1 /5 Alchemist Lee: Case # RG19002294, Alameda County Superior Court, California.
Ryan Wright was the 2nd lawyer in my case. First lawyer did most of the work. Even the settlement agreements were drafted by my first lawyer. There was an agreement (PAGA agreement) that needed his signature , almost everything was done by my first lawyer, he just needed to fill in a few numbers to allocate the fees etc and sign it. And he wanted the attorney’s fee allocated for that agreement, which was about 26k. My first lawyer did almost all the work and she put a lien on my case, which means when the case is over she is going to want her fees. Ryan Wright wanted that fee and I fought him because he barely did any work for that agreement. Ryan Wright said “Do you want to finish it on your own or with someone else?“ and “Let me know if you want to take it from here and I will send you a substitution of attorney.” Later, he reduced the amount he wanted to 7200$ to sign that agreement. I asked him if he can justify this fee. He said he can’t and he won’t prove hours worked for this 7200$.
Ryan Wright mentioned multiple times he wanted to send me a substitution of attorney form so he can withdraw from my case, which means I would be left without a lawyer. After we argued about the fee he wanted for PAGA agreement and so on. He said “ You have been the worst client. I cannot wait until you are out of my hair. You have until Monday to sign the substitution. You do not have to if you do not want to. I am happy to file the motion for withdrawal.” He said things like this,e.g. to leave my case, many times. At first I didn’t want to be left stranded without a lawyer, but I eventually signed the substitution of attorney form and because I didn’t have another attorney at that moment, I had to represent myself for some time. But after I signed that form, he said we didn’t have to file it. I mean what kind of lawyer is this!
After we argued because he wanted more money, he said he would work on the PAGA matter ,which is a part of my case that was almost ALL done by my first lawyer, for 180/hour even though he didn’t believe that was the hourly rate for that. We only signed 1 fee agreement, and that was the only hourly rate! There was NO higher rate that was agreed upon!
There was a document that we were supposed to file with the court. He had about 2 weeks to work on it. On the day of the deadline, he sent me the document to read and make changes and print out and sign etc. We had to file it that same day! I was in a meeting and I didn’t have a printer.
After he left my case. I wanted him to send me a COMPLETE bill, from day 1 to the last hour he worked on my case. All together in 1 file. He said he already gave me the bills. Told me to stop “harassing” him. Then later, he said “honestly” , he didn’t read my whole email and sent me the billing document. He told me not to contact him further and he said to me “You are abrasive, suspicious, and accusatorial.”But if I wanted to settle my case, he could “help out”.
I was ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED by my experience with Ryan Wright.
