ComplaintsforVanessa Favia LTD Attorneys At Law

• Initial Complaint

  06/07/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I hired Vanessa in March *********************************************************************************************************** 2014, so she knows all about the cases. We agreed to a price of $1500 per case but she did state it could be slightly more. I have two different cases in two different counties pertaining to parenting time for my kids, over the course of the last three months Ive been asking for Vanessa to subpoena the school records for my kids, Ive asked for my kids direct phone numbers and every time that Im reaching out to Vanessa she never really gets back to me and instead shell have **** get back to me and he doesnt know anything about this case. I have had to repeat the same thing over and over to **** multiple times and I expressed this to Vanessa. She sent me an invoice and the fee agreements that we agreed on, didnt match what we talked about so I said something and she said that it will be fixed and then never got back to me with the updated invoice like she stated that she would. I had a in person meeting with **** on May 16, 2023 and during that meeting I asked **** specifically not to give my familys personal names or information to the other counsel and he did that anyway. I feel betrayed and what Im going through is the same as with *********************** Law firm just on a smaller scale, the only reason I hired Vanessa was to get help to see my kids and the only thing that has been done is I have paid another attorney $2500 just to be told they want another $7500 to help me change a order created back in 2014.

  

  Business response

  06/19/2023

   

   

  As the Engagement agreement  states that was signed by ******************, the initial payment he made of $1,500 was simply a down payment for the retainer.  The agreement states that the matters are to be billed hourly and my hourly rate is attached. This was explained at length to ******************. He failed to remit additional payments when due yet demanded phone calls be answered at night on the weekends and refused to take the advice of his lawyers on matters relating to his case. He currently owes the law firm $5,500.00 for both cases that is outstanding (see invoices detailing all work billed on his case). Please note that I did not bill him for dozens of text messages and phone calls at all hours and times.  These cases are hotly contested custody and visitation matters in addition to child support.  ****************** currently has supervised visitation and owes thousands of dollars in back child support.  This complaint is without merit.  My law firm sent him his invoices many times.  I spoke to **** about the allegation he provided information to the other side and this is also simply not accurate. ****************** was verbally abusive to attorney ********************* and he was unprofessional and rude to me and other members of my staff throughout the short time we represented him. I respectfully ask that you dismiss this complaint. Thank you. 

   

  Customer response

  06/22/2023

   
  Complaint: 20158335
  
  I am rejecting this response because: Vanessa is being untruthful. I did sign engagement agreement but I had already spoke to and paid her $1500 before I signed any agreement and she was already my lawyer she agreed that she would only charge me $300 per hour and she stated to me via txt msg that shes  the most expensive person in her firm.. I never was given knowledge that somebody named **** would be working on my case and I have made 3 payments to Vanessa so far the only issues with the invoice I had was.. 
  1.I was being charged $350 a hr by Vanessa not only for her services but **** also and other times $325 an hr so the charges are all over the place and not on the agreed rates
  2. Im being billed up to 3 times for each document created to be reviewed by each person at the office which doesnt make sense to me 
  After I mentioned this to Vanessa she said she would fix it and never did. Thats why I kept repeatedly asking for an updated itemized bill or invoice also  because every time I made a payment it never was reflected on the website. The biggest problem was communication and how unprofessional both Vanessa and **** are. Every time I reach out to Vanessa I get the Im busy message or I will get a call back from **** who does not know anything about my case when I try to check my case my documents were updated the day before I was due for a hearing over 20 documents all at the same time and after they were notified about my complaint to the BBB and the **** so basically they waited until the last second to do any work on my case also I had a in person meeting with **** and we discussed my kids graduation with my twins and how mediation went with *********** though I explained 3 different times what happened at mediation he called me the morning of court about the mediation to ask me again what happened at mediation I feel like everything I told him he never listened he had a pen and paper to make it seem like he was taking notes, but obviously that couldnt be the case also I explained to him that I would like to have my brother and my mom attend l my twins graduation but I also asked him specifically not to tell ***** and her counsel my family members personal information I asked him to ask the school directly for the tickets to the graduation himself because they supply the tickets not ***** or her counsel and two days later Vanessa sends me a screenshot of a email from the other counsel addressing my mom and my brother by first middle and last name and specifically referring to them as who I potentially want to attend with me, the only person I had a conversation with and mentioned my brother an my mothers name to was ****. Me nor anybody in my family speak to the other party so the only person who could have possibly mentioned my family by names specifically was **** ( My Lawyer)  I feel I was betrayed by my own lawyer and when I mentioned it to Vanessa she became very rude and unprofessional asking me if I was drunk an I dont even drink. I just want half of my money back and to part ways. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

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