- Report: #74538
Complaint Review: Christopher J. Olson - Sweeney Mason Wilson & Bosomworth - Los Gatos California
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Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Christopher J. Olson - Sweeney Mason Wilson & Bosomworth
983 University Avenue, Suite 104C Los Gatos, 95030 California, U.S.A.
Phone:
408-356-3000
Web:
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Christopher J. Olson, Sweeney, Mason, Wilson & Bosomworth ripoff, dishonest, lied to me to get me to sign a fee agreement Los Gatos California
I met with Christopher Olson in August of 2002 to discuss a landlord/tenant eviction dispute. It was an emergency situation where my landlord was retaliating against me by evicting me.
I explained the entire situation to Christopher Olson, including the FACT that I was never served with any type of court papers. Chris had me sign a fee agreement for $1000 retainer but failed to mention to me that he did not believe that I was NEVER served court papers.
In fact, his exact words in the email he sent to me shortly after were "...I spent nearly two hours on legal research alone later that night in an attempt to get you out of the predicament you got yourself into by ignoring the court
documents..."
My check for the $1000 retainer was returned to them in the meantime. I was taken to small claims court and they received a default judgement against me. I'll pay the money, and in fact, I have paid a little bit already, however, I have always maintained that I am doing so under extreme duress. He should NEVER have made me sign that fee agreement if he did not believe what I was telling him. He should not have hidden that from me - he should have been up front and honest about it. If he had, I would NEVER have signed that agreement. My situation was dire, but his unfair billing practices have only put me in a position where I must pay the bill.
I've also asked for a copy of the original bill, and I have not received it. The first copy they sent to me was taken from my car when it was broken into and my briefcase was stolen in September. I will gladly provide a copy of the police report to substantiate this if necessary. What I do know is that he also billed me for a consultation that he NEVER told me I would have to pay for. Not one time during our initial conversation did he tell me that I had to pay for it. He sat there, asked questions, took notes, kept me there for well over an hour and a half, and then proceeded to bill me for it.
I also plan on reporting this to the bar association. I'm sure I am stuck paying the judgement, but again, I will be doing so under duress.
Kelli
Sacramento, California
U.S.A.
I explained the entire situation to Christopher Olson, including the FACT that I was never served with any type of court papers. Chris had me sign a fee agreement for $1000 retainer but failed to mention to me that he did not believe that I was NEVER served court papers.
In fact, his exact words in the email he sent to me shortly after were "...I spent nearly two hours on legal research alone later that night in an attempt to get you out of the predicament you got yourself into by ignoring the court
documents..."
My check for the $1000 retainer was returned to them in the meantime. I was taken to small claims court and they received a default judgement against me. I'll pay the money, and in fact, I have paid a little bit already, however, I have always maintained that I am doing so under extreme duress. He should NEVER have made me sign that fee agreement if he did not believe what I was telling him. He should not have hidden that from me - he should have been up front and honest about it. If he had, I would NEVER have signed that agreement. My situation was dire, but his unfair billing practices have only put me in a position where I must pay the bill.
I've also asked for a copy of the original bill, and I have not received it. The first copy they sent to me was taken from my car when it was broken into and my briefcase was stolen in September. I will gladly provide a copy of the police report to substantiate this if necessary. What I do know is that he also billed me for a consultation that he NEVER told me I would have to pay for. Not one time during our initial conversation did he tell me that I had to pay for it. He sat there, asked questions, took notes, kept me there for well over an hour and a half, and then proceeded to bill me for it.
I also plan on reporting this to the bar association. I'm sure I am stuck paying the judgement, but again, I will be doing so under duress.
Kelli
Sacramento, California
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Tim
Valparaiso,Indiana,
U.S.A.
I don't think that reporting this attorney to the Bar Assn. is going to do you any good.
#2Consumer Comment
Tue, December 09, 2003
You seem to be very quick to blame others for your problems. On the face of your report, however, the underlying problem sees to be that you have a hard time taking care of your own business. I'm not trying to shame you for that, if I was I would be the "pot calling the kettle black," because I am the same way. Your first allegation is that your landlord was evicting you out of revenge. Was his vengeance based on the fact that you weren't paying your rent, or that you violated your lease in some other manner? Not that wrongful evictions don't occur, but stating that you were evicted out of spite without any substantiation to that effect makes me think that the eviction was probably legitimate. Next you allege that you never received court papers regarding your eviction. If this is so, then how did you know you were being evicted? If my landlord came by my house and just told me, without any prior notice, that I was being evicted, even if I didn't know what my rights were I think it would be easy to figure them out. I would then tell my landlord that he has not followed the proper legal procedure for eviction and until he does I'm not going anywhere. Later you state that the attorney took you to small claims court and received a default judgment. The only way a party to a court proceeding can get a default judgment is if the other party does nothing in response to their summons. If you had so much as written a letter to the court denying his allegations he wouldn't have gotten a default judgment. It seems like, again, you failed to respond properly to a situation, and it cost you your ability to defend yourself. If you really need the bill so badly, you can probably request it from the court as it was most likely used against you in the small claims matter you ignored. I don't really see what use it is to you, because a judgment has already been entered. Finally, you claim that you weren't aware that you were going to be charged for your legal consultation. If you are really operating under such naievity than I can see how this situation has become such a mess. If I am wrong in my assumptions than forgive me, and if you honestly feel that you have been misteated in a legal sense than you should pursue whatever recourses you feel are appropriate. Just don't forget to keep a little self perspective. Life is complicated, especially when dealing with landlords and attorneys. You can't just ignore things simply because the stress of dealing with them is hard to bear. Take life seriously, especially when somebody wants your money or is trying to boot you from your home. You have rights in both of those situations, but in ignoring what is going on you pretty much forfeit those rights. This is good advice for anyone, especially myself. I hope things go better for you in the future, and that you are able to chalk this up to a learning esxperience.
