Client
I'm giving three stars very generously.. Since Bill Phalen didn't actually help me at all, I can't say they're well deserved. I called the Joplin office; Melissa, talked to me and was very nice as well as thorough in gathering the details of the situation. She sounded genuinely sympathetic and wanted to help. She was sure that based on her experience we would be successful in my worker's compensation case. The following day she called back to refer me to Cottrell Law in Arkansas. Although Mr Phalen confirmed that my case should certainly be simple and successful, he felt I needed an attorney licensed in Arkansas and Missouri. Long story short, Wesley Cottrell flat out refused to take the case saying "sorry there's no money in it, can't help". Details are boring right? Long story short, Bill did nothing to help. At best he tried to pass the buck to someone else. I'm giving three stars instead of 1 basically only because Melissa was at least pleasant and seemed caring. *Additional comments added after response* This review is NOT the first you've heard of me being refused representation, I called Melissa back immediately after my conversation with the attorney in Arkansas that you recommended and spoke to her at length about it. In addition, your exact reason for passing the case along is being misrepresented on this public forum. You told me that although the company (any therefore employment contract) it's indeed based on Missouri making it Missouri jurisdiction, you feared the defense may try to transfer the case to Arkansas as the injury occurred there. I don't feel like arguing about details online because effectively there will be no difference. I will still be suffering from an injury that's too cheap to care about and you'll still be making easy money off other clients. I'm sure you'll reply again, not because this matters to you, but your reputation does. Either way, I'm not wasting any more of my time. I'll just do what attorney Cottrell suggested and get new health insurance and pay for it myself.