Deadbeat Seattle Attorney!

[nw_Willy]

about 3 years ago I was involved in an incident in Kirkland, WA and
charged with a crime. Not knowing an attorney I went to the Yellow
pages and found one in the category needed. The firm was George Freeman
1-888-GTE-FIRM. One of his attorneys working for the firm met with me,
we agreed on a fee and I thought I had a reputable, hardworking and
HONEST ATTORNEY.
Seems like this guy needed to postpone things for one reason or another
almost every time I had to go to court but I went along with him
figuring he knew what he was doing and had my best interest in mind..
The day of trial I was told that the DA had to change the date again so
I agreed. The attorney told me I did not need to be at court and would
be informed of the new trial date. He faxed me a form to sign and send
back to OK the continuation. After about 1 month and not hearing from
my attorney I called and asked when would I be notified of the new
date? He apologized and told me the charges were dropped. I thanked him
and thought everything was done. About a year later I was informed that
there was a warrant out for me for failure to appear. I called Mr.
Freeman's office and was told the attorney I hired was no longer with
the firm. I then asked to speak to Mr. Freeman and was told by him that
he would check into it and let me know what was going on.
Since then I have made about 20 to thirty calls a week to Mr. Freemans
office. Mr Freeman is either out of the office or conveniently in
court, unless I use a fake name to get through and then I get the same
run a round that he will check into it and get back to me.
After enough of this bull, I filed a complaint with the WA State Bar
assc.
They tell me they don't see an ethics violation and dismissed the
complaint.

Let's see You hire an attorney to represent you and he takes your money
and doesn't represent you.....No ethics violation??????
SOUNDS LIKE A LICENSE TO STEAL. What is a person to do? Don't attorneys
take some kind oath to their profession? Don't they have anyone to
answer too? and I guess last but not least, What can you do about a deadbeat attorney like this?

I would appreciate all responses.

[stephenk]

At what point are you going to hire another attorney to take care of the warrant?

[nw_Willy]

WELL, I am sure you can imagine my trust in LAWYERS at this point. I don't want to make the same mistake again so this time I am going to make sure whoever I hire will not rob me like George Freemans firm did. I would like to take care of this as soon as possible but there is no urgent need to be taken advantage of by a crook.
Why do you ask?

[stephenk]

With a warrant hanging over your head, you should be first concerned with getting the warrant taken care of then asking questions about how to go after your former attorney. You can't go after him if you are sitting in a jail cell, right?

[nw_Willy]

What would you suggest? Throwing thousands of dollars at every deadbeat attorney till I find a good one?
anyway, it was a very minor petty thing and beings I no longer live in their jurisdiction I won't be sitting in jail either but thanks for caring.
I guess you answered my question without answering it. Work a little slow?

[stephenk]

Why would you think I was at work at 11:00 p.m.?

Wait till the next time you are pulled over and the warrant pops up.

[acmb05]

Originally Posted by nw_Willy

What would you suggest? Throwing thousands of dollars at every deadbeat attorney till I find a good one?
anyway, it was a very minor petty thing and beings I no longer live in their jurisdiction I won't be sitting in jail either but thanks for caring.
I guess you answered my question without answering it. Work a little slow?

You are talking about is NOT what the warrant is for. The warrant is for FAILURE TO APPEAR which by the judges standards is NOT a very minor thing.

Agree that next time you are pulled over and the warrant pops up you will be sitting in a jail cell looking for a new attorney.

Long time ago I had warrant in Hillsborough county Florida, Got pulled over in Orlando, Fl. Officer saw the warrant and arrested me on the spot. They called Hillsborough county and asked if they wanted to come and get me. Well guess what they did so I sat in jail till the next morning waiting on a Hillsborough county deputy to show up and drive me back. I also had a very minor offense of unpaid ticket however since I did not go to court that is what I was arrested on. They could care less about the ticket.

Bottom line is just because you moved out of thier jurisdiction does not mean they wont put your butt in jail.

[nw_Willy]

Maybe you should have taken care of your warrant if you were going to stay in the same state so your butt wouldn't be sitting in jail. How smart is that?
I am not in there jurisdiction. I am several states away and the warrant is not valid here. I have already checked on it but thanks for the info.

[acmb05]

Originally Posted by nw_Willy

Maybe you should have taken care of your warrant if you were going to stay in the same state so your butt wouldn't be sitting in jail. How smart is that?
I am not in there jurisdiction. I am several states away and the warrant is not valid here. I have already checked on it but thanks for the info.

As I said it was a long time ago. It was an example to show you that they can and will arrest you for it even years down the line.

A warrant for your arrest I do believe is valid everywhere no matter where you live, If they run an NCIC check on you it will show up. Then it is up to Washington whether they want to go thru the expense of coming to get you(which you will have to pay for also)

Anyway do what you want to, if you dont want to take care of it dont, however I would sugest you never set foot in Washington ever again because if you do and for some odd reason they pull you over your butt will be in jail.

[nw_Willy]

I understand what your saying and do appreciate the advice, don't get me wrong however it seems a ways off the subject.
I have friends here that are attorneys and also friends that are cops and they all agree that this state could care less about Washington and it wouldn't be a problem here.
I do plan on finding someone to take care of the situation in WA, however I am looking for someone reputable and not a crook like the last attorney. If I'm going to just give money away I would prefer to name my own charity, do you know what I mean? If I hire an attorney I expect them to do the work I paid them for, that's all I'm saying there.
If you do know a good attorney I would appreciate that info and if you know someone looking for one you might pass along my info.
Thanks!

[acmb05]

Of other threads in here that deal with this issue also. One just recently by "exmilman"

I do believe he just called the prosecutors office and asked how to take care of it. His post is still on the front page I think. Anyway he was told that most judges on a failure to appear charge/warrant that is over a certain amount of time old they just let pay a fine and the warrant is taken off. His case was in Florida but hey its worth a shot its always possible judges in your statae do the same thing. Especially when jails are overcrowded.

I would try that route and see what they say.

Very true most states are not going to arrest you on a warrant from another state that is a misdemeanor. Its just not worth thier time for something so petty.

[nw_Willy]

Thats a great idea. Thanks for the advice and I'll look up the other post.
Have a Great Christmas.