The Law Offices of Kimberly Ries Ashley, P.S.

Dear Mr [redacted] :This letter follows our conversation last week I have now had an opportunity to review the complaint, the file, the billing, correspondence between Ms [redacted] and Ms [redacted] r I have also received Ms [redacted] response to the allegations I do not believe Ms [redacted] engaged in any unethical behavior nor do I believe she overcharged for services Ms [redacted] is more than competent in the area of family law In fact, after reviewing all the correspondence between Ms [redacted] and Ms [redacted] , Ms [redacted] was following Ms [redacted] directives While the firm must be cautious not to divulge privileged information, written communications between Ms [redacted] and Ms [redacted] establish the same The only directive that Ms [redacted] could not follow was that Ms [redacted] wanted an action filed on a particular date and due to Ms [redacted] calendar, she was unable to accommodate that request (as I indicated to you, Ms [redacted] was in a lengthy trial last week) When Ms [redacted] relayed to Ms [redacted] that she was unable to meet Ms [redacted] desired deadline, Ms [redacted] indicated to stop work which is exactly what Ms [redacted] did The work performed by Ms [redacted] was not only necessary but thorough Ms [redacted] contacted a contemporary only to determine if all avenues had been exhausted to achieve Ms [redacted] desired result As it turned out, there was one more option that the contemporary suggested to achieve something similar to what Ms [redacted] desired (although it was not what Ms [redacted] had originally requested) I do not believe that Ms [redacted] was overcharged I would like to point out that Ms [redacted] never contacted our office to request a refund of fees charged Further, an effort was made by the office to reach out to Ms [redacted] to see if resolution could be had Ms [redacted] has not returned Ms [redacted] call Although the attorneys at this firm personally feel that this is an effort by Ms [redacted] to strong arm the firm into providing free services, Ms [redacted] and I have at this time determined that we will refund Ms [redacted] $as a good faith gesture to get this matter resolved despite the fact that this firm stands by the work performed

Complaint:
I am rejecting this response because: I received a call/voicemail from Ms*** on 04/03/18. I returned Ms***'s call on 04/06/at my earliest convenience to be told she was not in office. I have not heard from Ms*** since. I had a consultation with Ms*** on 2/28/for adoption services during which Ms*** lead the discussion having a plan of action for the following 6-weeks stating it was a stepparent adoption with an additional step or two and she would have to tweak some of my documents to suit my caseAfter I signed the documents and paid to retain Ms*** as my legal representation she drew up the parental-rights termination consent for my approval and sent them to me via USPS and electronic mail as well as to the biological parentsMs*** also informed me I could request what's being billed from my trust aka retainer at any timeThat I should be aware of the balance and keep it well fundedAfter bio father declined to consent on 3/05/18, Ms*** notified me via phone & emailed on 3/06/of the RCWs (Revised Code of Washington) being an adoptive parent and the requirements to file an termination summonsThis which was not mentioned to meduring consultation before retaining Ms*** for her legal servicesWhen Ms*** discovered the requirement for both bio parents consent to terminate rightsto adopt she no longer knew where to proceed in the case and began to ignore my e-mails and bill me for her research without my consentMs*** ignored my request for information on her research and I was not notified until after the calls were made to another *** *** FirmI was also denied any information on what I was being charged until their monthly statements are issued at the end of the month.I went in to the office on 3/14/to terminate my contract with Ms*** who was unavailableI spoke to her paralegal Jessica to which I stated I wanted to end services with Ms*** as she was not familiar with kinship adoption and had given incorrect adviceJessica said she'd inform Ms*** and would follow up within hours for me to retrieve my retainer.When Ms*** contacted me on 3/14/it was to discuss her call with the Family Law Office she reached out to and explained there was no way to proceed with adoption without parental consent from both parties which she knew due to the RCW's she reviewed over email with meMs*** then suggested she reach out by telephone to the bio father to discuss Open adoption so I forwarded the contact information for bio father that was listed on a public website.After another week of no contact from Ms***, on 3/21/I emailed Ms*** and her staff to confirm stop on all work again and I told Ms*** she incorrecly advised me during consultation and therefore shouldn't have taken my retainer to begin.I have email and USPS documents to provide an accurate timeline and truth pertaining to Ms***'s and my correspondenceOnce I was ignored I feared I had become a pocketbook for Ms***'s research and would not be given opportunity to dispute the charges as I was not allowed to see what I was being billed forFurthermore, I have no desire to strong arm a law firm for free legal advice as I am not requesting my additional $cost for the consultation fee from Ms*** to be refunded.I simply wanted correct legal advice that I paid for in full up front during consultation.In lieu of Kimberly Reis Ashley Law Office's offer, I would like to continue my original request for a full refund of what services I was billed for and believe I was overchargedAs of 3/21/Ms***, via e-mail is denying the legal advice she gave me
Sincerely,
*** ***

Dear Mr. [redacted]:This letter follows our conversation last week.  I have now had an opportunity to review the complaint, the file, the billing, correspondence between Ms. [redacted] and Ms. [redacted]r.  I have also received Ms[redacted] response to the allegations.  I do not believe...

Ms. [redacted] engaged in any unethical behavior nor do I believe she overcharged for services.  Ms. [redacted] is more than competent in the area of family law.  In fact, after reviewing all the correspondence between Ms. [redacted] and Ms. [redacted], Ms. [redacted] was following Ms. [redacted] directives.  While the firm must be cautious not to divulge privileged information, written communications between Ms. [redacted] and Ms. [redacted] establish the same.  The only directive that Ms. [redacted] could not follow was that Ms. [redacted] wanted an action filed on a particular date and due to Ms[redacted] calendar, she was unable to accommodate that request (as I indicated to you, Ms. [redacted] was in a lengthy trial last week).  When Ms. [redacted] relayed to Ms. [redacted] that she was unable to meet Ms. [redacted] desired deadline, Ms. [redacted] indicated to stop work which is exactly what Ms. [redacted] did.  The work performed by Ms. [redacted] was not only necessary but thorough.  Ms. [redacted] contacted a contemporary only to determine if all avenues had been exhausted to achieve Ms. [redacted] desired result.  As it turned out, there was one more option that the contemporary suggested to achieve something similar to what Ms. [redacted] desired (although it was not what Ms. [redacted] had originally requested).  I do not believe that Ms. [redacted] was overcharged.  I would like to point out that Ms. [redacted] never contacted our office to request a refund of fees charged.  Further, an effort was made by the office to reach out to Ms. [redacted] to see if resolution could be had.  Ms. [redacted] has not returned Ms[redacted] call.  Although the attorneys at this firm personally feel that this is an effort by Ms. [redacted] to strong arm the firm into providing free services, Ms. [redacted] and I have at this time determined that we will refund Ms. [redacted] $150 as a good faith gesture to get this matter resolved despite the fact that this firm stands by the work performed.