Steven R. Patterson - Brea, CA

STAY AWAY from Patterson Law Firm (PLF). I received lackluster family law representation from Ryan E. Dryer and Steven R. Patterson. PLF was not only outsmarted and outmaneuvered by opposing counsel (I had a front row seat), they took advantage of a highly contentious divorce (greed, lies and false declarations/accusations on my ex-spouse's part, and matter of principle, the truth/credibility, witnesses and evidence on my part). PLF lined their pockets by prolonging the matter (four years WITHOUT ever reaching trial). I communicated to Mr. Dryer and Mr. Patterson (who supervises Mr. Dryer and oversaw my case) that I was unhappy with the services being rendered and requested to change family law attorneys within the firm; and Mr. Patterson IGNORED my request. While I was frustrated, I believed it would be counterproductive to drop PLF and retain new legal counsel since after two plus years, they were familiar with my case and Mr. Dryer repeatedly assured me that he was "ready for trial" - a serious miscalculation on my part. Trial was postponed over and over and over again - the PLF playbook goes like this: the lawyers meet privately in judge's chambers (FACT: when attorneys meet with the judge in chambers, there is no court reporter present and therefore, no record or Minute Order of their backroom deals) - the only recorded outcome at each hearing was the Court setting new hearing dates over and over again. Such delays prolong the bleeding by extending the temporary support orders as well as require new income and expense declarations to be filed (and there were many). This legal tactic creates on-going cash flow for Patterson Law Firm - i.e., over billing. I got NO fight from PLF, just politics. In four years, I NEVER reached trial (the judge never heard my case) which benefited my ex-spouse since she was receiving high temporary support and free medical and dental to boot. We were married for six years - I paid ALL household and medical expenses post separation without reimbursement PLUS temporary spousal and child support (over 70% of my net earnings) for over four years - more than half the duration of marriage - which is supposed to be higher in the beginning and decrease over time (but not for me!). After $175K+ in attorney fees coupled with excessive temporary spousal and child support payments PLUS costs not covered by my medical insurance, I buckled and wound up settling in a LOPSIDED financial settlement that favored my ex-spouse. To add salt to the wound, Mr. Dryer conceded to certain stipulations in the financial settlement agreement without consulting me AND provided ill-advice in the end that cost me more money - thanks, PLF. Mr. Dryer is nice, but nice does not cut it in divorce proceedings. I am now representing myself (In Pro Per) for certain post-divorce child custody matters and have fared better without Patterson Law Firm in my corner. The judge has actually heard my case and I have spoken to him on the record with positive results more times in three months than the previous previous four years with Patterson Law Firm. If you need an attorney who will fight tirelessly to ensure your rights are protected as well as competently handle your financial (and child custody) divorce/family law matters, don't waste your time and money with Patterson Law Firm. Instead, I HIGHLY recommend (top choice) Don Werno [Werno Family Law Solutions] or (second choice) Minyard Morris - *both are aggressive attorneys that solidly represented my ex-spouse and outsmarted PLF. [*Due to her difficult nature, the ex-spouse has gone through five different attorneys.]