Brucio
Buffalo,#2
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,#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.