James B. Palmquist III Co. LPA

This review is about 2 years old and unfortunately I have had to wait until my child custody case was settled thru a different attorney, in fear of retaliation thru courts. We hired this law firm to fight custody of my grandson from his abusive father. We paid a $2700 retainer fee. I had already done the leg work to file with the courts and gain emergency custody, we hired them to help the process with legal terms and options. They assigned Rebecca to us. Very little communication between us before court, she arrived slightly late and didn't brief me. She proceeded to whisper everything we should have talked while the judge was speaking. After the first appearance she stayed behind to chop it up with the opposing sides attorney, and told me I was free to go and she would be in touch. She wasn't. We finally complained enough to gain the attention of James. We had some email exchanges as well as phone calls on how to remedy the situation so I wouldn't fire them. Unbeknownst to me James intention was to solely use those communication exchanges as an excuse to bill me for the entire retainer fee. I paid $3700 to be gaslite and misled. I was advised not to leave a review until after our case was settled, which happened May of this year. Those of us who unfortunately find ourselves needing to fight for our grandchildren should not be subjected to further emotional pain thru defrauding us with the hopes of helping us fight. Proverbs 20:17 "Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel." Proverbs 11:1 "A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight."

Jim and Rebecca work well together. Tracy is a lovely secretary who is patient with my constant calls and worries. Amid a contentious divorce and custody battle with an abusive husband, they are comforting, available, stern with me when needed, and upfront about what they can do. No matter the outcome of my case, I am incredibly pleased with their work and attitudes. I've seen Jim's work before and that is why I sought this firm for my case. He's been at it for decades, and his father before him. Choose these attorneys, especially if you are scared.

Terrible about getting back with you. I had eight (8) calls in and eleven (11) emails requesting I talk with one of the attorneys. Never heard back from either for two months. They do not give out their personal email's or phone number so you can't contact them direct. Payment - make sure you get your payment terms up front! I never received a bill in six (6) mths, then tell me I have one (1) day to pay them bill. His words "Your account must be current current tomorrow Tuesday is that something you choose not to do and you should perhaps look for another attorney we are gonna work for free if there's a problem with this or you choose to argue with me on it" So be prepared not to question the billings, because they will stop working with you.

I hired James for my divorce. I went I. With a list of questions to determine if he would be the best lawyer for me. His answers were exactly what I wanted to have in an attorney. Not long after he received my deposit I realized that he was not who he claim he was. He did not do any of the things he said he was going to. Messages left unanswered, he would charge me to come in or phone calls to answer questions I had already answered and filled out paperwork that should have been in my file. He exact words and I quote " Don't get mad at me. I'm going to ask you questions you already answered but it's easier for me to ask you again rather than to look for your box that has your file in it." Long story short my divorce was over in six months when he repeatedly told me not to worry that date would change. A month before it was finalized he had just started to file for bank accounts, business accounts assets and holdings. There are many things that I can tell you of things he said and didn't do but I would have to write a book. He honestly flat out told me and again I quote " I am not prepared. I thought we had more time. I dropped the ball. I just started yo file the subpoenas for the accountss. I myself and your spouse's attorney figured we had more time. I'm going to ask to reschedule. " This was at the pretrail one week before it was to be finalized! The Magistrate declined. Trail was in a week. I was left with two choices 1) Reach an agreement on our own. 2) Leave it up to the judge. It cost me about $17k when we should have done a dissolution for a three grand. He had to rewrite my final papers at least 5 times for mistakes he made and I guarantee he charged me each time he made a mistake to rewrite it! Do yourself a favor and get a better lawyer. I wouldn't recommend him to my enemies! And when I had enough of it and called him out on his lack of presentation he was very rude and unprofessional. I told him I was releasing him from my case because after the divorce was final I was still waiting for him to finalize the splitting of the retirement funds.... 18 months later still not finished. Several calls not returned but wanted more money. I have the legal rights to have all my tax returns, documents, file handed over to me.... In writing from him! I had three years to request them. I did request them and was told I could pick it up on a Friday. I went in to be met with anger, hostility and attitude (unjustified ! None on my part. He straight up lied to me stating he mailed th to me. I asked what address ( because they continuously mailed things to my old address, well at least that's what they said)his reply was "I emailed them". 1) I have every email he ever sent so no you didn't. 2) I gave you my copies of my taxes and plenty of statements. Dont hire him! You have been warned!!!!

Not only do they never return your phone calls, their negligence and refusal to maintain communication caused a missed court date. The last conversation was a plan to settle matters prior to the court date and then there was no follow up. Then they condescendingly insisted they called numerous times after the missed date yet the call logs and phone bill records say otherwise. Even this morning they said they were "resending" an email and it is 5:26pm and no email has arrived. We never received any sort of documentation of hours worked/billing but there's no way it came anywhere close to the retainer. Will we ever get the difference returned? Probably not. Don't waste your money or risk your legal matters with these incompetent "attorneys." They made our fairly simple situation much more complex.