Complaint Review: Law Offices Of Thurman Arnold III

While attorney was on vacation for a month, took $5000 retainer.
Diane Dancy is assistant supposed to get information re: my divorce.
She sat on the phone with personal calls most of the time.
She was charging me while she chatted with many others in front of me.

Diane didnt know my childrens names after 3 months nor did Mr. Arnold.
I knew Dianes 2 childrens names, her daughters dogs name, urinating and chewing problems.
Problems her daughter was having with her boyfriend. Her sons job information, his wages, his truck problems, living arrangements, etc.

I knew the apt. building Diane and her ex lived in when he was a baseball player. How long they lived there and their life after leaving.

After a month, I met Mr. Arnold. His hair was about 4 inches over grown, unshaved, wrinkled shirt and slacks. He spent 15 minutes with me, most of that while scanning my file. He listened to about 8 minutes total of my description of the situation, inbetween his taking calls. He assured me everthing would be fine.

The second time I saw Mr. Arnold he wasnt wearing shoes, he had dirty feet, his hair still hadnt been cut, unshaved, drinking coffee he sat on the floor to talk about the case.

He had continued my case 3 times, and told me the next date was to be continued also. Turned out, because of another case he was working on he didnt have time to tend to my case.

Diane Dancy had called me to ask if I wanted to change my last name back to my maiden name, I said yes, end of call. Was charged for that. I called her right back and asked if I could change it to a different last name, she said no, end of call. She added another 15 to the bill.

I called Mr. Arnold one day to find out what happened when he met with other attorney, he said he would call me after their meeting and never did. The hearing was 4 days away. His office assured me it would be continued once again. Mr. Arnold finally picked up the phone and was very bothered by me calling. I told him something important my son had confined in me, pertinant to the case. Mr. Arnold said "so what". I said, "what did you say?" he repeated it, and then started to yell at me. I then said, "who is this?". He screamed that he is the professional and I am just a person. I told him that I didnt know why he was speaking to me like that, but I was going to hang up and Id be in on Monday, the day before the hearing would have been if not continued. I came in on Monday and Mr. Arnold had separation papers waiting for me to sign. He saw me in the office and turned away and disappeared. No explaination. After signing the papers, his office help told me to call the other attorney to find out what time I had to be at the hearing in the morning.

Mr Arnold ditched out after taking most of the retainer less than 24 hours before the hearing. They didnt have my file ready and I went to court in the morning without any information.

Mr. Arnold never told me about the allegations plaintiff had stated.
Never told me about receiving letters from the attorney.

The judge told me I couldnt have any more time to seek representation because Mr. Arnold had made so many continuations already.

I sent him a letter after reviewing my bill from him, and requested he go over it and adjust the charges. He never responded, I faxed one, mailed one, sent certified mail.. no response.

Over $2000 for copies, and filings.
I called the court and seems there were filings made without following up or talking to me about anything.

No one in the office knows what is going on. Constantly asking me for the information again and again.
Didnt look at any of the documentation I had. I had a threat letter from the plaintiff he didnt think mattered. Didnt check to see if there was a police report.
Didnt do any research on the plaintiff, didnt supeona any of his records.
Went to lunch, or said he did with the plaintiffs attorney to "discuss" the case and charged me but never called me to tell me the details.

Mr. Arnold is the most incompetent attorney Ive ever known in my life. I spoke to a few people after the fact that work at the court and they said oh dont use him he is terrible. Too late.

I would use the bag boy at the market to handle any legal issues before considering this fool.

Dupped
cathedral city, California
U.S.A.