I had the pleasure of working with Senior Counsel, Adria Zeldin and Partner, Joseph Kaplan. My case was handled professionally, I was given candid feedback and was pleased with the course of action and resulting conclusion.
I hired this firm in year 2014 and I was successful in winning my case. However, it was as if I had never won the case upon my return back to work. During that time period my case was transfered over from Samir Yakhoo to Erik Synder.
PROS: If you can get Mr. Ed Passman or another attorney to handle your case 100% you will more and likely have a better outcome. The office staff is very friendly and professional.
CONS: ERIK SYNDER, Associate Counsel. AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL! DO NOT RETAIN HIM!
While being represented by Erik Synder, it seemed as though I had never initially won my case. To date, the wrongful termination still remains in my file, back pay was a full mess, retirement never restored, security clearance was never restored and the list continues. Mr. Synder placed absolutely no effort or fight in resolving any issues. Instead, he insisted on dropping the EEOC case. Mr. Synder tried to con me into a settlement that was a complete and ultimate joke. He even sent an email (scare tactic) alleging that the agency had serious concerns that he possibly would not be able to fight on my behalf, therefore he kept suggesting that I settle (I refused). He alleged that he reopened the EEO case in which EEOC has absolutely no record of it. On numerous occassions he would ignore emails until I would forward my emails to Mr. Passman. He would send contradictory emails which would keep my family and I absolutely confused. He had vebal conversations with the agency without my knowledge to work out deals as if he worked for the agency and not the client. In an effort to meet deadlines, he would keep delaying and dragging out the case which would require additional money. He would place his out of office messages on and duck and dodge emails when he knew he had not submitted or completed documentation to submit to court. He made a lot of mistakes where I ultimately lost all confidence and trust in him and this firm. As a result of Mr. Erik Synder's inexperience, the reputation of this firm did not measure up to my expectation and especially for the amount of years and money that was spent. This firm represented me from 2014 to approximately 2019 and to date, my legal issues have yet to be fully resolved therefore I have moved on to another law firm. Seriously do your research before you decide to hire them and if you choose to hire them DO NOT hire Erik Synder.
Thank you Joseph Kaplan for achieving the almost imposible. Thank you for helping me get my job back. You are an incredible lawyer.
First time I needed to hire an attorney to represent me and I couldn t have been happier with how things turned out. Despite my mental illness, not only did I not feel judged, I felt like I got AAA representation. Erik was a solid lawyer that made me feel heard, empowered and supported. At the end of the day, I think I got the best deal possible because Erik believed in my case and fought hard for it. I am very grateful for his work.
I hired the law firm of Passman and Kaplan to represent me in a disability discrimination and retaliation case against a Federal Agency. My case was very complicated and last about two years (ended in 2012). The attorney was very knowledgeable about EEOC law and their experience was very obvious during discussions with the Agency. The EEOC Judge even seemed relieved to have such an educated attorney handling this matter. The attorney was very patient and sympathetic with me, educated me on all the processes and provided expert advice on all decisions. He communicate very well and I always felt well informed. Ultimately, I won the case and felt extremely satisfied with the outcome and results. I would recommend this law firm to anyone needing assistance with any situation involving a matter related to the EEOC.
I was very disappointed in the in the service provided by Passman & Kaplan. I was already being discriminated by my agency as an african-american; when I went for the consultation, again I felt they judged me with the same stigma socially as blackman when it pertain to my case.
Their focus was on my actions instead of the agency's which were horribly egregious (racial slurs, inequality, disparate treatment). Then they told me they would represent me for $6100.00 to file paperwork but it was basically a waste of time and sent me a contract to sign.
At a very minimum I thought I could go into the office and throw off the albatross of racism and inequality for an hour but was met by the same monster.
I understand that all cases are not winners or cases at all but again don't charge me $400 for a consultation and leave me feeling as though I've done something wrong.
I'll take my case and money to another law firm where they will see me with unbiased eyes. EEO cases are very hard to win and are very expensive, at the very least you want a firm that does not adhere to the social stigmas of racism.
Mr. Perlmutter was unbelievably helpful, knowledgeable, professional and greatly assisted me with a Federal civilian personnel issue and a positive resolution. Such a great decision to reach out to the firm!!!
I wouldn't recommend this law firm, particularly Joseph Kaplan as I had to go to the Bar on him. He was rude, took our money and we later learned he was working for the other side, while stringing us along. A complete crook! After complaining to the bar, we got our money back....may he reap what he sowed!
MY EDIT SINCE RESPONSE FROM OWNER:
It's NOT under MY name. Moreover, if I was totally inaccurate - why have you responded to me? Look up JODDIE PATTERSON. I bet you'll remember THAT name......
I hired this firm to appeal my disability retirement denial from the USPS. They were highly professional and extremely helpful. I felt completely out of my depth going up against my former employer. There was no way I would have been successful on my own. Mr. Andrew Perlmutter was gracious and supportive through the entire process. I found out two weeks ago that the decision to deny my disability retirement had been reversed. Yes, I've had to pay legal fees, but that is the best investment I could have made. I would highly recommend this firm and Mr Perlmutter for anyone who needs help going up against the federal government.
Passman & Kaplan are simply the best. You need their talent and expertise if you expect to challenge your agency and prevail. They represented me in an eight year dogfight and made the experience much less stressful than my previous attorney. My agency tried every dirty trick in the book right down to the damaged hearing. My only regret is that I didn't switch firms earlier. My attorney was Adria Zeldin and she was absolutely amazing. Confident, experienced, professional, and saavy. The attorneys at this firm do the work so you don't have to ... remember the adage ... you get what you pay for. After your civil rights have been violated, isn't it worth the money for excellent legal representation?
I've been passing out this firm's business cards over the last couple of years. They're fighters but are open to reasonable negotiations and listen to the desires of their client.
This firm was recommended to me for both their understanding of government processes, the agency I work for, and their win rate. Ed was fabulous and great to work with. He gives great assessments of the realities of your case. It may or may not be what you want to hear, but it is what you need to hear. The facts provided allows the client to make their own informed decision of the best next steps for themselves. He also helps guide you when you are slogging through the process, which just beats you up and takes its own toll.
I've worked with other employees whom have made statements that they wish they had better lawyers that understood government regulations and the process better. I can say I have never had to utter that sentiment. They know what they are doing.
If you're going against an established entity such as your employer, with its experienced legal team, who has had a pattern of success with dealing situations and people "like you"....you need fire power. The knowledge and experience of Passman and Kaplan is the power you need to overcome.
They're quick with assessing the situation and developing a strategy to address and remedy the situation effectively and as quickly as possible. I can honestly say that my employer would have bulldozed over me and treated me as another statistic had I not had Passman and Kaplan representing me.
I really like the fact that my assigned attorney Johnathan Lloyd was gutsy and diplomatic throughout the entire ordeal. The time he took to understand all the facts, helped me to recall incidents I had totally forgotten, incidents that were instrumental in garnering a favorable outcome for me. Also, I felt that he was mindful of attempting to resolve the matter without me incurring astronomical costs during the process which was A + in my book. When engaged in a legal battle with my employer, it was daunting and somewhat debilitating -- that's when the think tank of Passman and Kaplan was most beneficial in maintaining a strong defense on my behalf.
I rated the firm 4 out of 5 stars because in the beginning it didn't appear that the team believed me BUT agreed to represent me to minimize the damages that could occur in my life. As we went through the process, their knowledge of government laws and regulations was the strength needed to bring closure to a very painful situation....and I'm grateful.
I reccomend to anyone to seek the guidance of P&K before handling an employment matter on your own. They will fight for you and bring closure, without breaking the bank.
A friend recommended this firm to me. I was assigned an attorney who estimated the time for my case and wanted all the money paid up front before they took my case. I found out from someone else that not all attorneys require the money paid upfront. The may have some great attorneys, but I feel the one I had did not do the best job to represent me and over charged me for fees. I wish that I had not taken my friends recommendation.
Worked with Erik Snyder of Passman & Kaplan, and can recommend him very highly. Extremely thoughtful insightful lawyer with a knack for understanding complicated issues.
Very disappointed and
Misleading....all they are focus on is getting that $400 or $500 fee from, you for the first Consultation
Ed Passman is a wonderful attorney and a human being. Service was very good for federal cases. Great knowledge as well. Galina
My primary attorneys were Edward Passman and Johnathan Lloyd. I have nothing but praise for their hard work and dedication during the year and a half they represented me. My initial consultation was thorough and they shared their game plan with me. This was a very difficult time for me and I appreciated the kindness, understanding of my personal struggle and guidance they were able to provide. The interviews with Federal managers got to the heart of the issues. I am extremely satisfied with the results and have the greatest respect for these gentlemen. I also appreciate Mr. Kaplan s manner and how he took care of me by making an early morning meeting in the midst of a terrible blizzard.
Passman & Kaplan, P.C., Attorneys at Law are shysters. Shyster / SH st r/ is a slang word for someone who acts in a disreputable, unethical, or unscrupulous way, especially in the practice of law.
I hired this law firm to represent me in an EEO case. Subsequently, ERIK SNYDER was appointed to my case, and almost immediately after retaining him with a $3500 payment, he started avoiding my phone calls, and stopped replying to my emails and voicemails. Every time I emailed him, I would receive the automated reply, stating he was out of the office. This went on for nearly a month.
Out of frustration, I went digging into the Google customer reviews and discovered a scathing review from VICTOR ARTHUR regarding none other than ERIK SNYDER (please read it). I contacted the law partner, Joseph Kaplan to report ERIK SNYDER'S negligence on my case. I mentioned how ERIK SNYDER had been avoiding my phone calls, and emails. Apparently, ERIK SNYDER was never reprimanded for his lack of skillful representation.
In short, after several months of ERIK SNYDER'S acting carelessly and making mistakes on my case, he willfully and intentionally missed the deadline to file my EEO appeal. I contacted Joseph Kaplan, again to express my dissatisfaction and to request the refund on my credit balance. To date, Joseph Kaplan has ignored ALL of my phone calls and emails.
What's even more disturbing is the mere fact that the law firm is aware of ERIK SNYDER'S substandard performance as an attorney, yet he continues to work for the law firm.
AND YES! They kept my $3500 retainer without providing competent, skillful representation.
Passman & Kaplan, P.C., Attorneys at Law may reply to this review by stating that they have never represented anyone by this name. I'll end by stating...THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHO I AM!
Scam. Scam. Scam. Please, please, please, do not spend your hard money with Passman & Kaplen, Attorneys at Law. Consultations should not cost you money. Asking $400.00 to $500.00 for an initial meet-and-greet is not how a law firm should conduct business. Don't let what happened to me, happen to you. I was asked to provide numerous documents, answer questions, and fill out some Form C. The idea is that by providing information ahead of time, the lawyer assigned to you review what you have supplied and begin forming an idea of how to handle your case--IF you may have one. I said that I needed more time to pull everything together, and suddenly I get a message that documents are needed because the lawyer already talked to me. I hadn't talked to anyone at the firm, BTW. So, I get to the appointment, and I'm asked to sign Form C (which I already provided). Then, I sit. And sit. And sit some more. About 20 minutes later, out comes the lawyer. We go into a conference room, and he tells me that he was reviewing my Form C. He hasn't read anything else that I know about. Here's the thing 1 hour of his time is $400.00. Anything over is $500.00. The lawyer then spends time reviewing things, he spends time asking you to find things, he tells you that the faster you find documents, the better. He asks some questions. And then want thousands of dollars as part of a retainer. He wants thousands of dollars to "quickly move to settle" your case. You pay thousands, and you may get a small amount of money. But, going into debt is okay because "it brings some people peace of mind". And, get this, it gets even better. If the law firm decides they like how things are going, they may offer to do something else for you. And, guess what, YOU GET TO PAY FOR IT ALL.
In the end, I got offered a $500.00 book that everyone gets after their initial consultation. Why was it $500.00? Because the lawyer spent time reviewing documents on your dime, and not beforehand. And the lawyer watched the clock the whole time. And at the 90 minute mark, the lawyer stood up and said, "go ahead and pack up your stuff and I'll meet you back up front so you can pay your consultation fee."
Please don't fall for Passman & Kaplen, Attorneys at Law's scam. If you need help, you deserve help. You don't deserve to loose everything that you have so that a law firm can get quick wins under their belt. You deserve better. You deserve help. And you deserve the help that I didn't receive from Passman & Kaplen, Attorneys at Law.
They are the best at what they do. If you need to win your case, you need them. They wrote the book (literally) on appropriate Federal behavior and what one should or should not be doing. That type of expertise isn't inexpensive, but how costly would losing be to you? The best recommendation that I can give is that I have sent others their way. None of them have been displeased with the outcome.
Best case these are completely unhelpful attorneys.
ALERT STAY AWAY. UNLESS YOU HAVE $500 TO THROW AWAY!!!!
I should have listen to my instincts after reviewing Passman @ Kaplan's rating of B- on the Better Business Bureau. My profession is relating to EEOC issues. I am fully aware of EEO laws, rules and regulatory guidance. I have an excellent case. I thought by consulting with Passman & Kaplan I would for sure add a team that would fight for my right of freedom from discrimination, and be more aggressive than the firm I initially hired to represent my complaint. I was WRONG.
The attorney (Mr. Erik Synder) appointed by I assume, Mr. Kaplan or someone higher, cared more about my initial attorneys (Tulley Rinckey) and how they processed my case, than assisting me with details regarding my case. Mr. Snynder was dressed (in my opinion) unprofessional and did not show interest on my claim, only if I had the consultation fee. I paid $500 dollars for a book (which the firm give to all potential clients). Sad. After experiencing Passman & Kaplan, my trust in attorneys have faded.
If you work for the Federal Government, please DO NOT be fooled by their website and claim they represent Federal employees with honor and on unbiased terms.
Please save your money DO NOT PAY PASSMAN & KAPLAN for a book that cost $400-500. In my case $500.
I found attorney Johnathan Lloyd a few years ago when I was forced into litigation by my federal agency and I can honestly say that the positive outcome of my case was a direct result of the expertise and skill of Mr. Lloyd. I found Mr. Lloyd when a close friend recommended Passman and Kaplan and they told me this law firm was the best for mitigating EEO-related matters. As a federal employee in the public-sector, Johnathan s involvement in my case was from the very beginning of the EEO process through settlement two years later. Through professionalism and a solid knowledge-base of public-sector law, Mr. Lloyd skillfully navigated the steps in the EEO process. Although Mr. Lloyd was a junior lawyer at Passman and Kaplan at the time (a few years ago), Mr. Passman provided mentoring oversight to Mr. Lloyd and they worked together in a true partnering relationship. Mr. Lloyd displayed professionalism under all circumstances, even during times in which the opposite parties in our legal dispute engaged in less-than-professional behavior. I was not aware of Mr. Lloyd s workload at the time (I can imagine it was very busy as most lawyers are!), however, Mr. Lloyd always provided direct attention toward my case, and made me feel that I was the highest on his priority list. One perspective very much worth emphasizing, was the honestly and the desire for Mr. Lloyd to find the best possible outcome for me and my situation. On multiple occasions Mr. Lloyd diligently sought amicable settlement with the federal agency in which we were involved, often times with the thoughts of costs of the EEO process when the agency decides to drag the case out , which the agency did in my particular circumstance. Mr. Lloyd had made unique and creative settlement offers that would have been beneficial for my situation, however, would probably have meant less revenue for his law firm. These instances demonstrated honestly, integrity, and a true commitment to garnering the best outcome for his client. On multiple occasions it was required that Mr. Lloyd travel out of state to represent me during settlement negotiations and alternative dispute resolution. He did so happily so I could feel secure in my representation and so as to provide the best services possible. I strongly feel that it was Mr. Lloyd s skill and diligence that resulted in a VERY favorable settlement that I didn t even think was possible when the entire EEO process began. In the end the Agency had no other choice but to recognize the facts of my case, and it was a direct result of Mr. Lloyds detailed analyses, impeccable detailed-oriented nature and oversight of my case that this result came to fruition. I would not have had the happy-ending I had if not for Mr. Lloyd and the expertise of Passman and Kaplan. On a side note, the close friend who recommended Passman and Kaplan to me also had a very favorable outcome to their particular case, which in my opinion reflects the new generation of Passman and Kaplan attorneys continuing the legacy of quality and skilled labor representation for public-sector employees. If you are looking for an HONEST, DILIGENT and VERY skilled labor law firm, I would very much recommend Mr. Johnathan Lloyd for representation in any labor and employment-related dispute.
Ed Passman and his law firm, Passman and Kaplan, are simply the best. They pursue the noblest of missions to protect the livelihoods and rights of employees and they do it better than anyone! I can't say enough about Ed Passman. I owe a 26-year federal career to Ed Passman s unparalleled counsel. Ed works tirelessly with the understanding and belief that our protections under the law are sacred and that they are to be upheld. I recently retired this year after a successful and long career in the federal government. Ed s exacting assessment, unmatched knowledge and powerful responses to management, brilliant processes for employee rights protection and incredibly-effective negotiation skills achieved the most successful outcome every time. Ed s services are a great value as he structures each legal response to keep costs down to render every dollar worth many, many more in salary protected. I have been moved profoundly by Ed Passman's work in preserving my livelihood and ensuring my future, as well as owe Ed a great debt for the friends and family that he has effectively counseled.
Thank you Mr. Passman for your commitment and perseverance on behalf of my sister in regards to her obtaining her disability retirement from the Federal Government. Your knowledge and expertise as well as your guidance through the complexities inherent in this process are sincerely appreciated.
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