Martin Berman was recommended to me by a another attorney who said she knew him as a friend but could not vouch for his abilities as a lawyer. I had little time to find an attorney; in retrospect I would have done better representing myself. It was a horrible mistake and created a very negative impact on my life aside from the financial gouging for an unsatisfactory result. Mr. Berman is a solo practitioner, as one Pflaster is deceased and the other retired. He rents a Fegen suite with other solo practitioners and also practices under the name Excelus. Although they are not partners, Berman works closely with William Bloch with whom he shares office space. If you attempt to hire Berman you will be forced to hire Bloch as well. I was double teamed and double billed by both Berman and his friend Bloch. Within 5 days of paying the $2500 retainer, I was asked to come to the office and was presented with a bill for $8860. When I looked at the bill it was very vague, appeared padded and duplicative so I asked for more detail. I was told,"That's the way we do it." Subsequent bills were done the same way. All of my conversations and emails, in the period between signing the retainer and this meeting, were with the paralegal not the attorneys. Although we had not gone to Court yet, I was charged for parking. They failed me in all areas--refusing to use the evidence I provided as well as not obtaining crucial audio evidence from the opposing party that would have won my case. At the first scheduled court appearance, my case was not on the calendar. Yet both Berman and his crony, Bloch, remained at the courthouse and billed me for the whole day when one could have left. I was charged over $6000 for nothing but aimless wandering. The brief was written by his paralegal but I was charged the attorney rate of $450/hr. Berman made me sit behind the barrier rather than at the table with my attorneys. The Judge overruled several of his quoted cases as not relevant. During the breaks, Berman ignored me while he chatted about personal matters with opposing counsel. When I expressed my concerns that they seemed to be working against, rather than for, me Berman's hostility towards me increased: he actually told me to shut up and on another occasion he put his hand out to stop me from speaking. He made no attempt to obtain the crucial audio evidence from opposing counsel that I had requested nor did he use evidence I gave him that would have helped me. While he was never friendly it now was very apparent that he overtly disliked me. It was very obvious that he was in complete agreement with all the accusations made by the opposing counsel and his clients. In fact, he and Bloch used those false and defamatory accusations against me during the Arbitration. It seemed he was more intent on helping the opposing party get what they wanted. Outside of the courtroom, when I pointed out false testimony by the opposing party Berman said, "she can't be lying." Using threats and coercion, that the Judge was going to rule against me if I did not sign a settlement agreement as well as claiming the opposing party could sue me for 6 figures in an emotional distress, slander, libel & slander suit; I reluctantly signed a a settlement agreement that was not beneficial to me and has been described as egregious and a violation of public policy. The only good part was provision for dismissal with prejudice. Three hours after I signed and returned the agreement; the opposing counsel insisted the dismissal be changed from with to without prejudice. Berman did not object to, or prevent, that change. Later, Berman tried to gaslight me by saying I had never signed the agreement he had sent me. I advised him I had the document, he claimed I never signed, in my possession. Then he tried to blame me for the change, falsely accusing me of altering the "redline" document and dithering over minor points which caused opposing counsel to request change in the dismissal terms. Personally, I feel that his new friendship with opposing counsel was the reason that he did not object to the change in dismissal terms. Neither attorney showed up at the last court appearance. When I asked for a copy of the Dismissal, Berman said he didn't have it. I requested and paid for fee arbitration with the Beverly Hills Bar Association. I later found out Berman is a member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association. Prior to the Arbitration they insisted on non binding arbitration. The day of the hearing they suddenly agreed to Binding arbitration. I was not really given a chance to present my side at the Arbitration because Berman and Bloch spent most of the time engaging in character assassination rather than discussing the billing. Beware of hiring Berman because you will be forced to hire his friend Bloch. They both bill separately for the same items. He is unethical, unscrupulous and has no problem betraying his client for financial gain. read more
