Complaint Review: Jeanne Koehr - Bedford Massachusetts

I have had the pleasure of knowing & to have retained Jeannie's Law services starting in 2015. After going through numerous searches for lawyers, I finally was lucky enough to find Jeannie. Jeannie is a very Knowledgeable, professional & most of all a Very Caring Attorney that has stuck with me These last 3 years, With one goal in mind, to help me find a specific attorney to help me through the process of getting my License Reinstated. I feel Jeannie has done exactly that with her present referral & that news came out of the blue after months had passed, a few weeks back, as Jeannie was Nice enough to Not forget about me when Jeannie noticed Hope for me while doing some excellent research with my present attorney representing me. I would not hesitate to recommend Attorney Jeannie Koehr for Anything to do with RMV & OUI Law.

My Experience with Jeanne Koehr was exemplary. Her legal services were concise and goal focused. All financial expectations were set forth up front and were fair and reasonable throughout the entire process. The results of my legal matter were far better than I had expected due to Attorney Koehr's years of experience, reputation, and expert navigation of the system. I strongly recommend her services.

I have known, and worked with, Jeannie Koehr for at least 25 years. she has provided me guidance and assistance and we have referred many clients to each other. The negative report is absolutely ridiculous, absurd and completely untrue.

She charges reasonably and expends time, effort and expertise flawlessly, and often well beyond the bounds of any retainer she may request.

She regularly takes cases on a pro bono basis for people in need of legal services who cannot to afford a lawyer at standard rates. She has been appointed as a member of the Client’s Security Board by the MA Supreme Judicial Court, which is an indication of the prestige and trust she hold in the state. She has also been appointed to sit as a Hearing Officer by the Court, which is also a high distinction.

Her knowledge of legal issues, particularly in matters related to the Registry of Motor Vehicles and issues pertaining to attorney discipline, and in many orther areas, is unparalleled. I hold a Jeannie in the highest regard and this one absurd and unfounded complaint should be completely ignored.

Likewise, her ethical standards are at the highest level, and, in my estimation, within the top 1% of all practicing lawyers.

Her competence and ethical standards indicate that this one negative report, and the facts claimed, are absurd and untrue. Unfortunately, Attorney Koehr is unable to adequately and fully respond to this slanderous claim, because to do so she would need to provide confidential background information regarding this client, and in so doing, she would violate the rules of client confidentiality.

I am confident in stating that no one could find a better and more honest lawyer than Jeannie Koehr.

Attorney Jeanne Koehr is one of the most honest and ethical attorneys who I know. She works tirelessly for her clients and I have personally known her to have taken pro bono cases for indigent clients including combat veterans and others. She vigorously represents her clients at all stages of litigation and goes out of her way to deliver the highest level of service. She has provided invaluable assistance to the legal community by performing volunteer work and sharing her expansive legal knowledge with others.

This “report” is completely inconsistent with the Jeanne Koehr I know and I would seriously question its veracity. 

Coming across the disparaging comments on Ripoff Report regarding Attorney Koehr was quite disturbing and disheartening. In the last thirty years, I have not only performed several audit procedures on attorney billing practices, but I have had the pleasure of working with attorneys in an attempt to maximize their efficiency regarding having their billing practices reflect the amount of work they have performed. In doing so, I can say without a doubt that the extraordinary work that Attorney Koehr provides her clients facing the most difficult circumstances in the areas of the areas license suspension, obtaining hardship licenses, dealing with cases involving the interpretation of Massachusetts DUI laws or with Board of Appeal issues is provided to her clients at a discount level which I have counseled Attorney Koehr as being detrimental to the economic viability of Attorney Koehr’s bottom line but is a phenomenal gift to her clients.  Having had the extreme pleasure of sharing office space with Attorney Koehr for the past several years, I have not only had the opportunity to observe her masterful skills in achieving unbelievably positive results in cases that should have gone against her clients, but I believe that Attorney Koehr’s knowledge in regards to Massachusetts DUI laws and regulations dealing with Board of Appeals issues likely surpasses that of even the drafters. Her legal prowess and her dogged determination on behalf of her clients ensures that her clients are in the best hands possible. Attorney Koehr should be revered not reviled on such sites like Ripoff Report for the unbelievable work she performs in trying to achieve the best possible results on behalf of her clients.

The author could not be further from the truth.

I have been a police officer, prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney over the past forty six years. I have known and worked with Attorney Keohr for many years. She is one of the most knowledgeable and capable attorneys I have had the pleasure to work with, especially in the are of driver's license issus and Registry of Motor Vehicle issues.  Her professional ethics are not to be questioned. 

From a law enforcement stand point, it is should be a crime to allow such opinions to be posted before it can be challenged.

First and foremost, I recognize that I have no place inserting myself in this conversation between Jeanne and a former Client. However, I stumbled upon this meritless complaint accidentally when trying to search my gmail inbox and was so angered by what I read, I felt compelled the respond. 

I had received Jeanne's number from a legal coleague of hers, who himself is an accomplished and aclaimed attorney in Massachusetts. After listening to my situation, he told me the only person to call was Jeanne. I called her, she answered within 3 rings, and asked me to send her my whole case, legal obstacles, driving record, etc. I did so on Friday evening at about 5:30pm. She responded to me at 5:15am that Sunday morning with a detailed opinion as to where I stood, the end goal, and the challenges that would we would face along the way. She told me up front it would be a long process, there was no overnight fix due to the complexity of my issues. She suggested I meet wtith her at her office the following week so discuss.

I, along with my parents, met Jeanne and another attorney in her office, Brian (she wanted him to be present & party to) as my issues crossed several legal peramiters. Within 5 minutes of speaking with her, I knew her colleague was right, she was the only one who could help me. She has the experience, credentials, network, and she knows the state laws inside and out. She could recite them in her sleep if she wanted to. 

I retained her the week after our meeting and she went to work immediately. She did not even wait for my check to arrive. I am convinced she didn't take me on as a client because she needed to, but more so because she wanted to and thought she could help me. She is so kind and caring; she has innate nature to help others. 

Over the course of the last year that I have been working with Jeanne, she has answered my every call, e-mail, text, FedEx, fax, etc. within hours. She even responded minutes before going into the Operating Room once. During times which I felt defeated, she even served as a therapist and got me back on track. She is amazing woman. She is as hardworking, diligent, and thorough as they come. 

While she was hard at work resolving the issues I had first presented her with, I, of course, added more to her plate with new troubles. Any other attorney would have sent me a refund check with a note, "Sorry, please get another attorney." She did not. She did not show any dissapointment, disapproval nor did she lecture me. Once again, she asked me to meet with her in her office so we could revise our plan to include the newest obstacles so that they did not get in the way of the original ones. Her planning is masterful and her approach is brilliant. 

All this work she had done for me went way far beyond the $1,500 flat fee she charged. I asked her numerous times to send me a bill and she would say somehting along the lines, "We will figure it out later." Later never came. Which affirms my first point- she is not in this for the money and she is not in this for the clients- she has been so sucessful that she doesn't need either of those.

I felt so bad, that I was taking advantage of her. So, on a couple occasions, I sent her signed checks and ask her to fill in all that I owed her. She never would. Becuase I felt so indebted to her for everything she had done for me, I purchased Cashier's Checks and sent them to her so that she would have to cash them. 

I am still working with Jeanne as she is in the midst of settling the last of my legal issues. All the issues which she had resolved for me either were dismissed, resolved in my favor, or resolved in a way that put me in a much better position than I was before I was. 

So, to her former client, who only paid $1,000 of her fee and wrote this "Ripoff Report," I would say this: The only one who got ripped off here is Jeanne as you shorted her on her fee, which that itself speaks volumes of you. I would consider the $1,000 you paid to be the best $1,000 you ever spent. 

I reviewed the Melanie Law , and i was under the age 0f 21 , when i recieved the dui in Mass, since then the laws have changed in 2011 . I have waited well over 5 years to recieve clearance from the board of appeals and the DMV of Mass.

Florida DMV stated if i recieve clearance from Mass , they will reinstate my DL.

No lawyer ever works for a client with out recieving a retainer, As soon as she recieved my $1000 she stated she would send her assisant to the proper court houses . I recieved one single document . I called the board of appeals and filed the proper documentation along with $50 and know have a hearing date. Based on her years in this field , if she claims she knows so much , why did she not tell me up front , the board of appeals will deny me? Or did she just want my money ????

I will report back after my hearing.

Ordinarily I would not justify this with a response, but the author, Howard Needle, has made several erroneous statements.  I worked  on his case for ten months without payment.   I attempted to clarify his driving history in multiple states because of numerous DUI's, and have his license reinstated.  He received  e-mails, letters and supporting documentation from me over the course of the year, and I have the requisite information in the file in the event the matter needs independent review - including the letter regarding his fee obligation.  In August, Mr. Needle finally  sent a check for $1000 which reflected a  reduced rate for the hours I had put into his case.  

Mr. Needle became disatisfied when he was informed- in writing with copies of docket sheets, case law, etc., -  that his license could not be restored.   At that point he indicated he had retained new counsel - which later turned out to be inaccurate.  I informed him- in writing- that I was precluded from speaking with him further if had new representation.  He continued to text and e-mail despite my request that he cease contact.

Mr. Needle indicates that he was able to get a hearing before the Board of Appeal "with one phone call".   Again, this is not accurate.  As the Attorney General's appointment to the Board for almost twelve years, I am well aware of the process of obtaining a hearing.  There is an application process required with a $50.00 filing fee.  A Board hearing is not granted through a "phone call".  I had previously advised Mr. Needle -  in writing-  that an appearance before the Board would likely not produce a positive result in light of Melanie's Law and supporting court decisions.  These documents were provided to him.

If you Google the name Howard Needle, you will find that he has a consistent pattern of this behavior.   The allegations in his complaint are false, although I am reluctant to engage in any further dialogue because it encourages him to participate in hostile and fruitless conversation.  A review of prior complaints about his business practices will more clearly convey his credibility.

Finally, I will stand on my reputation and resume of thirty-five years whereby I have never had a single complaint about my work ethic or work product.

Jeanne Koehr