In
February while I was in the ICU with our daughter (age 11 with very many
special needs) during her recovery from a
very lengthy back operation, I was served with what I
wish I could say was the last time of service from DDA and my x. But its not, I think I have
been served 2 if not 3 more times since February of 2012-- I
have lost track. I can go on my FB account and see what I posted, since
that tends to be my instant dumping ground for the legal
actions and unbelievable x husband dramatics. -- I will blog more,
later, to back that claim up, but for now I’m simply
posting the review I wrote on Yelp. I was so disgusted that DDA would serve me with contempt charges during this very sensitive time,
and also that the contempt matters (pleadings) were so messy and
illogical it was just confusing! --- As I sat bedside our daughter I
googled the name of DDA of Petaluma
One court
hearing this year, I do not recall which one, oh wait yes it was the
contempt-- the bogus contempt matter that DDA has influenced my X to file and
fund for their ego's sake---(and DDA bank account)... at this hearing I’m before the judge in the
contempt matter, first appearance, fortunately for me (or unfortunately
since it is yet to be determined/tried) Contempt is a quasi criminal matter,
therefore I am entitled to legal representation if I am
unable to afford so on my own, at the expense of the county (thanks
Sonoma County! feels kinda good getting some return for my 40 years
of residency there!)---I requested legal counsel be
appointed to me, as I can not afford an attorney myself.. should he (the judge)
find there is a triable issue before him. I don’t think Judge
Boyd, (who coincidentally I had for Contracts while I was
experiencing a short lived law school education), read the
matter much-DDA prevailed to make legal contemptible sense out of
pure nonsense! -In any event, the matter is due to be heard soon, very
soon and I have a criminal
defense attorney to represent me. So at least the verbal
challenge of legalities can be exchanged between
equally qualified and equally emotionally removed parties. –
Anyhow, I never did e
mail the yelp review to DDA or my X. To this day I do not know if
my X is aware of it (nor do I care). I do know that DDA is aware of it though.
For the first time EVER DDA approaches me in the hallway of hell, after
the judge ordered an attorney to represent me, and he asked me what
was my "proposal" I was dumbfounded! what the hell was he talking
about!! my proposal?? Pay what is owed to me
and drop all your nonsense and pay as
ordered moving forward and all will be fine-is what I was
thinking. I looked at him like he was crazy! MY PROPOSAL!!
He is the one nailing me to the courtroom wall what the hell does he
want? (a question I have asked both he and the X several times,
for which I have not received an answer) And HE is the one that is WILLFULLY not following a court order!! ---anyway I
managed to think of something that would be acceptable to me so DDA can pass
it on to my x. DDA then says he will call me.....(this whole time I failed to
remember that I now had legal representation and DDA should not have bothered
speaking to me at all!! EXCEPT-----in the middle of DDA's attempt to discuss propositions
with me, he paused and asked me "what’s with this yelp review? What’s that
about?", and I must admit, though I was intensely engaged in dialogue
with him, while thinking about the legal maze of what’s ahead for me and my
heart rate was sky high, when I saw his sorry, pathetic, frustrated face stare
at me awkwardly asking about the yelp review, for an instant I felt satisfied! My heart rate quickly decreased as I realized he had read it, he is aware
of it. This was very satisfying for me. I was thrown off by this inappropriate
question which again, my x is paying for this discussion and it has nothing to
do with my x himself. I quickly responded by telling him to "read it. Google
it and read it yourself!" that was the end of that...... the review stayed
on for quite sometime...(I think) I know when I posted other reviews it was
still on, but then last month it came to my attention that it was removed (?)
oh bizarre! why I wondered? how the hell did DDA manage that? I was very careful
to not violate the TOS etc. as well as break other laws etc. Whatever, who
cares. I got my rush off of it. Done deal. -- so I thought. Nope that wasn’t enough
for me. What I don’t understand is how one man who is simply evil and a blatant
"Wrong doer" goes about continuing to be evil and practice
wrongful actions etc. and "get away with it". Truth
is I don’t know what he’s getting away with. I would think he is as miserable
as I think my x is given his (and his) behavior etc. and there must be some form
of self medicating going on cuz how else could you live with yourself, totally oblivious
to the erroneous ways of your thinking / actions. Other than of course by being
soul-less... anyway I wasn’t over it- so I simply cut and pasted it and
re-posted! I almost felt as good as the first time I posted! but now I
had notice that its likely to be removed again, and you know what? who
cares...who cares really. because if you are on yelp looking for an attorney that’s
already a bad situation to be in! --- So, now, in my attempts to win an I pad, I
posted another review for our kids awesome dentist office--and I noticed my
review of DDA was once again removed. I took a big sigh, because
really, who cares?, well I guess I do, because once again I cut and
pasted and re-posted! -- but this time, for real if it is removed, or should
I say when its removed, I wont repost. Or at least not right
away, because really who cares? Really. Oh well--- oh and also because I have
posted it on my blog!—(because I care!)
**edited YELP review since removed by YELP at the request/demand of DDA.
7/2/2012
When my husband and I separated DDA was retained for representation. DDA was then known as "the family attorney". I suggested to my x husband that he seek someone who specializes in family law, rather than a general practitioner. A general practitioner means you can practice in a variety of law areas. It seems to me it would be nearly impossible to be up to date in both law and procedure in every aspect of the law in general. Currently DDA's website states "Practice Areas: DUI Defense*Personal Injury*Criminal Law*Wills*Trusts*Business Law*Workers Comp*Family Law ". If I am going to see a practitioner for heart problems, I would want to see a cardiologist, someone who practices that specialty, not a general practitioner. No divorce is easy and without emotions even the most amicable one. A divorce however, should be treated by someone who specializes in that area to hopefully avoid undo harm and expenses as much as possible. I retained a very reputable, honest and professional attorney named Thomas Coombs (of Santa Rosa), who was a member of the IACP, (Collaborative Divorce Procedure). My attorney was unable to work in a collaborative manner with DDA.
DDA's website states **"I represent clients in many Bay Area Courts. Whether you live in Petaluma, Novato, Santa Rosa, Cotati, San Rafael, Ronhert Park, Penngrove, Windsor, Novato, San Rafael, Sebastapol or Forestville or any other area in the Bay Area I would like to discuss your case.", so he practices to a large part of the Nor Cal area meaning that's a lot to know-of rules of the court, courtroom etc.
I would not recommend DDA for a family law matter. During the initial phase of our divorce he failed to provide information to my x husband (period) and other information in a timely manner and made a few other errors or as my attorney called them "oversights". (I called it stupidity). Throughout that whole process I regularly suggested to my x he retain a competent family law attorney (I think each parent should have competent and responsible representation to avoid any exploitation and manipulation).
I have been divorced since 2009 DDA is still retained by my x husband for our family law issues. DDA has directed my x to not pay some of the court ordered child support costs until I take him back to court, (as I was told by my x). DDA has had me served three times in just the past 6 months (with what I consider NONSENSE motions), prior to this the other time of service was also senseless. The wording DDA uses in his communication (the few letters *I have received) is unprofessional in my opinion. They have spelling /grammar errors and/or scribbles on the pages. The actual context itself doesn't make much sense to me- even the mediator who saw us in 2010 was "unclear" as to the motion that DDA had made on my x husbands behalf (after our divorce was final). It seems DDA refuses to communicate with me other than in a courtroom (as does my x). I have made attempts to communicate with DDA in an appropriate and professional manner and he has hung up on me several times, he has raised his voice at me even more times. It seems DDA's style is attack and intimidate. It is clear to me that DDA has little (if any) interest or concern for the welfare of our three children. It has been my experience and in my opinion DDA has and continues to do my x husband, our three children and their grandmother an injustice. I believe DDA is responsible for continuing my Divorce Drama.
* I do not know what the attorneys who have represented me have received from DDA.
** This is a direct passage from his website, I did not error in documenting it here. I believe this type of 'oversight' is representative of DDA's work, given my experience with him.
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