ComplaintsforThe Law Office of Tiffany M. Hughes

• Initial Complaint

  05/06/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The Law Firm of Tiffany Hughes practiced outside of its Legal Scope ( Expertise)..This matter involved an Adult Disabled Individual.The Law Office of Tiffany Hughes 1.) "Padded" the **** They charged billable hours for unnecessary work. For example, they charged thousands of dollars for a matter that could not be heard in Family Law Court. Instead of advising they work on an order that could only be heard in Probate Court.They charged excessively for emails. For example, they would send a court reminder $27.50 but not include the Zoom Information. When they sent The Zoom information in a separate email, that would be an additional charge. They did this repeatedly. That is just one example.2.) Practiced outside of it's Legal Scope/ (Expertise)The case involved an Adult Disabled Child. The were not qualified to practice in the area of Special Needs.They had no knowledge of PUNS. They had no knowledge of Guardianship Law.They had no knowledge of correctly setting up Support Payment for an Adult Individual with a disability. 3.) Produced a Court Order that is in Conflict with Guardianship Responsibilities A Final Court Order included I must make the the other parent an emergency contact.The Family Court does not have jurisdiction over that matter. That is the decision of the Guardian.It must be presented in a Probate Court, not Family Law. 4.) Did not properly set up Support Payments for an Adult Disabled Child with Special Needs (monies have to be setup very specifically). This Law Firm set up Support Payments from the other parent to go through Zelle.5.) Overall, Exploited a Matter that involved an Individual with Special Needs.The Law Firm was only qualified in the area of Child Support Modification.Because of the ********* limited scope in these matters of an Adult Disabled Child.They were not able to represent the case well.All the invoices collectively are approximately $26,000 I have paid $20, 384 I am due a partial refund.

  Business response

  05/07/2022

  My Firm solely practices in Family law, which also encompasses Guardianships. ******* case, however, was NOT a guardianship case. It was a family law case relating to child support and modification of parenting time. The matter involved financial support for ******* disabled adult child, which was previously filed in Domestic relations. ***** and her ex had an existing Domestic Relations matter specifically relating to the disabled child. ***** was seeking for her ex to have additional parenting time or in the alternative for financial assistance. Her ex's income has dropped significantly and he was seeking to modify his child support obligation, which ***** solely relied on. The overall result of her case after much litigation, resulted in a huge win for her. ******* complaint was that the Judge ordered specific requirements of ***** to tender documentation related to the program's and care that the disabled child was involved in. We disputed the ruling and even submitted an order excluding that information, which ***** approved. However, ultimately, the Judge ruled against ***** and included language that ***** didn't want included. ***** then blamed the Firm for the Judge's ruling, which was not only beyond our control but was something that we continued to push and push the Judge to rule in favor of. ***** never indicated at any point during the year plus that we represented her that she unhappy with the representative, she never sought to fire us and stated that she would be paying her balance upon the final invoice being run. The first instance of her "claims" that the Firm didn't not provide her services,  was AFTER she continued to ask us to do work and still wanted us to represent her. Then when we pushed ***** to pay her balance after the conclusion of the case and after running her final invoice, she all of sudden made threats and accusations against the Firm for absolutely no reason. 

   

  We were able to not only get ***** child support for an emancipated child, we were also able to get the Judge to Order almost every single thing she wanted. Even with her ex's income being significantly decreased, the child support that was ordered was only reduced very slightly. In the area of family law, this is incredibly difficult to acheieve and something that is very uncommon. However, through our zealous representation and continued determine, we got ***** a great result. 

  Customer response

  05/10/2022

   
  Complaint: 17173299
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  My case involved multiple issues that needed to be resolved.

  This case was about my adult disabled child in which I am the Plenary Guardian.

   

  Several of the issues attempted and argued on my behalf could only be heard before a Judge in Probate Court-

  NOT FAMILY LAW!!! The Law Firm of Tiffany Hughes practiced outside of its expertise-resulting in an enormous **** $25,384

   

  No, I did not get mostly everything I was asking for. That is a very dishonest statement.

  The only thing I received was modified child support. Therefore, I only was *****ed 1 out of the 5 things in which I was seeking.

  So, I received 20% of the relief I was seeking. That is minimal for the money I paid.

   

  For example, I did not get additional parenting time. The Court of Family Law has no jurisdiction over parenting time for a child that is 

  beyond the age of 18. These matters must go to PROBATE COURT!!!!! Probate Court has jurisdiction over guardianship matters. Probate is the 

  only court that can ***** such an order on my behalf. Instead of The Law Firm of Tiffany Hughes advising me of this, they argued this matter and charged me

  thousands of dollars for an outcome that would never be favorable because it is not a FAMILY LAW MATTER due to the age of my child!!!

   

  Another example, there was a full hearing on March 30, 2022 in which I was placed in a waiting room for most of the 3 hours in which my case was being heard.

  Thereafter, this law firm calls and emails me of the events that went on during my hearing. More unnecessary charges. This law firm did not advocate for me to be in that hearing.

  It would make sense to keep me in a waiting room so then they would have to explain issues I should have been able to hear for myself.  This Law Firm

  charged me for a 3 hour hearing and then charge me to again to explain what went on in the hearing. A real CASH COW for this law firm.

   

  Another example, after the 3 hour hearing concluded on March 30, 2022 - This Law Firm went before the judge a 2nd time.

  If they knew Guardianship Law as they claim, why was it ordered on that 2nd appearance before the judge that I have to make the other parent an emergency contact.

  That order violates my Guardianship Rights and again it can not be heard in the  Court of FAMILY LAW!!!! I told this law firm that but 

  they went before the judge anyway. Thereafter, this Law Firm  included in the order that the other parent must be a secondary contact. 

  Yes, this Law Firm charged me for their lack of knowledge. A real CASH COW!!!!! 

   

  Allowing an order to be drafted that is clearly a violation of my *********************** clearly demonstrates their expertise level in my

  matter beyond modified child support.

   

  Another example, I asked this Law Firm that my child's support be collected from the other parent in a very specific way. Instead they drafted an order

  that allows the other parent  to pay through Zelle. This drafted court order arrangement could adversely affect other funds my child is entitled if this is not corrected.

  Her funds have to be handled in a very particular manner. They have no knowledge of this by the sloppy way that set up the collection of the support by the other parent. 

   

  This firm is not /was not qualified to handle my case which involved my disabled adult child with extraordinary needs. I feel they exploited this case. my vulnerability

  and trust.

   

  In closing, I told the Law Firm of Tiffany Hughes I have no problem paying for their services as it relates to Child Support Modification.

  But the other services of representation was beyond their expertise and beyond The Court of Family Law! A basic Child Support Modification case

  should not cost $25,000. I have already paid this Firm $20, 334 and I  am due a partial refund!

    

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

  Business response

  05/12/2022

  As I have already stated in my previous response, the Family Law Court is where the case was filed and that is the appropriate jurisdiction. In fact, **************** herself was the one who initiated the case there. If for arguendo what **************** is saying held any truth, then she would not have filed there initially and she would have asked that the case be transferred to probate. However, the fact of the matter is, domestic relations would NOT transfer a case like this because the jurisdiction lies with the Domestic ******************* not probate. Domestic Relations has jurisdiction over the matter and the emancipated disabled minor child. 

  If **************** was SO unhappy with my ****** services she could have ended representation. However, that was not the case. It wasn't until we ran her final invoice, that now she is making said claims. Why did we go in front of the Judge a second time after the hearing, because the Judge ORDERED it. **************** is fully aware of that. 

  Customer response

  05/13/2022

   
  Complaint: 17173299
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  I agreed to  your charges for Child Support Modification and am only willing to pay for that service only!

  The remedy--

  To never again misrepresent your legal knowledge and always advise  your clients  correctly.

  To never again be unethical and dishonest in your legal practice.  

  To refund  all monies that I have paid of my legal matters that  should have been filed in Probate Court .

  To correct the Current  Court Order of all matters that The Family Law Court Does Not Have Jurisdiction.

  To correctly set up Child Support Payment from other parent.

  If you do not have the legal knowledge to set up the Support Payments for an adult child with special needs,

  seek experienced counsel who does.

   

  Thanks!

   

   

   

   

  This will remedy the matter.

   

  Thanks

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

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