A Mess of an Organization
I spent 2.5 years working with this firm, after a referral from a colleague. It is arguably one of the sloppiest professional services companies I've ever experienced. The number of documented problems I experienced with Dornish Law had is egregiously long, but I'll stick to the worst:
1. Attorney Turnover - I had five different attorneys. The first was fired, the second "disappeared" with no explanation. The third quit. The fourth was a partner who made it clear I would be handed to a new attorney "when they became available." The fifth was a counsel who made it clear in writing, that my case was not her priority.
2. Multiple Incorrect Filings - Seven different filings with local courts were submitted incorrectly and required re-filing. One of the attempts of service on the defendant was made. The next day I received a call from an attorney saying "we f***ed up the paperwork, and have to resubmit." That mistake resulted in three additional months to find the defendant, who relocated after being served. They couldn't even bill me correctly, having to amend 4 different bills due to incorrect hours tracking for work never completed.
3. Witnessing Verbally Abusive Behavior From a Partner to a Counsel - When trying to rectify one of the mistakes above, I watched attorney #4 verbally scold attorney #3, like he was a child. It was so uncomfortable, I asked to end the call after she said to him "just stop talking."
4. Long Gaps in Progress - On two separate occasions, I went over six months without an update. At no point in my case did I ever feel well-informed. I would be provided dates when I could expect an update. Those deadlines would pass, and it would require multiple emails and calls to get any kind of answer, usually several weeks later. Most of the time, it was "no update." Zero initiative.
5. Poor Advice - It took over $3,000 in billings for me to ask at what point I'd be eligible to recapture attorney's fees from the defendant. I was then informed my attorney fees weren't eligible for recovery in this type of case. I wouldn't have even taken this case if I knew that at the outset.
It got to the point where I was actively soliciting consultations for legal malpractice, when one firm said it wasn't worth the effort, because they'd be "punching down" to go after Dornish Law.
I am tired of pursuing this case, and am walking away from any potential money because of how badly this firm supported me. The lost money stings, but what really bothers me is just how terrible it felt being in a situation where I needed help, trusting they'd take care of me, and getting the bare minimum (often low-skill) effort in return. read more
