ComplaintsforSebald, Hackwelder and Knox

• Initial Complaint

  12/20/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I paid about $1,700 if not more to the attorney sebald, hackwelder and knox to be represented by their lawyer Tyler * L********. He showed up to one hearing and has not shown up to the last three custody hearings I had. I was told by the secretary that he would be at the second one. All my information with court says he’s my lawyer but he won’t contact me back I always only reach the secretary. I still haven’t heard back. I stopped paying after he didn’t show up to the second hearing scheduled. I was very upset with how everything happened. Online it said they were one of the top lawyers in Erie and I feel like I got robbed of my money that could’ve gone to a good lawyer that would’ve actually showed up to my hearings. Disappointing is an understatement, I wouldn’t expect this kind of behavior from a lawyer that’s suppose to be concerned about my case and helping me. I have one more hearing left, I would either like my money back so I can hire a new lawyer or I would like replacement representation.

  Business response

  01/26/2023

  Please find this memo in response to the complaint that was filed by *** ********* on
  December 20, 2022 seeking a refund for legal services. In the complaint, *** ********* claims
  that I only appeared at one hearing and failed to appear for any further custody proceedings.
  First, I believe it’s important to note that *** ********* is not a client of mine, and this
  complaint is being filed on behalf of his girlfriend, ******* ******. I was retained by *** ****** to represent her at Family Motion Court, where the father of her child was seeking
  emergency custody. He had been withholding the child from *** ******, and if we were
  successful in avoiding an order for emergency custody, we would be seeking a finding of
  contempt against the father. I was not retained for the custody matter as a whole, but only for the
  emergency custody hearing I will forward the Fee Agreement that *** ****** signed as further
  proof.

  
  At the emergency custody hearing, the father made allegations of substance abuse, among
  other things. The father at the time had not filed for any modification of their current custody
  order. Following argument, the Honorable **** ** ******** informed *** ****** that if she took
  a drug test and passed, that he would deny the motion for emergency custody and order that the
  child be returned back to her immediately. Judge ******** also directed the father to file for
  modification of custody, because any order for emergency custody would only be temporary
  until further modification of their current custody order. *** ****** was then escorted to the
  Erie County Adult Probation office on the third floor of the courthouse for her test. About half an
  hour later, I received a call directly from Judge ********, who informed me that *** ******
  walked out of Adult Probation and went home without ever taking a drug test. I attempted to
  contact *** ******, who informed me that she was tired from working third shift the night
  prior, and that she was going home to sleep. When I reminded her that she would lose custody of
  her child if she didn’t go back to take the drug test, she became hostile with me, accusing me of
  not caring about her safety and that I would be putting her at danger of falling asleep at the
  wheel. She accused me of not fighting for her, and informed me that she would be seeking new
  representation for the custody matter as a whole. We had not heard anything from *** ****** in
  quite some time, until last week when *** ********* called our office numerous times in one
  day, acting hostile toward the firm’s staff demanding their money back. When we informed him
  that our fee agreements state that the fee is non-refundable, he threatened to “come after us.”
  This complaint then followed that conversation.
  

  *** ****** never signed a fee agreement for her custody case as a whole, and told me
  more than once that she did not want me representing her after the hearing for emergency
  custody. I was made aware that she had told the custody conciliator and the court that I was her
  attorney, but that was not the case. I never entered my appearance on the case, as I had not been
  retained for the matter. *** ****** paid $1,700 out of the $2,500 that she agreed to pay for the
  hearing on emergency custody. Because I completed what was specified in our fee agreement,
  *** ****** informed me of seeking other representation, and that she failed to do her part to
  keep custody of her child, I feel that a refund is not appropriate for this matter.
  I am no longer with Sebald, Hackwelder and Knox as an attorney, as I am currently in the
  process of opening my own law firm. If you have any questions or would like any additional
  information, please feel free to contact me at any time. My phone number is ***** ********.
  

  Sincerely,
  Tyler ** L********, Esquire

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