I am writing this review to share my deeply disappointing and i believe harmful experience with…read moreDonahue Law Firm, specifically with their attorney, Audra. In February 2023, I hired the firm to represent me in a sensitive case involving a Tier 2 sex offender seeking access to minor children while on parole with the state of Oregon. Unfortunately, after nearly two years, I did not achieve an outcome that I believe was in the best interest of my children.
Here is a summary of my concerns:
1. Failure to Request a Venue Change:
Despite my repeated requests for a venue transfer, which I felt was a critical step due to logistical challenges and scheduling conflicts over the two-year period, the firm did not act on this. In my opinion, this decision--or lack thereof--had a significant impact on the case's outcome.
2. Missed Opportunities to Present Key Facts:
I provided the firm with documentation, including police reports, criminal records, and state-recommended parenting plans, which I believed were highly relevant to the case. Unfortunately, these were not presented during the hearing, despite my understanding that they would be. This omission left me feeling unrepresented and unprepared in court.
3. Negligence in Addressing Child Support Issues:
I experienced challenges with child support enforcement that I brought to the firm's attention, including unpaid amounts and documentation of changes in financial circumstances. Instead of resolving these issues, the final order incorrectly lowered the support amount, due to missing facts that I believe were a responsibility of Donahue as I provided them early on.
4. Weak Representation and Lack of Strategy:
I felt the firm's approach to my case lacked thorough preparation and effective cross-examination. There were moments where I expected stronger counterarguments or more pointed questioning, which I believe could have strengthened my case. Instead, their responses seemed unprepared and overly reliant on vague explanations.
5. Poor Communication and Record-Keeping:
After noticing discrepancies and delays, I filed a formal complaint with the firm, seeking clarity and resolution. I followed up multiple times, but weeks went by without resolution. This left me questioning the firm's communication practices and organizational standards, which I feel were inadequate for handling a case of this complexity.
6. Unprofessional Withdrawal:
After I shared my dissatisfaction with their services in a public forum, the firm chose to withdraw from my pending case. While they are entitled to make this decision, it felt like a punitive response rather than an effort to address the legitimate concerns I raised directly with their office prior.
7. Failure to Cite Relevant Legal References:
Throughout the process, I noticed a lack of reference to applicable Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) that could have supported my claims. This gave me the impression that my case was not being advocated for as effectively as I had hoped.
While this is my personal perspective, my experience with Donahue Law Firm left me feeling deeply dissatisfied. I believe their lack of preparation, communication, and follow-through has had lasting consequences for my family. If you are considering this firm, I would recommend carefully evaluating your options and seeking alternative representation.
Edited: also worth noting their yelp reviews stand at a 3.7 currently. I believe they are getting reviews successfully pulled down off google but not yelp.