(A) In Count #1, item #2 A.W. claims she “fully performed all the terms of said attorney-client employment contract.” This is false. In fact, A.W. abruptly withdrew as my attorney, without sufficient or reasonable cause, through her October 15, 2008 withdrawal letter. Occurring as it did close to the end of the divorce process, her withdrawal came as a complete surprise to me, and left me in a terrible position vis-à-vis continuing legal representation in my divorce proceeding; it exposed me to unnecessary risks and costs, and compromised my ability to timely and effectively secure alternate representation. Worse, A.W. did not offer any assistance in easing my transition to alternate counsel, despite her understanding that I didn’t have the resources or time to educate alternate counsel at that late date. I was, essentially, and inappropriately, left stranded in the legal system to fend for myself.

As a consequence of A.W.’s inappropriate and untimely withdrawal, I was unable to secure a fair and balanced settlement in the divorce proceeding, and lost benefits that I would otherwise have attained. This has compromised my financial position.

(B) In Count #2, item #7 A.W. claims “[Defendant] deliberately lied and misrepresented her intentions…” The assertion of this claim is also false, without merit, and probably rises to an abuse of process.

(C) A.W. completely mishandled the matter of my working with my Father’s money-losing business without compensation insofar as it was or was not an issue in the divorce proceeding. I was not an owner of that business and did not have a viable claim against it, and in fact had a substantial personal financial loss due to the businesses’ closure. At minimum, A.W. failed to properly explain to me the basis for any such inquiry, or the need to compromise my relationship with my father by requesting records that I did not have the authority to produce, or the need to subpoena any of my father’s business records, or how such records would be used in my divorce proceeding, or why it was legally necessary or appropriate to interfere with my father’s business, or what the divorce issue was that required such invasiveness, or why we couldn’t have defended against or avoided such an inquiry. Rather than properly explain this matter, explore strategic alternatives, or defend against the inquiry, A.W. inexplicably chose to abruptly withdraw and leave me legally stranded.

It was adverse to my interests for any inquiry regarding the assets of my father’s business to occur, since I was not an owner of the business. This inquiry was inappropriate, especially since I was not in a position to comply, and could have been avoided. My objection to the inquiry was an insufficient basis for A.W.’s untimely withdrawal.

(D) Given the poor outcome of A.W.’s representation, and the affect of her untimely withdrawal, in this case, her fees and hourly rate are unjustifiable and unreasonable, and won’t withstand the scrutiny of an alternate review. Despite the fee agreement, which I signed in good faith never imagining that my counsel would leave me unprotected, the value and caliber of services provided does not match the amount charged, hours allegedly invested, or claimed.