(While you are reading this, I ask you to keep in mind the following question: "Would ANYONE reveal…read moresuch explicitly personal details about their life simply to make up some nonsensical "story" involving an incident with a lawyer from 20 years ago, had it not of been the 100% God honest truth?")
These reviews, albeit limited, sound EXACTLY like the man who "represented" me on behalf of a relative who had obtained his services to represent me back in 2002. As a young, lost 22-year old kid, I developed an addiction to opiate pain medication following an extensive series of surgeries in the late 1990's -- a time when doctors freely peddled massive quantities of highly-addictive substances (i.e. OxyContin) to me like candy. All of course, in exchange for tremendous financial kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies and drug reps. As a result, I became the quintessential poster-child for the "Big Pharma opioid crisis." I freely admit that I became addicted. This led to a drug charge in 2001 of possessing dangerous drugs (PODD). While I most certainly will not downplay it, being in possession of 16 Darvocet (a schedule 4 narcotic, weaker than codeine) landed me in major trouble. It did not help that I was located in the tiny town of Helena, MT either. While in all actuality, he probably could have (and should have) tried suing Purdue Pharmaceuticals, I do not fault him for saving my butt from getting into trouble. At the same time, I credit what later ensued for saving my life, and as a result, I never used drugs ever again, nor did I ever have any more run-ins with the law. All in all, I was a kid who made a mistake. Nevertheless, Mr. Harrington (the man who had been paid thousands of dollars to defend me) made no such attempt to get me the help I needed or to do what any reputable, decent attorney (or individual for that matter) would have done. No, in fact, not only did he actually recommend that I be sentenced to prison (which I actually was) despite this being a first time drug offense for which, these days, I doubt whether any charges or arrest would be filed against a man "in possession" of 16 pills. Did I mention that I had ingested them 7 hours prior to my arrest, or that they belonged to my girlfriend at the time? Nonetheless, the question at the time was: "Why would a man (that of my own attorney) do such a thing?" I will never truly know. However, I would have to assume that it has something to do with the fact that Mr. Harrington had no qualms whatsoever in voicing his opinion of me; to my face and in the most unprofessional, arrogant and practically unbelievable way(s). Yes, this man openly referred to me as a "prick," a "piece of shit" and an "arrogant dickhead" (among many others) on so many occasions, that I eventually requested that he no longer visited me in jail as I awaited sentencing. So, why did my family continue to pay him? I would have to assume that it is much easier to take the words of a "grown adult" professional, than that of a young, drug-addicted (soon-to-be felon). Plus, they had already invested several thousands in retaining him. However, that is beside the point. The purpose of the story though is to review his professional/ethical behavior and that of his ability to be an effective lawyer. And without question, he was the furthest from either as one could possibly get. If this man has somehow managed to avoid being barred from his profession or hasn't been sued for malpractice, it can only have been by the grace of God.
One final thought: The person I am today is the complete opposite of the kid I was when I knew Mr. Harrington. People can and do change; sometimes, in the most drastic and profound ways. I can only hope that this is the case for Mr. Harrington. I do not hold any ill-feelings towards the man nor would I come on here, 20 years after the fact, had I had an axe to grind with him. I merely happened to come across his name today and decided to see if he was still practicing. Had the other reviews not have expressed such discontent with him or his professional behavior, I most certainly would have never written a word. I left this review not as a means of discrediting him, but simply for the reasons that reviews are often left: to help others who are in search of a particular service make the wisest choice.