FORMAL COMPLAINT & PUBLIC NOTICE
Re: Legal Malpractice and Obstruction of Justice
To those looking to use Attorney Matthew Baker,
On December 9, 2022, I traveled from out of state to meet with Attorney Baker to discuss legal representation for a civil lawsuit regarding tree piracy under the Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS 364.130). During our meeting, Attorney Baker assured me that my case was significant and that legal fees would ultimately be covered by the defendants. He required an initial payment of $5,000, which I provided via check. This check was cashed within three hours of our meeting.
Since that initial meeting, more than two years have passed, and Attorney Baker has failed to take any meaningful legal action on my behalf. Despite my repeated attempts to communicate with him:
* We have spoken for less than 28 minutes total regarding my case.
* He has shown little to no interest in reviewing the substantial evidence I provided, including photographs and video footage of the theft occurring on my property.
* Over 100 trees, valued at approximately $150,000, were unlawfully taken from my land, with 45 additional trees left to rot.
* Not one court date has been scheduled or attended on my behalf.
After realizing Attorney Baker had taken no action on my case, I filed formal complaints with both the Kentucky Attorney General's Office and the Kentucky Bar Association. Investigations from both entities found no record of any legal work conducted by Mr. Baker regarding my case. This strongly suggests that he engaged in professional misconduct,
I have since retained a separate law firm to pursue an obstruction of justice claim against Attorney Baker. Additionally, I will be seeking the return of my $5,000 retainer, as well as punitive damages for the undue hardship caused by his negligence.
I am actively reaching out to media organizations, legal consumer protection groups, and investigative journalists to expose this egregious misconduct. I strongly encourage anyone who has had a similar experience with Attorney Baker to come forward.
This document serves as both a formal complaint and a public notice regarding the misconduct of Attorney Matthew Baker. I demand justice for the blatant mishandling of my case and seek to prevent others from falling victim to similar legal malpractice.
Respectfully,
Christopher Berry 01-30-2025 read more