Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/18/2024

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  My husband ***** and I, *************************, used Sivia Law Firm to develop a *********** Contract in order to finalize the sale of our property located in *****, **. The purchase agreement with the buyer, *********************************, included a payment plan that stated that the buyer would pay the Andersons starting the 1st of June 2024, monthly payments or $1500 for 24 months. Sivia Law Firm stated that we owe them $1500 monthly for 24 months totaling ****** which is the same amount we will receive from the buyer. This is not allowing us to receive any profit on the sale for two years. We did not expect to incur the amount of charges from the law firm for their service and we feel that the firm did not fully explain this to us. We are an elderly couple, **** 84, ***** 88, so we may have been taken advantage of due to being elderly and not fully understanding that we would be charged such an excessive amount of money for their business.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/18/2024

  To Whom It May ******************** you for the opportunity to respond to the ********** concerns.  Our office was engaged to represent the ********** in 2017.  They had a property that they owned in conjunction with other parties that had died.  Those people had heirs, which included multiple generations.  The ********** wanted to sell the land.  However, they did not own the entirety of the property.  Our office was required to track down all of the heirs and attempt to get them to settle.  We sent out the letter in April of 2018 that is attached.  We received some response to the letter, but there were 6 heirs.  They all did not want to sign over their interest and held out for money.  We explained to the ********** their rights and what we could accomplish without filling a lawsuit and their rights if we did file a lawsuit.  They held out.  We then filed for probate in ************************* case because there was some question as to whom the rightful heirs were.

  The ********** chose to file the lawsuit and it took three years to obtain a judgment.  There is a judgment against the proceeds in the amount of $27,275.23 in June 2023.  We have not been paid our fee.  Interest continues to accrue per the state statute.  We sent regular statements.  At no time did ******************** dispute any of the charges during our representation.  

  We ensured that they were fully reimbursed from the closing for their fees that they disbursed in September 2023.  

  We were to receive all proceeds from the sale to equitably distribute per the courts order and receive payment for our services.  The client subverted the courts order and took the proceeds for their own. Now they complain that my office is not fair in our assessment in following the courts order.

  I could attach a few of the massive pleadings and correspondence my office sent to Mr. and *********************, if you would like to see more information.

  We ask that you dismiss this Complaint.