Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Inc. Reviews
Aug 21, 2017
On May 4, 2017 I spoke with Mr. Steven L. Hill of Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison, & Lewis in Denver, CO about representing me in securing an residential tenant eviction. He said he had represented many landlords and tenants and had never lost a case, that the whole process would take 3-5 weeks if a trial became necessary.
After paying the retainer I dropped off the pictures to Mr. Hill at which time he said “this case will settle”. I thought it odd that he could make such a statement having not yet seen any evidence, and I reiterated that my goal was eviction. I asked what “settling” meant, and he said the court would no doubt ask us to try to work something out, that we’d ask that our stipulations be made order of the court and that if the tenant failed to uphold her end we would go right back to court and get possession.
From the beginning Mr. Hill demonstrated sloppiness about details and a pattern of ignoring my questions and requests for updates (which I can document as I began dealing with him via email so that there would be a record of our communication). I will never know whether Mr. Hill didn’t know the answers to my questions, was generally indifferent about my case, or was exploiting my inexperience in legal matters. If only I had Googled Mr. Hill or his firm before engaging services I’d have known right away to do business elsewhere!
After several weeks and growing concern, I asked him whether he had the time for my case and he assured me he did.
Our first court appearance was 6/2/17; 15 minutes before we were to appear Mr. Hill handed me his file so that I could “glance over” the 49-page answer that had been submitted by the defendant, my tenant. This document had not been furnished to me. When I asked Mr. Hill why I hadn’t received a copy he said that the defendant hadn’t signed it and he had only received it the day before. It could easily have been electronically sent to me the day befrore. Very frustrating to be expected to review such a large document and be prepared to counter it within 15 minutes.
Trial was set for June 6/12/17 at which time the defendant and I both signed a settlement document prepared by Mr. Hill detailing the stipulations required of the defendant; the judge made the document an order of the court.
When my tenant was not even attempting to honor any of the stipulations, I expressed in writing to Mr. Hill numerous times (on 6/22, 7/3, twice on 7/5, and again on 7/10) my desire to go back to court immediately to secure an eviction order. Still no court date forthcoming so I expressed my frustration about how the case was being handled; Mr. Hill responded that I had changed my position several times (although he couldn’t be specific about how) and that I was trying to direct his work. Not knowing the law and wanting to achieve some sort of result from my investment of time and money, I hung in. Plus, I was bolstered by the fact that my tenant had disregarded every stipulation in the settlement offer so I believed getting possession was surely right around the corner as Mr. Hill had represented to me at the very beginning.
Mr. Hill told me these things take time, and proposed serving another 3-day demand for compliance or possession. We are now a full 10 weeks into a process that I had been told would take 3-5 weeks and we seemed to be going in circles and starting over. Alarm bells went off in my head.
Imagine my dismay when I learned that the case had actually been closed a month earlier on June 12, 2017. It was explained to me that my attorney did not stipulate in the settlement offer that “tenant’s failure to comply with the stipulations would result in eviction”. Instead, his wording dismissed the case.
At no time between June 12 and July 10, during which period I was billed $1,275.00 for his services did Mr. Hill think to mention that the case had actually been closed.
It is my belief that Mr. Hill’s intent all along was to settle vs. secure an eviction. Perhaps this was his way of ensuring his “never lost a case” record remains intact.
I, on the other hand, have lost big time. I invested $4,762.31 and 10 weeks with Mr. Hill for absolutely no result. The defendant continues to occupy my property in rodent-infested filth, I am starting all over with new representation, and Mr. Hill is riding off into the sunset with a fat wallet. This is simply wrong.
To top it off, I received a thank you letter on August 1, 2017 from Mr. Hill inviting me to use his services and to refer friends and family in the future; the letter is dated April 1, 2016, more than a year before I ever met the man. Details matter, and the manner in which Mr. Hill manages details does not speak well for him.
I sent a letter with this information to Richard Poorman, managing partner at Riggs Abney on 8/2/17. To date I’ve received no acknowledgement or response.
Was directed to the law firm of Riggs, Abney, et.al. by Legal Shield. After paying a healthy retainer and using their civil defense services for over a year, I find that not only did they over-bill me, but also took advantage of my lack of knowledge of the legal process and left me hanging to defend myself at a scheduled trial after all their motions were defeated and dismissed by three different courts. This firm gives new meaning to the word, "SHARK". Stay away at all costs from this law firm. You can find more competent and effective counsel at a third of the cost without using Legal Shield. In my case, a senior commerical litigator was assigned to my civil case, one who had very little or any expoerience with the bankruptcy laws and as a result, wasted my time and money and put me in a very weak position with the opposing side. He over-billed me, didn't obtain my agreement to pursue certain, expensive motions, didn't communicate with me, and asked me to pay $45,000 in three weeks without discussing the issue or he would withdraw from my case- which is what he eventually did. I am now suing this firm for mail-practice and I have told by several other attorneys I have a good case. STAY CLEAR OF RIGGS, ABNEY!!
Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Inc. Reviews
On May 4, 2017 I spoke with Mr. Steven L. Hill of Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison, & Lewis in Denver, CO about representing me in securing an residential tenant eviction. He said he had represented many landlords and tenants and had never lost a case, that the whole process would take 3-5 weeks if a trial became necessary.
After paying the retainer I dropped off the pictures to Mr. Hill at which time he said “this case will settle”. I thought it odd that he could make such a statement having not yet seen any evidence, and I reiterated that my goal was eviction. I asked what “settling” meant, and he said the court would no doubt ask us to try to work something out, that we’d ask that our stipulations be made order of the court and that if the tenant failed to uphold her end we would go right back to court and get possession.
From the beginning Mr. Hill demonstrated sloppiness about details and a pattern of ignoring my questions and requests for updates (which I can document as I began dealing with him via email so that there would be a record of our communication). I will never know whether Mr. Hill didn’t know the answers to my questions, was generally indifferent about my case, or was exploiting my inexperience in legal matters. If only I had Googled Mr. Hill or his firm before engaging services I’d have known right away to do business elsewhere!
After several weeks and growing concern, I asked him whether he had the time for my case and he assured me he did.
Our first court appearance was 6/2/17; 15 minutes before we were to appear Mr. Hill handed me his file so that I could “glance over” the 49-page answer that had been submitted by the defendant, my tenant. This document had not been furnished to me. When I asked Mr. Hill why I hadn’t received a copy he said that the defendant hadn’t signed it and he had only received it the day before. It could easily have been electronically sent to me the day befrore. Very frustrating to be expected to review such a large document and be prepared to counter it within 15 minutes.
Trial was set for June 6/12/17 at which time the defendant and I both signed a settlement document prepared by Mr. Hill detailing the stipulations required of the defendant; the judge made the document an order of the court.
When my tenant was not even attempting to honor any of the stipulations, I expressed in writing to Mr. Hill numerous times (on 6/22, 7/3, twice on 7/5, and again on 7/10) my desire to go back to court immediately to secure an eviction order. Still no court date forthcoming so I expressed my frustration about how the case was being handled; Mr. Hill responded that I had changed my position several times (although he couldn’t be specific about how) and that I was trying to direct his work. Not knowing the law and wanting to achieve some sort of result from my investment of time and money, I hung in. Plus, I was bolstered by the fact that my tenant had disregarded every stipulation in the settlement offer so I believed getting possession was surely right around the corner as Mr. Hill had represented to me at the very beginning.
Mr. Hill told me these things take time, and proposed serving another 3-day demand for compliance or possession. We are now a full 10 weeks into a process that I had been told would take 3-5 weeks and we seemed to be going in circles and starting over. Alarm bells went off in my head.
Imagine my dismay when I learned that the case had actually been closed a month earlier on June 12, 2017. It was explained to me that my attorney did not stipulate in the settlement offer that “tenant’s failure to comply with the stipulations would result in eviction”. Instead, his wording dismissed the case.
At no time between June 12 and July 10, during which period I was billed $1,275.00 for his services did Mr. Hill think to mention that the case had actually been closed.
It is my belief that Mr. Hill’s intent all along was to settle vs. secure an eviction. Perhaps this was his way of ensuring his “never lost a case” record remains intact.
I, on the other hand, have lost big time. I invested $4,762.31 and 10 weeks with Mr. Hill for absolutely no result. The defendant continues to occupy my property in rodent-infested filth, I am starting all over with new representation, and Mr. Hill is riding off into the sunset with a fat wallet. This is simply wrong.
To top it off, I received a thank you letter on August 1, 2017 from Mr. Hill inviting me to use his services and to refer friends and family in the future; the letter is dated April 1, 2016, more than a year before I ever met the man. Details matter, and the manner in which Mr. Hill manages details does not speak well for him.
I sent a letter with this information to Richard Poorman, managing partner at Riggs Abney on 8/2/17. To date I’ve received no acknowledgement or response.
Was directed to the law firm of Riggs, Abney, et.al. by Legal Shield. After paying a healthy retainer and using their civil defense services for over a year, I find that not only did they over-bill me, but also took advantage of my lack of knowledge of the legal process and left me hanging to defend myself at a scheduled trial after all their motions were defeated and dismissed by three different courts. This firm gives new meaning to the word, "SHARK". Stay away at all costs from this law firm. You can find more competent and effective counsel at a third of the cost without using Legal Shield. In my case, a senior commerical litigator was assigned to my civil case, one who had very little or any expoerience with the bankruptcy laws and as a result, wasted my time and money and put me in a very weak position with the opposing side. He over-billed me, didn't obtain my agreement to pursue certain, expensive motions, didn't communicate with me, and asked me to pay $45,000 in three weeks without discussing the issue or he would withdraw from my case- which is what he eventually did. I am now suing this firm for mail-practice and I have told by several other attorneys I have a good case. STAY CLEAR OF RIGGS, ABNEY!!