Campbell Perry, LLC

When Mr
*** first contacted my office, we discussed my experience handling consumer
protection matters, we discussed the fact that no lawyer can guarantee a
result, and we discussed an hourly fee agreement. On hourly cases, our standard method is to examine
the scope of work, then conservatively estimate a timeline, from which an
initial retainer is calculated.A retainer
is not a 'fixed price' for a specific result.
The fee agreement that Mr*** signed is an hourly agreement, and
we bill against the retainer as time is worked and fees are earned. Sometimes a case requires less work than
anticipated, and the balance of the retainer is refunded. Other times a case requires more work than
anticipated, or the outcome of the case is not what we hoped it would be.I try to be
clear and direct with clients, through every phase of every engagement. A frank discussion about every case avoids
frustration later. And we never want a
client to feel misunderstood or undervalued.Mr
***'s retainer was for five (5) hours.
I worked on his case for approximately four (4) weeks and logged
billable hours. In his case, the outcome
was a disappointment and so, as a courtesy and a show of good will, I discounted
hours, rather than ask him to be out-of-pocket any further than he already
was. It's notable as well that my firm
paid a 15% fee to the local bar association from whom Mr*** was
referred. Mr
*** protested our invoice, demanding an additional $rebate. I called and spoke with him, reiterating that
his fee agreement was hourly, and that no lawyer can guarantee a result. I attempted to offer a compromise that would
take into account the foregoing circumstances, but Mr*** became irate
and hung up. Follcalls went
unanswered. Instead, Mr*** responded
only be e-mail, threatening to file a complaint with the RevDex.com, threatening a grievance with the state bar association, and threatening
to post negative online consumer reviews.As lawyers,
we work very hard, and the only thing we have to bill is our time. We take all of our clients' cases very
seriously, and we do all that we can to accomplish our clients' goals. I regret that Mr*** is unhappy. I know I did all that could have been done on
his case, and I know my attempts at good will were more than reasonable