Chris Froines was hired to take a case to settlement or to court in the event it did not settle.
After paying Chris Froines several thousand dollars to file on a first right of refusal and getting the case to a point of settlement he made several mistakes and lied about the mistakes he made.
Example: He incorrectly billed me for time I had meet with him and spoke to him about my bill. He does not have a billing department. Upon setting an appointment with Chris at his office in Missoula to discuss his billing inconsistances he billed me $140.00 an hour for pointing out mistakes on his bill.
Example2: He was given a number to make a counter offer in a case I placed with him and he failed to make a counter offer as we had discussed he would.
He instead scheduled a hearing officer to do a settlement confererence to the
tune of $170.00 per hour for the hearing officer and $140.00 for Chris himself. The hearing officer was late and Chris billed me for the lateness. The
hearing officer started with the same offer of $20,000 to settle the case at 10:03 A.M. and at 2:34 p.m. we were still at the same $20,000 dollars mark.
Nothing had been accomplished in this hearing. Chris failed to make the offer prior to the settlement conference. oudl bill me at $140.00 per hour at 5.5 hours. Folks don't let attorneys take advantage of you by haveing a hearing. In some counties it is required. However If your attorney can't handle a counter offer to the opposing attorney, something is wrong an this is a red flag.
Join with me an ask questions of your attorney and don't be afraid to add to their contract that they have you sign. Add things like:
1.) No hearing will take place at the same number as you have advised your
atorney to make an offer at.
2.) If an attorney is to busy to handle your case, they must refund your
money up to the point where they left off. (most attorneys will take a case and file it because that is where the big money is at.) then they will find fault with you and drop the case. Most attorneys won't step in on a case
whenit has been filed. 3.) If you don't like a judge when your case is filed, change judges in the first 30 days or you are stuck. NOte: Ask your attorney
how this judge tipically rules? What is thier personal, if known. Ex: Did they recently hav a divorce and hate women? Are they alcoholics? Sit in on a case that the judge is sitting on the bench and watch for twisting of the laws to meet a certain attorney or party to a case. Take notes and speak to your attorney about what you witnessed.
DON'T BE AFRAID OF YOUR ATTORNEY. REMEMBER YOU AE PAYING FOR A SERVICE AND YOU ARE PAYING BIG BUCKS. YOUR ATTORNEY OWES YOU SERVICE AND LEGAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW TO ENSURE YOU HVE A GOOD DEFENCE. Report every attorney and or business for their dishonest crude behavior. Examine your billing statement and most importantly insist they line item EVERYTHING. Don't let them get away with combinding two or more charges. This is a sure way to be overbilled. Believe me I have been there and they don't give a rats ass about you and your case it is the bucks that they care about. If you don't see things their way, they drop you after you have spent your hard earned dollars to line their pockets and support of thier families. They are real people and don't forget you are paying the bill! Ask questions and question your billing statement and question their theories and motives. This is a must.
Thanks,
RD
Roz
Hamilton, Montana
U.S.A.