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ComplaintsforSebald, Hackwelder and Knox
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Complaint Details
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Initial Complaint
12/20/2022
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Answered
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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Customer Complaints Summary
1 total complaints in the last 3 years.
0 complaints closed in the last 12 months.