Michael B. Brehne

After a significant water leak from the upstairs condo, my family hired the Law Offices of Michael B. Brehne, P.A. on May 16, 2016 to represent my elderly mother-in-law. The case’s first lawyer was totally ineffective. From May 2016 to August 2017, nothing got accomplished and no updates provided despite repeated requests. In June 2017, frustrated by the lack of information, I emailed Mr. Brehne. I wrote about my discussions with his lawyer and the lack of progress. I received a call from him the next day, defending his firm’s work on this case and warning me that he can drop me as a client. After much debate, we came to an agreement that he will delegate the matter to another lawyer. After the second lawyer took over, my case seemed to get the attention it deserved for two months, but then it all fell apart. I asked for updates again and got none, or responses that seemed to be a copy and paste of the previous message. From May 2016 to July 2020!!! Nothing significant happened until the current lawyer hired his third paralegal in July 2020. When I requested an update, the paralegal responded promptly, even if the information was not what I desired due to the lawyer’s lack of work. When you hire a lawyer, you expect to be represented by someone knowledgeable about the law. In September 2020, we finally had a mediation with the defendants. Because he couldn’t join the Zoom meeting using his computer, I had to use my own personal computer to start the mediation. He did not explain to the defendants why the action was brought and why XX damages were sought. His only comment is that we seek XX in monetary damages. During the mediation he seemed completely disoriented and unprepared. We came to an agreement with one of the defendants, at his recommendation. This is when you think your lawyer has your back. That was not the case. After a few months, I discovered that the settlement had thousands of dollars left in it. It also contained no work declaration, leaving the amount of work (Repairs) to the defendant. Months passed after the settlement, with little work done and no help from the lawyer. No resolution to the lawsuit for another year because the work (Repairs) were not completed correctly and the other defendant is not held accountable. On August 2021, I am notified that my attorney resign and Michael B. Brehne will take over. After all this time and no resolution, you would expect a phone call or email from the new lawyer (Michael B. Brehne), but we got neither. Another mediation with Michael on December 10, 2021 was conducted and I told Michael before the meeting how his office treated me and why I think he should lower his fees. In his opinion, I shouldn’t ask for a fee reduction because his firm did an excellent job representing me. Michael’s remarks worried me. He asked why a work statement wasn’t included in the initial settlement and why the defendant wasn’t sued for lost use. I was puzzled, as his firm had suggested we settle. He was dissatisfied with the settlement’s handling. I believe he arrived unprepared because he was unaware we had settled with one of the defendants. From December 10, 2021 to January 2022, I was repeatedly asked how much I would concede to avoid going to court. Remember that his firm refused to negotiate a fee reduction. So I had to make all necessary concessions to spare my 89-year-old wheelchair-bound mother-in-law the agony of deposition and trial. His firm wasn’t concerned about my 89-year-old mother-in-law, only their entire fee. IN MY OPINION, I WOULD NOT HIRE THIS FIRM, AS THEY CARE NOTHING ABOUT THE CLIENTS. THIS FIRM TOOK NEARLY SIX YEARS TO REACH AN ENTIRELY UNSATISFIABLE CONCLUSION. THE WORST LAW FIRM WITH WHICH I HAVE EVER COME IN CONTACT, AND I WOULD STRONGLY NOT RECOMMEND THEM. AVOID MICHAEL B. BREHNE, P.A. AT ALL COSTS!!!!