Unbelievable lack of professionalism.
I'm an attorney barred in Massachusetts, and recently represented a client against this firm on a debt collection matter.
I first contacted this law firm in an effort to settle this case a couple days before the scheduled hearing. They indicated a willingness to settle, and agreed to continue the matter 30 days to give time for negotiation, and indicated they would file the Continuance. However, when I spoke with the Clerk on the day of the Hearing, I was informed that they (or their substitute counsel) had shown up and, instead of requesting a Continuance, they requested a Default instead. When I explained what happened to the Clerk, I found it interesting that the Clerk immediately guessed the name of the law firm involved on her first try. The Default was vacated without a hearing when I filed a motion with a statement about the conversation I had had with their office, however.
Our efforts to negotiate failed, without much sign of effort to compromise on their side, so we went ahead with the new trial date.
Not only did Howard Lee Schiff not bother to show up themselves for mine and about 20 other trials they were scheduled to argue that day, their substitute counsel was unable to reach anyone at their office to approve a settlement, and apparently had very limited (if any) authority to actually enter into settlements on their behalf.
After offering a settlement that the substitute attorney indicated he was pretty sure would be accepted, an Assented Motion to Continue was granted pending the submission of a Dismissal and filing of settlement papers with the court once the formalities had been observed. I called the law firm several days later, where instead of speaking to any attorneys as requested I kept being transferred to collection agents who did not understand the legal process and knew nothing about the case except the amounts they were trying to collect.
When I finally spoke to an attorney, I was informed they could not decide on the courthouse settlement offer until they received the court report back from their substitute counsel, and would contact me when they did.
30 days later...the law firm had still not contacted me and the newly continued trial was only a couple days away. I called them on three different days, the number they listed (as required by law) on the Complaint was a neverending loop of hold and "unavailable" messages. I looked them up with the Massachusetts Bar and got a better number, eventually got to what I assume was an attorney, who indicated they would not accept the settlement.
Based on a number of complaints I found all over the internet while searching for alternate contact information, it appears this "law firm" obtains a lot of default judgments by inferring that a matter is settled or shortly to be settled so that the other party does not feel the need to come into court. Do a couple name searches and read the complaints before doing business (either hiring or attempting to negotiate) with this law firm and be sure to keep everything in writing and don't take their word for anything. read more
