This guy is super bizarre, looks like Mr Garrison from South Park (unrelated to my review--just an uncanny resemblance), and made me feel really guilty and uncomfortable during a consultation to see about hiring to represent me in a divorce that I didn't want, and was terrified about (I have two children who are still little), and my now ex-husband was threatening and intimidating me, as well as refusing to pay child support and trying to get my children taken away from me with entirely false accusations. I was vulnerable and desperate to have someone to help me protect myself and my kids. He treated me as though the accusations were probably accurate, and didn't bother to hide it. He kept telling me that my case was impossible to complete in 6 months, said it'd cost me more money than I could afford (my ex is a doctor, so money wasn't even an issue), and in general treated me with disdain. I didn't know any better, so I agreed to hire him out of desperation. He told me I'd have to pay a very large retainer up front and "prove to him" that I could continue to pay him after that. Again, paying him wasn't a problem, and I was as nice as can be to him and had a relatively uncomplicated divorce, and would've been an easy case for him (aside from the intimidation and unfamiliarity with the divorce process). He told me to pay the retainer to a website and said it was in my packet. I went to make a payment later that day, and there was no information in the packet about it. I called the secretary, who told me she didn't have that information and I should try in the morning. I again contacted them asking for the website to pay 16 hours after meeting him for a consultation, before he had done any work on my case, only to be told he wouldn't be taking me on as a client, and then I got a terse letter of discontinuance citing my "failure to abide by the contract" and no phone call. I tried to explain that they hadn't given me the website, nor told me I only had 4 hours to complete it, and to ask why they had booted me from the firm, and they were really cagey and rude about it--especially David Rolfe himself, who just said "read the contract. Payment was to be up front" and wouldn't give me any additional info. Super gross, condescending, and unethical behavior on his part.
I ended up going to another lawyer a few days later and she was nice, friendly, told me how to pay, treated me like a human being, and won my case. I ended up paying her almost $40,000, which is less than it would have cost me to use Rolfe for the same work. She was likable and normal and won over both the judge and the opposing attorney, plus she had great "bedside manner" and a friendly relationship with my mediator.
Shout out to Elizabeth Bonanno with GEM family law, and to her paralegal, Kim. That's where you guys should send your business! She's young, beautiful, and smart as a whip. read more