Complaint Review: Edward Ajlouny - San Jose California

I actually found Edward Ajlouny through Google, and found this website after reviewing several good reviews more than a year ago.  Must admit this bad review caught my attention, but more impressive was Mr. Ajlouny's response.  Fortunately I have been around the internet for awhile, and realize anyone can say anything, but of course you want to hear the bad with a good, and take it all with a grain of salt.  
 
The situation for me was one of the most terrifying experiences I have ever had,  first time arrested, and really felt injustice had been done in a big way - probably more shocked in a naive way that this could happen to me.  I felt quite alone and began looking for advice in a desperate way.  It was a Saturday morning, and after several calls to lawyers in the area, I got two to call me back, and Mr. Ajlouny agreed to meet with me that morning (despite the fact he had family flying in that afternoon).  

To keep a long story short, Mr. Ajlouny was the best choice I could have made.  After listening carefully to the details of my situation, he explained very calmly the process and the steps that would need to be taken, he did not over promise,  and yes, the costs were paid up front.  He did exactly what needed to be done, and what he said he would do, and was always available for advice and consultation over the following months.  

In the end I got a few breaks.  I honestly believe it was because of his professionalism, not just with me,  but with the authorities involved.  He was able to help me help myself, while also discovering information that I would never have known how to obtain, thus leading to him being able to get all the charges dropped. 

No, I didn't ask for a refund because we didn't go to trial.

Its easy to be angry looking back on things.  The legal system is so frustrating you simply want to blame everyone associated with it.  Even when you are completely innocent, there is a futility and guilt that does not go away, even after more than a year since this happened to me.  I like to think that I would still write this review even if the breaks went against me and I was convicted (I guess I would have some more time on my hands).  

I do know that I feel negligent not writing this sooner.  I just wanted to forget about it and move on as fast as I could with my life.  

Finally i would like to say at first I disagreed strongly with the rebuttal that the editor should leave up an obviously slanderous review.  However I am a bit ambivalent about it now, because of course I would not have written this review otherwise.  I may write more positive reviews in other forums, but I definitely want to start here first, where I actually started.  

By the way, yes, I did mention this review to Mr. Ajlouny at the end of my first interview with him.  I really wasn't trusting anybody at the time and was still not sure about him and wanted to see what he'd say.   He reply was passionate but professional, which is exactly the kind of lawyer he turned out to be.

I can not disagree enough with this consumer.  Mr. Ajlouny is a fantastic attorney.   I hired Mr. Ajlouny to represent my boyfriend who was arrested for a probation violation.  He faced two to five years in prison and the probation office was intent on getting that sentence.   My boyfriend was an addict, not a criminal.  We knew that going to San Quentin was tantamount to a death sentence. 

So we hired Ed Ajlouny.  Mr. Ajlouny charged a $3500 flat fee to represent him at all the hearings. It was a fair fee.  Mr. Ajlouny researched alternatives to recommend to the judge that would be more in line with my boyfriend's violation.  Ed called me up on a Saturday after having spent the day thinking, researching precedents, and preparing arguments to provide to the DA and the judge.  Ed was available every day -- at any time as long as he wasn't in court.  I hired him on a Sunday at 5 pm!  Mr Ajlouny consulted me, and consoled my boyfriend. 

He was fantastic in court.  As a former prosecutor, he knew his way through the District Attorney's processes.  Yet, he did not set false expectations for us.  We put our trust in his capable hands.  He showed very high ethics, communicated status constantly, didn't seem to live by the mental cash-counting calculator that most attorneys do.   I firmly believe that although there are plenty of attorneys who would have charged three to four times as much,  there is none that would have represented us better.  The final sentence?  32 days in local jail, based on time served.  Thank you for giving us our life back, Ed.  We won't forget you and please -- if  you are looking for a criminal lawyer -- call Ed.

They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report:

Their email: [email protected]
Their name: The Fraud Chick

Their relationship to the company: Consumer Suggestion

Rebuttal:
Edward,

The editor won't remove what was written about you, I wouldn't advise you to push for that. I fully understand why you would want that. But you have to understand that the editor must maintain a certain set of standards to secure the readers trust that he shows no favoritism. It makes the jilted consumer feel safe knowing this site will post their complaints with no censor.

Surely you must realize that you've cleared your own name. It was your last letter that did it. As an objective reader I can honestly tell you I would use your services. I've never been involved in a crime, though, so I suppose I never will need your services. But others who read this report can read between the lines.

Your client should have read the contract.

However, I would never pay an attorney a non-refundable flat fee, I always pay by the hour!

Good Luck
The Fraud Chick
:::::::::::::::

EDitor's Comment to both REBUTTALS above.

The Fraud Chick took the words right out of my mouth!

Deleting Rip-off Reports that were filed? Will Never happen!

Let's not forget the BBB does that. You never know what someone specifically complained about with them. Ever!

More importantly, there are other reasons why Rip-off Reports are NEVR deleted. There is a very important lesson here to be learned about giving up front fees to lawyers.

Giving back change (a refund) from BIG retainers paid by clients is not in a lawyer's vocabulary. There are lawyers who will return the unused portion of the retainer and some State Bars require it be allowed. Look for those attorneys who will refund any unused portion of your retainer, specify an hourly rate in your agreement. This is one of the first things lawyers learn in law school along with not returning the clients phone calls. Why do you suppose that is?

While it may be legal, in most cases lawyers overestimate the amount of time and the severity of a case, jacking up the retainer to the client. This is nothing less than a BIG Rip-off to the client by lawyers who prey on their clients' fears of the system when the lawyer knows d**n well the actual time involved is only a fraction of the time actually charged.

Let's not forget, the lawyers write the laws. Never expect a law to be enacted that will favor the consumer against an attorney.

Use Caution when paying a lawyer a retainer. Always agree on an hourly rate!!

[email protected]
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Remember.
Don't let them get away with it!
Make sure they make the Rip-off Report.

Editor,

I appreciate your zeal and love of your work--reporting rip-offs.

However, the complaining parties are not always in the right! I am the attorney against whom a complaint was registered (Edward N. Ajlouny), and I certainly did not rip off the client, or his wife.

I charged a $10,000 fee (for a potential life case). I gave an honest assessment of the difficulty of the case (the D.A. had a secret tape recording of the defendant and a young girl he was allegedly sleeping with). They did not appreciate my honesty and fired me. My contract, like all criminal defense attorneys, calls for a non-refundable fee.

The matter was arbitrated and it was found I was legally and ethically entitled to the full fee.

They then hired another lawyer and paid him $30,000 or so. They went to trial, and the defendant was convicted! Mainly due to the tape-recorded phone call I warned them about.

So who ripped off whom? I take my job and my ethics very seriously, and do not appreciate my good name to be tarnished.

I would ask again that you review the facts and remove my name from your
site.

Thank you,

Edward N. Ajlouny

They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report:

Their email: [email protected]
Their name: Edward Ajlouny
Their phone number: 408-629-9059
Their relationship to the company: Owner

Rebuttal:
The author of the "report" is a disgruntled wife of a client who stands accused of a heinous crime and is a "Three Striker." Indeed, the case was difficult; however, since I am an aggressive and dedicated advocate, I never gave up. Panic can set in with clients (and spouses) who may face a life-sentence for their alleged misdeeds. And this is what occured in this
case.

This Fee dispute was Arbitrated according to principles and guidelines that are well-established with the State Bar of California. After an hour-long hearing, where my ex-client's spouse had a full and fair opportunity to explain her case in great detail, the Arbitrators (who generally side with the public against attorneys) ruled in my favor and found that I was legally and ethically justified in retaining the fee. The
Arbitrators found no fault with my handling of this client's case, but in fact found that I performed my legal representation to the rigorous standards to which I am bound.

I sympathize with the plight of my ex-client and his grieving spouse for the difficulties they are enduring. However, I do not appreciate, and will not tolerate, lies, slanders and gross exaggerations from any individual, no matter how much stress or strain they may be under.