Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin and Mendoza Lazy Law Firm Long Beach, California

This law firm is one of the worst for Worker's Comp representation.  Under the Larry H. Parker umbrella of companies, the only service I received was when a rep came to my home to have me sign the documents consenting to give the firm 15% of any settlement received.  My case was a simple on-the-job injury that should not have taken 3 years to settle.  The company transferred my medical care to one of their doctors who basically ran every possible needless test and ran up the medical bills which the employer was obligated to pay once they admitted liability. 

In 3 years, I only spoke with an attorney over the phone no more than 5 times, TOTAL.  When calling to get updates for my case, I was shamelessly put into a waiting line of phone calls that were answered by paralegals who CANNOT, by law, give legal advise.  The only thing they could do was TRY and give me a status update to my case.  Unfortunately, I knew more going on with my case than the law firm.  On many occasions, I had to fax over a copy of whatever documents I had received in the mail because they "hadn't received theirs" or simply "did not have a copy".

Further, in the 3 years I was painfully represented by this sorry firm, I only SAW a lawyer face-to-face 5 times.  Only twice was it the same lawyer at Mandatory Settlement Conferences. My initial meeting with a JUNIOR lawyer was at a deposition in the defense attorney's office.  My so-called "lawyer" showed up without my file.  We had to delay the start of the interrogatories so that I could provide her with the background of my case.  Embarrassing!  Nonetheless, I stuck it out with them.  NEVER AGAIN!!  My case was constantly reassigned to lawyers that I never met, much less even talked to. 

And the few times I did actually get an appointment to have my lawyer call me (yes, you have to schedule an appointment for a phone call!), the call only lasted about 10 minutes, IF that long. They constantly dropped the ball and let my case slip through the cracks.  Twice I went to the Workers' Comp settlement conference only to have them taken off calendar for some blunder on the attorney's part that should have been caught prior to the hearing. You are treated like meat or an insignificant number as opposed to an intelligent human being who is in need of legal advice, guidance and/or assistance.  My intelligence was constantly insulted by receptionists with attitude.  I was told too many times that the only paralegal that actually provided any significant amount of assistance to me did NOT have voicemail.

 Seriously???  I had left messages for this paralegal ON HER VOICEMAIL in the past.  When I told the receptionist that I had been put through to voice mail on other occasions, I was told "I don't know who put you through; we can't do that" . . . . Seriously???  Other times, I specifically requested to leave a message on voice mail and was put into the horrible Que, waiting for someone to finally answer your call with no direct answers to your questions because they are not lawyers.  Hiring a lawyer was supposed to take the stress off of me and help to guide me through a difficult process.  I basically settled my own case.  I made an offer and the offer was accepted.  I would not recommend this law firm for representation of any case of any kind.  They have too many clients and drop the ball too frequently to be effective.