Review of Messa & Associates | EDITED AFTER RESPONSE - Still

4 years ago

EDITED AFTER RESPONSE - Still - You better beware!...

EDITED AFTER RESPONSE - Still - You better beware! Thoroughly read your paperwork. Ask about "professionals" they use and their enormous fees that YOU will be paying in the end.

My sister believed that she agreed to 35% flat rate with this firm. When finalizing the settlement, they stated they get 35% of the gross, PLUS their "costs", then the medical is taken from HER share. So they get nearly 70 % of the gross while she winds up with 30%. The firm gets much much more than she does. I thought the 35% fee covered their "costs." Why do they get 35% PLUS anything? VERY EXPENSIVE REPRESENTATION.

SO, The firm responded - sorry - still BEWARE. The firm's "costs" were nearly $17, 000 in addition to the 35%. Paying $12,000 to one professional engineer for writing a 4 page report using pictures my sister took at the scene of her accident. If you have to pay the firm back for their "professionals," you should be informed prior to the services.

People expect costs of two or three thousand, but $17,000? I see, on the internet, that the average engineer's survey - for a full home plot with a written report, not a street corner, is $800 to $1,000. Her accident was on a street corner. Structural engineer paid by firm at $375 then $390 per hour. Totalling more than $13,000 - for surveying a street corner. My sister paid the firm back as part of the firm's "costs."

QUESTION THE PROFESSIONALS BEING USED, GET YOUR OWN MEDICAL RECORD COPIES (even then, they will charge you for more copies).

When I had a lawsuit, my reputable firm paid the medical from the gross, then did the 70/30 split in my favor. No additional "costs" assessed by the firm.

GO TO ANOTHER FIRM, ONLY SIGN A FULLY UNDERSTOOD AGREEMENT. If I could give negative stars, I would. My sister will be suffering for the rest of her life with little money to show for it. SAD!

I told her to ask for a full breakdown of the firm's "costs" that are in addition to the 35% and for the medical portion so she can verify that the stated amount is actually being paid to the insurance company.

She will send the breakdown to the insurance company to be sure the firm paid them and didn't keep their money, too.