Hays Karl E Atty

1 star because zero does not exist.
I used Karl Hays in my divorce case. At first he seems competent but when the rubber met the road he cost me way too much money in both his fees and his ability to deliver the right stuff it takes. He failed to file the right paperwork to get my Accountant to testify at my final hearing and consequently she was ejected as a material professional witness. This opened up the floor for the opposing attorney to suggest pie in the sky numbers for my income. He ended up costing me an extra $ 500 per month in child support — which over time until she is 18 is $ 72,000 in after tax money. Karl’s fees were $ 50,000 — (yes I got the zeros right) which is just an unconscionable amount. He started off by roping me in at $ 10,000 (which pretty much all attorneys do this rubbish behavior — rope you in first then say that it has become more complicated). When I approached him at the end and said that he needs to bring his fees down because he cost me so much extra money by failing to get my CPA on the stand, he just quit my case, then threw me under the bus at the next hearing whereby the opposing attorney was requesting extra fees on me. I successfully defended my self despite Mr Hays trying his best to side with the opposing attorney for spite. When I asked for money back and said I would report him on social media and to the Bar he threatened me with texas extortion law. While that is ridiculous I hesitated — but soon learned that Attorneys are supposedly held to a high standard and since he did not meet that standard I’m ok with what he might throw at me because it can’t stick. People have a right to know who they are hiring.
The night before the hearing he was out at a bar blabbing about my case. My friend overheard and called me to say Oh my gosh I just learned so much about your case. WOW — imagine if the opposing attorneys spies would just follow him around.
His legal assistant Tracy is incredibly rude and belligerent.
Perhaps it is just because he/​they have been doing this too long — I guess he might have been good back in the day but maybe he is just tired now and too slack to run a professional case — missing the little things that matter. I don’t know — All I know is the numbers: $ 50,000 in fees and $ 72,000 in extra unnecessary child support.
I’ve lost faith in the divorce system to protect families. It seems as though the $ 50 Billion paid by American families to attorneys each year for divorce is a racket for attorneys and judges all protecting themselves. Yes the opposing attorney Susanna Stinson was contributing to the Judges Campaign fund (Judge Naranjo) in the middle of my divorce case. This is truly unethical I’d stay away from her too. Judge Naranjo refused to step down. I’ve reported Karl Hays behavior to the bar but given protection in the ranks I doubt it will go very far.
My advice — if you’re getting a divorce stay away from attorneys and use a professional family Counselor to work out the issues. If you use an attorney be prepared for them to run the bill up so that you both have nothing left. My Ex got suckered for over $ 100,000. And our divorce was not complicated.
In particular don’t use Karl Hays and in my opinion and from what others have told me about her, Susanna Stinson is a master at running up the bill on her own client by continuously creating contention and wanting everything resolved in Court.
Get a professional Counselor, be flexible and walk away with your life and your split family still intact. Conceding to $ 10k in your ex’s favor is better than paying Attorneys to rip your family and bank account apart.