Janet M. Castello - Port Huron, MI

In February, 2002, following a divorce judgement issued in August 2001, I engaged the services of Janet M. Castello to prepare Qualified Domestic Relations Orders. She received from me copies of the divorce judgement, all necessary account information, forms, instructions from the account institution on their rules for QDROs, my telephone number, my ex-husband’s telephone number, and both social security numbers. It was determined that two QDROs would be needed. Janet’s secretary Lorna informed me in February 2002 that Janet Castello would prepare the orders, that the cost would range from $300 to $500, and they would notify me when they were complete. Both my ex-husband and I made it verbally clear that we were available to sign the orders as soon as they were completed. As months went by, I called Janet Castello repeatedly. Janet’s secretary Lorna would never let me speak to Janet personally. Many excuses were given as to why Janet was not available and why my QDROs were not completed. Excuses such as local elections, vacations and pending trials were given throughout the duration of the year 2002. I continued to call in the year 2003 on several occasions. When I left messages, my calls were never returned. On May 15, 2003, I visited Janet Castello’s office to inquire about my case. Only Janet’s secretary Lorna would speak to me. She would not inform Janet that I was there nor would make an appointment for me to see her due to an important pending trial that same day. When I asked about the status of my case, she said she, Lorna, would call me later. I asked to see my file and the secretary eventually found it and it contained only the original paperwork I had provided in February 2001. No action or work had been done. I cancelled this lawyer's services immediately and was not billed as no services had been performed.