1 /5 Catherine Ventura: I came to the Penland and Romans law firm for a personal injury case. They were very accommodating at first, but that quickly changed.
Every time that I called or sent an email IF I got a response back, it would be at least 2 weeks as a response time. I was never kept up to date on my case or where in the process we were.
I didn’t even know how much my policies or case was worth. My son was in a bad accident where he was burnt very badly at his father’s house. He has 3rd degree burns all over his arms and fingers. He couldn’t come to where I am currently staying because there are dogs, and he couldn’t get anything in his open wounds. He also needed to go to Nashville to a burn specialist 3 times a week.
I didn’t have the money to get a new place, so I was going to get a loan settlement for assistance since it will take such a long time for his wounds to heal. I wouldn’t be able to see my son unless I did this.
The loan settlement company said that it would be 24-48 hours of payout after they got everything from the lawyer’s office. It had been 5 days, so I called to see what was going on. I was told that it was being taken care of, and someone would call me back. It had been 4 days with no update. I call back. I was told that the file was being worked on. Another 3 days went by. I called yet again with the same response.
I waited for 5 more days with no communication, so I went down to the office. I was speaking very upsetting because I hadn’t seen my son in a month and a half. I wasn’t able to console him during this time. I couldn’t hold him. I couldn’t care for him as only a Mother can. This money is my only way to have him with me.
She takes me into an office. I’m upset, then she starts positioning her phone and looking at it while I was talking being inconspicuous. It was obvious what she was doing. I asked,”Are you recording me?” She quickly denied it acting as if I was crazy, but then placed her phone down where it wasn’t positioned towards me anymore. She wouldn’t address any of my questions, then they escorted me out. I never got the money, so I haven’t seen my son in 3 months.
I sent Jeremy Penland an email of my concerns. I didn’t hear back from him at all.
I found another lawyer to take my case. He was happily going to take it, but he said that he needed to call this law firm, and I needed to let them know that he would be taking over my case. I did. I waited for him to call me back. I didn’t hear anything. I called his office, and nothing. He gave me his own cell number. Nothing. Suspicious that he was good until he spoke with this law firm.
Now, I can’t find anyone to represent my case. I just received my file that I requested 2 months ago. I call the courthouse to find out where we are in the litigation process because they never told me anything. A trial is going to begin Nov. 12. I am forced to go pro se or representing myself because no one will take over the case since it is in the process of where it is. I have to get up to date on a case that I know nothing about.
Great representation.