Stephen F. Carley a $15,000 fee developed to a $300,000 fee for no reason Atlanta Georgia

In 2010 and 2011 I represented Jane Grant in court proceedings in Atlanta, Georgia brought by her two sons, Jim Wallace Grant and Charles Whitfield Grant. Jerome Hoffman (who was a friend of Jane Grant at the time) now falsely alleges that I agreed that my fee would be $15,000.00 but came to $300,000.00. There is no truth to this. Jane Grant employed me to represent her and agreed in a written agreement to pay my legal fee based upon an agreed hourly rate and the amount of time I devoted to her case. My total fees ultimately turned out to be about $73,900 plus I spent about $2,700.00 in out of pocket expenses that she agreed to reimburse me. My fees and expenses were presented to the Court for approval and were approved by the Court. Jane Grant never objected to my fees or the expenses. The fees of the other attorneys involved were about $76,000.00 and $62,000.00 respectively and were also approved by the Court. All of the fees would have been less except for the activities of the complaintant, Jerome Hoffman that caused additional legal services that otherwise would not have been necessary. Almost one half of my fees have still not been paid.

The other allegations of Jerome Hoffman are also false as follows. To my knowledge I never telephoned Jane Grant on a Sunday. I do not know Mr. Erik Leavell. I was never asked to be on Fox News. Jerome Hoffman never married Jane Grant. He claimed that he and Jane Grant were “common law” husband and wife. The Court disagreed with him. Jerome Hoffman employed Emory Schwall, Esq., as his attorney in the matter.

The matter was extremely serious for my client, Jane Grant and extensive legal work was involved. It was necessary to take a number of stenographically recorded depositions; and, several Court hearings were required.

I understand that Mr. Hoffman has been in many disputes and is a convicted felon and served years in prison.

For confirmation of these matters you can contact the other attorneys involved including: Michael Lambros, Esq., Catherine Packwood, Esq. and Emory A. Schwall, Esq. and the two said sons of Jane Grant.

I have been licensed to practice law and engaged in the private practice of law in Georgia for over 43 years. For over 38 years I have had an AV rating which is the highest rating of an attorney by Martindale Hubbell and LexisNexis which evaluate and rate lawyers nationally.