This review is specifically for Mike McCarthy:
In one word, terrible, in another, lazy. Harsh, well here's why.
I hired Mike as my attorney to handle my divorce/child custody case. At first everything seemed like it was going to go smoothly and great, however it quickly changed.
For some background information, my ex wife had cheated on me (there were pictures to validate this), moved in with a violent family (one of which assaulted me during the exchange of my child), my wife got charged with child endangerment, she also got caught trying to steal my identity by opening a credit card in my name (not hers) during the divorce, had abused the Iowa family support systems by stating she made less than what she did to receive food stamps and healthcare, she also got caught going against court orders by taking my child into multiple bars on various occasions (video and photos to support this) which even without a court order specifically stating not to do this (which there was) it's still just bad parenting. Me, I did nothing, worked a part time job to hold me over while going to school for a career in electronics, clean criminal record, never went against a single court order...
Yet somehow Mike still screwed up my case, he showed up late to court on multiple occasions, once without ANY paperwork that he was supposed to bring. He represented me on the child support hearing (seeing as I did not have to be there, and advised me not to come) so I did as I was told, after the hearing he NEVER called me as promised, so it took me four separate times calling to finally get a hold of him, he told me things went well and never gave me any details, I never signed anything, never authorized anything, yet 4 months later revived a wage garnishment in the mail came because I was somehow over $4,000.00 backed in child support. When I called the CS office they said that it was not their job to inform me that I had to start paying child support (because I was NEVER-EVER made aware I was supposed to pay anything at that point) and it was specifically my attorneys job to do so.
I called Mike to find out why he never told me, and he argued with me up and down that he did and that I even signed something agreeing to pay the child support, on the date of that hearing. Funny thing is, I was in Cedar Rapids that day, not Davenport, had receipts to prove it, how could I have signed something in Davenport if I'm not even in the same city, he said he'd send me a copy... I never received a copy, weird.
I had to pay over 700.00/month in child support for one child, I was working at McDonald's not even making 700.00/month, when I asked "isn't that illegal? Isn't it supposed to be up to 60% of my income?" He said, "A judge can do whatever he wants." In other words, he did not properly represent me.
During the divorce hearing, he showed up late, forgot all the papers that were required, and when we were in the room sitting across from my ex wife and her attorney, he literally said all of three sentences the ENTIRE hearing, never defending me or bringing up ANYTHING like the undeniable proof against my ex wife and her claims... Near the end I finally started doing his job for him and had to bring things to the courts attention because he refused to take any part in it.
After the hearing, I asked him why he didn't do what I had paid him to do, and he said, "In Iowa, it takes a lot of proof to prove an unfit mother." Well, I had the proof buddy, you just didn't bring it!
I had to continuously refuse to sign the divorce decree because they kept trying to make me pay for all insurance for my wife and child, along with all medical expenses, my ex wife's attorneys fees, court fees, all on top of child support when my wife was making twice my wages. Mike kept trying to push me to sign the decree, but why would I sign something so obscene? If only I had half-decent representation to help me, I wouldn't be in that situation.
I finally gave up on Mike, and told him to give me back my file, paid him and went different directions.
Anything good you've heard about him is representative of the past, he's gotten lazy and complacent over the past 5 years.
I've heard numerous complaints that mirror exactly what I've claimed as of recent, I have friends that have used Mike and spoken of similar things. He's all talk to sell you, but once he's got your retainer and you're obligated to pay him, good luck getting him to even answer your phone calls. read more
