last minute going into the hearing. On the day of the hearing ************************* had to give mr ********************** paperwork so that he could be caught up on the matter despite having been retained since 12/17/21.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

  

  Business response

  03/09/2022

  To whom it may concern:

  
  Enclosed is a copy of our detailed response to Mr. ******* claim filed with another venue, which also responds to ******************** allegations with the BBB. The supporting documents to the response can be provided upon request however are too large and numerous to attach here.  

  In addition, enclosed is a copy of the receipt reflecting the refund to Mr. ******* account. 

   

  Customer response

  03/09/2022

   
  Complaint: 16698148
  
  I am rejecting this response because: Mr. ******************** previously stated that I had made no effort to contact him up until a few days before the court date. I believe his statement was
  
  "When **************** retained my firm, it was right before we closed for the holidays between December 23rd through 26th and December 30th through January 2nd (see attached flyer). As we were closed during the holidays with limited availability by appointment only, we began reviewing Mr. ******* file at the beginning of January. At any point between the time **************** retained our office until his court date on January 28th, **************** had the option to:
  
  - Contact my office to schedule an appointment with me at a specific date and time; 
  - Email me questions regarding his case or to set up a time to discuss his case over the phone; 
  - Schedule a time to discuss his case using the calendar link provided to him in our January 14, 2022, office flyer, which was emailed to all current clients, including **************** (see attached flyer for MLK Day Closure). 
  
  Despite having several options available to him to communicate with me, **************** did not schedule an appointment, nor did he email me. On January 25, 2022, my office contacted **************** and scheduled him an appointment to discuss his case."
  
  However in a recent email Mr. ******************** lists multiple dates that I tried to call the firm claiming I had never scheduled a call. However every time i spoke to someone I was told They would inform Mr. ******************** and hav him get back to me. That became the common answer so much so to where I had to ask to speak to paralegals and even others in billing to try and get ahold of someone as I had not heard from ******************** since my father and I spoke on the phone with him. Which again, might i add, he spent most of the phone call selling himself rather than listening. To his distasteful behavior mister ********************** makes a statement in his recent email about wanting me to be heard yet despite asking for a plan and receiving a detailed one he decided to refuse to hear my voice and withdraw. Despite knowing of my son being taken from me on a day im ordered by the court to have him. Mr. ********************** in his recent email just details a plethora of irrelevant information and admits to withdrawing because he felt as though withdrawing was his best course of action instead of defending me to the best of my wishes. Opposing counsel was not aware of Mr. ******************** involvement on the case until moments before hearing on 1/28. *** who is working with opposing counsel had to give Mr. ******************** additional paperwork in order for him to fully grasp the complexity of the case. I also was billed for a courtroom appearance of 2 hours however the opposing party and her counsel has all informed me that they were before the judge for no longer than 30 minutes. Mr. ******************** called me before the hearing started as well and had made his decision to withdraw instead of listening to his client and defending me using the fact that the opposing party had just violated the order and put the child in a situation that needed medical professionals to get involved. Mr. *** and only has been concern with his reputation and nothing but full reimbursement will reconcile this issue. He had a fiduciary duty and completely failed choosing to do what was in his best interest rather than helping a low income father remain in his childs life. His involvement had been more harmful than good. He chose to abandon his client instead of bringing it to the judges attention that there has been a ongoing trend of a child being witheld from the father despite court orders and leave him in a situation that could inevitably land him in the system because of this warrant. Mr. ******************** has shown absolutely no care for his client of the well being of child involved.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

• Initial Complaint

  01/03/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  1) **** Diggs was hired to represent me as my attorney in the Probate Process of my mothers will in June 2020. As my attorney in this process, he has performed in an incompetent manner in his legal duties to exercise his legal expertise in the Probate process. 2) The major default to the Probate process performed by **** Diggs was that the Codicil to my mothers will was not valid and could not be entered into the Probate process. 3) The Codicil was not notarized, nor signed by witnesses and therefore in **** County was not valid. When I first presented my mothers will and codicil to **** Diggs in June 2020, I should have been immediately informed that the codicil to my mothers will was invalid, and then the correct documents could have been immediately filed with the court. I did not become aware that the codicil was not valid until September 2021. I discovered that the codicil was invalid through my own research.4) **** Diggs, through intentionally or by incompetence, did not submit the correct and necessary court documents to the **** County Circuit court, **************** in a timely manner throughout the Probating of my mothers will / estate, thereby causing the Probate process to be delayed repeatedly and with continuations. 5) **** Diggs did not return emails or telephone calls on a consistent basis throughout our professional relationship. 6) I have requested a detailed statement of all court proceeding events and billable hours incurred by **** Diggs as my attorney and as of December 31, 2021, I have not received any details regarding billable hours for the activities incurred by **** Diggs and his Law Firm.7) **** Diggs defaulted on his legal responsibilities as my attorney and therefore did not earn the fees / retainer that I paid him in 2020, in the amount of $3,000.00. I would like a full refund of this retainer.

  

  Business response

  01/25/2022

  To Whom It May ********************* are in receipt of ******************** complaint regarding the services she has received to date and we understand ******************** frustrations with the court system. However, the issues that have resulted in delays to ******************** case are outside of our control.

  
  The facts are as follows, almost ten years prior to our representation of *************** in the probate of her mother's estate, a will and codicil for ******************* mother was prepared and filed with the **** County Clerk of Courts (specifically on July 19, 2010). We entered ******************** case at the start of COVID, which caused delays to the court system as a whole. When we entered ******************* case, we followed the standard protocol for probate when a will exists, which is we filed a Petition to Admit the Will. While **************** believes that we should have flagged for the court the codicil that was filed in 2010, the fact is the Petition to Admit Will was the first step required in her case and the determination of validity regarding the will and codicil rests with the Court's discretion. Each Judge is different and after much delay waiting for the Court to review the will and updating documentation per the Court's request, the Court then asked us to file a Petition for Letters of Office, rather than admit the Will. 

  
  We have spoken with **************** many times regarding her case and after much discussion, our firm decided it was best for us to withdraw from her matter. A Motion to Withdraw was filed on September 20, 2020. As a courtesy, we offered to provide **************** with the names of other probate firms and attorneys she could contact to take over the case, as the court will not let us withdraw until such time that **************** obtains other counsel. **************** refused this offer and instead of moving forward with the case, she elected to take the matter off call on November 10, 2021. 

  
  Once again, we understand ******************** frustration with the court system which resulted in delays to her case. While **************** has exceeded her retainer (see attached invoice), as our firm appeared on her behalf on seven separate court appearances, prepared and filed multiple documents on her behalf, paid for filing fees from her retainer, and had multiple conversations both in person and over the phone, we will as a courtesy provide her with a $500 credit to end any dispute with regards to her case. 

  
  Should you have any questions or require additional information from our office,please do not hesitate to contact us: **************************************; *************.Should you have any questions or require additional information from our office,please do not hesitate to contact us: **************************************; *************.
  
  

  Sincerely,
  
  

  ************ Diggs

  
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩