Paul Walier Attorneys Attorney who uses creative accounting deceptive billing practices Buffalo New York
I will summarize this the best I can. I retained this attorney Pau Walier in September on 2007 to handle my divorce. A marriage of 3 years. I gave him a retainer of $1500.00 and then continued to pay him monthly at a rate of $350.00 per month or more.
Every court date resulted in no progress. He hadn't even arranged for the return of my personal; property, 10 months! By July 2008 the matter was still not resolved and I had enough of his nonsence. I was billed repeatedly for services that were either not provided or for services that I never authorized. He offered me credits but refused to itemize them on his billing statement.
I offen questioned him about his billing practices as I noted early on that he had only recorded one payment I made then never itemized a payment again. My friend made a payment on my behalf on May 30th 2008. I still had a few dollars in credit on my account at that time so the additioanl $500 payme t was a great help if I needed it.
There were no further court appearences between May 30th and July 3rd when I terminted his services. My friend called him for a refund of the $500 and he refused. In fact he told her this was a Ball'sy request and that she will not be receiving any refund as he would use up all the rest of the retainer on billable charges.
This he did. I terminated him on July 3rd and he continued to bill me for nonsence through the entire month of July thus using every nickel I had in retainer. I was told later by another local attorney to watch this guys billing practices as the FBI were also very interested in his craetive accountving techniques.
I have to say that I have worked in credit and financial services for more than 25 years and also handled white collar crime investigations and to be quite honest this guys billing practice is exactly what I would be looking for.
I had retained another attorney locally who has had to clean up alot of Mr.Waliers crap and this attorney helped me. $1250.00 and one court appearence and the divorce was settled! I am presently attempting to recover some of my $5,000.00 by means of Bar Association Arbitration.
Do yourself a favor stay clear of Paul Walier this guy is a nothing but a white collar criminal! Oh and never hire a lawyer off a Billboard!
Brucio
Buffalo, New York
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Brucio
Buffalo,New York,
U.S.A.
Paul Walier Arbitration Hearing Erie County Bar Association
#3
Fri, September 04, 2009
I finally had my opportunity in front of thew Erie County Bar association with regards to being scarffed of my money by Attorney Paul Walier, Esq. (Buffalo, NY) July 2009. After the hearing the arbitrator Attorney Susan Hogan of Orchard PArk NY said she would render a decision with in 30 days based on the facts presented that Mr.Walier over charged for services as my claim was "No Value for Cost paid" By the way, Paul Walier never attended the hearing he sent his henchman Mike Fruth, Esq.
A decsion was reached and a copy of the decision was received by me on or about August 20th, 2009. I was awarded a settlement by the Erie County Bar association in the amount of $1000.00. My fianc'e was entitled to her $500 back and I was awarded $500.00 for over billings.
Essentially Walier was billing for travel expenses that he was not entitled to. He was already at the courthouse onother cases and would bill clients for travel costs. So the arbitration ruling requires him to pay me $1000 BY September 20th.
Well now I have learned that on August 21st Mr.Walier has filed a summons and notice against me of which I still have not seen, but bexause he did niot have a favorable outcome the Bar Association allows him an out. You see although we took this to arbitartyion and he was told to pay in 30 days he can conveinently dispute the award and has up to 90 days to do that!!!
So, I am patiently awaiting the summons of notice which I am sure relates to his unfavorable ruling. Stay posted for more updates coming soon on this matter as I am sure it will now require a forensic accounting of Mr.Waliers books to see exactly who else on those same days were charged for travel expenses. I suspect he has been doing this for years and perhaps a class action suit will be required to bring this to a stop.
Bruce B. Hopcus / Buffalo, NY (9-4-2009)
Brucio
Buffalo,New York,
U.S.A.
May 18th, 2009 update
#3Author of original report
Mon, May 18, 2009
I did indeed file an arbitration claim with the Erie County Bar association with regards to recovering at least some of my wasted fees to Paul Walier, Esq. The hearing has been conveniently set for mid- July 2009 the furthest date out that the Erie County Bar Association could agree to with Mr. Walier.
It has been very interesting to see how extremely helpful and accomadating they have been to Mr.Wallier where having first sent him a request for information which he did not provide then giving him another several weeks to comply.
They also told me that having my fiance' there would be inappropriate. She actually was the one who paid him $500 on my behalf and he refused to refund her the balance. Now the Bar tells me to bring witnesses to the hearing. Since my experience I have come across many others who have been taken to the cleaners by this guy only to hire another attorney to get there case resolved.
I will up date again in July with the out come of the fee arbitration case and then we will see exactly how the Erie County Bar deals with a sub-par attorney. I am very skeptical that they will do the right thing here bi8t I will give them the benefit of doubt.