I want to warn consumers that this firm shows little concern for your incarcerated loved ones, and I believe Attorney Edward Johnson operates as a con artist, motivated solely by financial gain. My fiancé, J. Wiley, entered into a contract with Attorney Johnson on September 12, 2023, for a total fee of $15,000 covering four cases--two felonies and two misdemeanors. We made an initial deposit of $2,500 and agreed to monthly payments of $1,000 until the total was paid or the cases were resolved.
On January 16, 2024, my fiancé was wrongfully stopped and charged with an additional felony. Attorney Johnson then proposed bundling all cases for a new total of $25,000. We postponed signing any new contract until March 9, 2024, when he assured us that payments for the second contract would not start until the first was fully paid. My fiancé confirmed this, and since he is incarcerated, he authorized me to sign on his behalf during my visit to the office with Attorney Johnson and his paralegal, Midge McCoy.
As court dates came and went, we noticed that Attorney Johnson frequently requested continuances instead of filing necessary motions or reviewing case details. We asked him to schedule Zoom meetings with J. Wiley to discuss his case and to file motions for pretrial release. While he arranged some meetings, he failed to address our requests for case details and strategy, and he ignored our inquiries about discovery until I expressed my frustration in person. My fiancé is knowledgeable about criminal law, and we actively researched to stay informed about his defense. Unfortunately, I often received passive-aggressive responses that left us feeling misled about the case's progress.
Upon reviewing our contracts, I discovered that instead of the agreed $15,000 for the first contract, it now stated $20,000, with an additional $10,000 for the second contract. Attorney Johnson claimed we were behind on payments, despite our contract indicating otherwise. When I questioned the change in the first contract amount, he insisted it had always been that way, which raised a red flag. Despite this, we continued to make payments, totaling $17,000 over 13 months, putting us ahead of schedule.
We repeatedly pressed Attorney Johnson about the lack of filed motions and the stagnation of the cases, urging him to recognize that the cases could be won with the right motions citing relevant case law. I dedicated hours to researching legal precedents and emailing the firm with new information, effectively acting as an unpaid paralegal. I even incurred expenses printing and mailing documents to support my fiancé's defense.
Eventually, it became clear that Attorney Johnson was overwhelmed and began pressuring us for more money, despite knowing that finances were not the issue. He misrepresented himself as a trial lawyer, yet his actions suggested otherwise. He seemed more aligned with the prosecution than with defending my fiancé, even undermining him in court.
I have requested itemized receipts, copies of the discovery, and other legal documents related to my fiancé's case, but to date, we have received none of our requests. Edward Johnson lacks the reputation and trial experience he claims, and he misleads clients to secure their business, only to withdraw from cases once he has received substantial payments, often citing excuses like "issues with attorney authority" or "nonpayment."
I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau regarding this firm and strongly advise anyone seeking legal representation for their loved ones to avoid Attorney Edward Johnson and his associates. Unless you have money to waste, I recommend steering clear of this firm, as they demonstrate unprofessionalism and a lack of empathy. read more
