ComplaintsforCordell Law, LLP

• Initial Complaint

  05/07/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Initial consultation 5/10/22, retainer paid, credit card placed on file for billings, 10/21/2022 Notice filed with court, attorney's withdrawal after my notification that I could no longer afford the fees or representation, the credit was maxed again with legal fees. The balance of the retainer was to be used to pay down account. Remaining balance was close to $800.00. Made payments throughout 2022. 01/04/23 - Agreed to payment plan of $60 a month. Continued payments in 2023, paying extra when possible. Job ended in early 2023 due to NY attempting to take several hundred dollars more than court ordered a month, leaving me with $40 - $50 a pay period to live on and unable to fulfill job duties including required travel due to lack of funds. Each time I made a payment, on recorded phone line, I authorized and agreed to the payment amount and card to be charged. 04/04/23 - Called in to make payment. Billing representative began asking about the remaining balance, when it would be paid. Explained multiple times that a $60 a month payment plan was in effect. I had explained on previous calls that the credit card was maxed due to Cordell billings and as I paid it down a bit each month, called in and authorized payment up to credit limit. Representative finally admitted she found a note about the $60 payment plan. April 21, 2023 - Cordell began attempting to bill the entire remaining balance to the credit card without communication with me or permission from me. I received multiple email notices from the bank rejecting the unauthorized attempted charges. 4-21-2023 - $466.76 Rejected 4-28-2023 - $466.76 Rejected 4-28-2023 - $233.38 Rejected 4-29-2023 - $116.69 (bank accepted, overlimit notification issued) 5-5-2023 - $355.80 Rejected 5-5-2023 - $177.90 Rejected 5-5-2023 - $88.95 Rejected I contacted Cordell on 4/29, asking what was going on with the billing. No response. Contact was not acknowledged nor recorded into case timeline by Cordell.

  Business response

  05/23/2023

  Thank you for brining this to our attention.  Please note that Cordell & Cordell, P.C. is a law firm, and due to the attorney-client privilege that exists between our firm and our clients, we cannot disclose to third parties the nature or substance of any matters that may have been discussed and/or handled. Our firm does employ a substantial client care department which makes significant efforts to resolve every client satisfaction matter brought to its attention.  We will reach out to Mr. ******* to discuss things further.  

• Initial Complaint

  04/13/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On November 2, 2022, I visited the law firm of Cordell & Cordell, located a* **** ** ******** ****** ***** ***** ****** ******* *****, and met with their Attorney Ms. ********* ****. I explained that my wife and I wanted to settle our divorce mutually. However, when my wife decided to involve another attorney everything changed in our mutual agreement. So, that is when I decided to visit Ms. **** with Cordell Law Firm. Ms. **** explained what her attorney fees were and momentarily left and come back five minutes later to change her fees to a much higher amount. I explained to Ms. **** that my sincere wishes is not to have this case go to court, but I wanted to settle with my wife, as we agree from the beginning and let us go to MEDIATION. After five months of delays by my attorney with needless filing, organizing, cross-referencing, etc.., (only one appearance before a zoom court appointment judge that lasted only five minutes because my wife's attorney did not show), I spent $19,000.00, for a case that both my wife and I had agreed from the beginning without any attorneys. This is outrageous for over charging and the huge delays for case that was again supposed to have gone to mediation and a quick settlement, as the per the client's wishes.

  Business response

  04/24/2023

  Dear Sir/Madam: 
  Thank you for brining this to our attention.  Please note that Cordell & Cordell, P.C. is a law firm, and due to the attorney-client privilege that exists between our firm and our clients, we cannot disclose to third parties the nature or substance of any matters that may have been discussed and/or handled. Our firm does employ a substantial client care department which makes significant efforts to resolve every client satisfaction matter brought to its attention.  We will reach out to Mr. ******** to discuss things further. 
  Thank you. 

  Customer response

  04/25/2023

  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  At the time the firm attempted to contact me, I was not available.  I responded with a call back and left a voice message to call me again.  No answer at this time and date.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  **** ********

• Initial Complaint

  12/15/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I hired Cordell & Cordell to assist in filing a motion to enforce when my non custodial ex husband refused to return my son after visitation. Cordell failed to file said documents on time resulting in temporary loss of custody. They further failed to provide a defense, file objections, failed to attend the pre trial conference, charged me 10k within the first two weeks, added another 7k between my first and second hearing, then dropped me 3 days before my custody hearing. I lost that hearing because I was told I was so unprepared and nothing was filed on time or correctly so I had no choice but to accept every stipulation from opposing to get my child back. My ex husband wanted 15k to return my son and drop his custody grab. It was agree and pay or lose my son for another 6 months so I agreed. I’ve been his full custody parent for the last 9 years. My son is now in therapy for the psychological damage done. This loss cost me 35k this year alone (17k attorney + 15k to ex husband + 3k missing child support). I’m a disabled veteran single mother out of work awaiting heart and stomach surgery, I don’t have an abundance of money and have had to sell prized possessions to afford food. I’m getting harassing emails about my remaining 10k balance and I do not feel Cordell met any reasonable standard of performance for council. I still need them to finish the resolution for my custody case. I’m not being paid child support because the order is so messy ORS won’t collect on it and I need it fixed so I can get child support flowing again.

  Business response

  12/15/2022

  Dear Sir/Madam: 

  Thank you for brining this to our attention.  Please note that Cordell & Cordell, P.C. is a law firm, and due to the attorney-client privilege that exists between our firm and our clients, we cannot disclose to third parties the nature or substance of any matters that may have been discussed and/or handled. Our firm does employ a substantial client care department which makes significant efforts to resolve every client satisfaction matter brought to its attention.  We will reach out to Ms. ****** to discuss things further. 

  Thank you.  

• Initial Complaint

  11/21/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My name is ***** ****** I work as a truck driver & I’m also a police officer in my home state of Missouri. I hired Cordell & Cordell in November of 2018, My attorney ******** ***** was still filling motions until May of 2019 when he found out that the case was finalized 5 and then ruled on 6 months earlier. Next, my lawyer filed a motion to set aside the ruling. My lawyer communication was horrible he didn’t fight for me he advised me to make deals to end the divorce he didn’t care. Months past & ******** was off my case and **** ****’s was my attorney & he admitted that something was unethical with my case. **** couldn’t find the MDA agreement nor the paperwork to file a divorce. **** stated that without those documents there’s no way a divorce could be file lees-know set aside. So **** was attempting to contact opposing counsel, he was getting the run around for weeks. I got notice of a new lawyer again. I got ****** * *********. ****** was trying to come up with parenting plans and a MDA agreement but they wouldn’t budge. So we had a hearing and Ms ***** didn’t show. We set up a mediation, Ms ***** didn’t show up so the judge ordered the mediation and gave us 45 days and this was in February 2022, the next Mediation she still didn’t show. ****** set up a contempt hearing for September 15th but it was canceled due to ****** moving on to another firm. So now I got another lawyer Ms *******. Ms ******* had other court stuff on my court dated so i miss my court date for the 15th. Its now November. 4 lawyers, 4 years later & I’ve spent over 10,000 and nothing, I’ve never been to court in regards to this case and I feel helpless. I have not heard from Ms ******* since Oct 10th her communication is horrible. No one at this firm care. Please someone look in the file of documents and see all of what’s wrong and then tell me why I shouldn’t be writing this. Cordell & Cordell is not living up to their 10 commandments of customer service.

  Business response

  11/22/2022

  Dear Sir/Madam,  

   

  Thank you for brining this to our attention.  Due to the attorney-client privilege that exists between our firm and our clients, we cannot discuss a client’s case or a client’s concerns with third parties. We handle these matters internally through our client care department.  We are currently in contact with Mr. ****** to address his concerns.  

   

  Thank you . 

• Initial Complaint

  11/21/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I hired Codell and Cordell in November of 2021 to represent me in a divorce case in Stark County. The divorce was filed by my wife in January of 2022. I paid a retainer of $1800 that was quickly used up. The company assigned a rookie attorney to my case. This attorney had never tried a case in Stark county and did not have any relationship with the judge, magistrate, or any local attorneys. He was not versed on the procedures of that court and we got steamrolled by local representation. He did not understand how to appeal and has cost me several thousands of dollars to date. I paid the firm over $11K and paid my wife's attorned $5.5K. The attorney assigned to my case was incompetent and had no business working on my case. I demanded a full refund of my fees and was offered a small amount to remain quiet.

  Business response

  11/21/2022

  Dear Sir/Madam - 

   

  Thank you for brining Mr. ******* complaint to our attention.  Given that Cordell & Cordell, P.C. is a law firm, and due to the attorney-client privilege that exists between our firm and our clients, we cannot disclose to third parties the nature or substance of any matters that may have been discussed and/or handled. Our firm does, however, employ a substantial client care department which makes significant efforts to resolve every client satisfaction matter brought to its attention.  

  Although we are legally prohibited from discussing particulars of this complaint, we will state for the record that the firm did a significant amount of work for Mr. ***** and we believe all matters which this firm handled for and billed to him were appropriate to the circumstances and properly accounted-for pursuant to the fee agreement to which he agreed upon the firm’s engagement.  

  In conclusion, we respectfully request that you close your file with no adverse finding against Cordell & Cordell, P.C.  Many thanks for your time and attention to this matter.

• Initial Complaint

  08/20/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  July 22nd I terminated the attorney-client relationship with Cordell and Cordell. They are holding my $5,357.50 retainer/ Trust. On July 31st they said that they would start the process and get the closing letter done but. I haven't heard back from anyone for over 20 days. I held up my end of the deal and always made payments to them on time if not early. I had several issues with them and I hired a different firm to complete the case. I would like my retainer back please.

  Business response

  08/22/2022

  Thank you for brining this to our attention.  Due to the attorney-client privilege that exists between our firm and our clients, we cannot discuss a client’s case or a client’s concerns with third parties. We handle these matters internally through our client care department.  We will be reaching out to *** ******** today to address his concerns.  Thank you.  

• Initial Complaint

  04/21/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Cordell & Cordell in Austin, Texas has kept our retainer fee even though we requested it one month ago. I have attached their latest bill. We have paid another retainer fee with the attorney who left their firm. They continue to bill us and refuse to return our money. They bill us every time we ask about the status.

  Business response

  04/21/2022

  Hello - 

  We are in receipt of the complaint notification.  Thank you for brining this concern to our attention.  As a Law Firm and due to the attorney-client privilege that exists between our firm and our clients, we cannot discuss a client’s case or a client’s concerns with third parties. Our firm does employs a substantial client care department which makes significant efforts to resolve every client satisfaction matter brought to its attention.  We will be reaching out to Mr. ***** shortly to see what we can do to resolve his concerns.  We are hopeful that we will be able to address and resolve this matter to Mr. ******* satisfaction.  

  Thank you.  

• Initial Complaint

  03/17/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I want to see my attorneys billed hrs for the date of February 4 between 1100 am and 200 pm, to check and see if they are billing me and/ or other clients for my time.

  Business response

  03/18/2022

  Thank you for brining this to our attention.  Please note that Cordell & Cordell, P.C. is a law firm, and due to the attorney-client privilege that exists between our firm and our clients, we cannot disclose to third parties the nature or substance of any matters that may have been discussed and/or handled. We also cannot disclose billing information for other clients as Mr. **** is requesting.  

  Our firm does employ a substantial client care department which makes significant efforts to resolve every client satisfaction matter brought to its attention.  Although we are legally prohibited from discussing particulars of this complaint, we will state for the record that we believe all matters which this firm handled for and billed to Mr. **** were appropriate to the circumstances and properly accounted-for pursuant to the fee agreement to which he agreed upon the firm’s engagement.

  We are more than happy to further discuss Mr. ****'s concerns directly with him.  Thank you. 

• Initial Complaint

  09/04/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I placed a retainer of $2,500 with Cordelll and Cordell, and the case is ended, and they won't return my $2,500.00

  Business response

  09/06/2021

  Hello Mr. ******** - 

   have checked your account and your trust refund is set to go out this week.  We apologize for any frustration or if you were given information which caused you to believe the funds would not be returned.  Trust refunds generally take two to four weeks after the account is closed internally as we have to wait for the final invoice to be sent which reconciles the account.  If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to our billing department.  The number for the billing department is listed at the bottom of your invoices.  Thank you. 

• Initial Complaint

  08/21/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  transaction: June 29 money: $3550 business committed to provide: divorce representation to completion dispute: I paid $2500 up front. There was one hearing. I requested one attorney, Cordell and Cordell company sent two attorneys to the hearing instead of just one, only one was talking and it was not the one that I had hired. I was charged a low rate for the silent attorney and a high rate for the talking attorney. I was charged $300 for "copies" of papers. tried to resolve: I wrote two letters disputing the charges. Cordell company sent me emails asking me to contact them again and again. I can't keep writing letters to dispute and have them keep asking me to contact them. account: "Matter: *************" , "Invoice: *******" I am an indigent USMC vet in Madison, WI. I maxed my credit card to pay for this. It is unethical to assign 2 attorneys when I asked for 1 attorney-THE CHEAPEST ONE! $2500 should last longer than one week!

  Business response

  08/23/2021

  Hello - 

  Thank you for providing the information on this customer complaint.  At Cordell & Cordell we take all client feedback very seriously.  Due to the attorney-client privilege that exists between our Firm and our clients, we cannot disclose to third parties the nature or substance of many matters that may have been discussed and/or handled.  Our Firm does employ a substantial client care department which makes significant efforts to resolve every client satisfaction matter brought to our attention.  Although we are legally prohibited from discussing any particulars of this complaint, we will state for the record that all matters which the Firm handled for Mr. *******, were billed appropriate to the circumstances and according to the fee agreement signed upon the Firm's engagement.  Additionally, we will reach out to Mr. ******* to see if we are able to reach a resolution in regards to his complaint.  Thank you.
  

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