Two Former Clients Tell Harrowing Tales After Hiring Atty James Beirne

By Jenilene Francisco and Rene Villaroman PinoyWatchDog.com Staff CALLING ALL FILIPINO-AMERICANS, LISTEN TO US

Two brave former clients of famous Glendale Attorney James Beirne are among those who have contacted PinoyWatchDog.com to expose the Glendale-based lawyer for failing to deliver legal services, harrowing experiences that negatively impacted their lives. Reynaldo Anson Villarica Beirne Used False/Non Existent Companies

Reynaldo Anson Villarica, who hails from the province of Cavite, told PWD that he was able to breathe normally for the first time in many years after he read an advertisement in the pages of PinoyWatchDog.com seeking stories about Attorney James Beirnes victims. They kicked the air out of my lungs, Villarica said, who first sought Beirnes assistance to secure a work authorization and a green card in 2001. He felt alone and powerless, but now I knew there were others who would support me. Villarica stated that he found hope that his case could be revived and possibly continued by

another company that would be willing to file a petition on in his behalf after Atty. Beirne failed to secure work authorization for him since he first consulted him in 2001. Villarica recounts the Beirnes law office had filed three different petitions using three different companies, all of which turned out to be non-existent. Every two years, pinapalitan yung company, Villarica said, The first petition was made through a company known as Executive Aviation, followed two years later by Quad Medical Services; and the third petition through Family Care Homes. Pagkatapos nuon, itinago na nila sa akin (After those petitions were denied, they hid everything from me). Kasi, pag binasa mo yung mga letters, wala silang maipasok na lisensiya sa EDD (Employment Development Department). Parang nakakasira ng ulo, Villarica said. Investigations conducted by a PWD staff member revealed that these three companies were nonexistent during the times that these petitions for Mr. Villarica were being made by the law office of Atty Beirne. For instance, the first company, Executive Aviation Services, did not exist at the time of the application. PWD has also learned that even the address, using Hangar 22 at the Chino Airport, does not exist. When PWD called the number used in the application we were informed by the woman that answered that for a decade she had been receiving calls by people searching out others who had committed wrongdoing, and that she had nothing to with Executive Aviation Services. This was a common practice with some shady immigration lawyers during the big 245(i) push in the beginning of 2001, said an immigration lawyer who had processed hundreds of labor certifications in that time period and who asked to not be identified for fear of retribution from Beirnes colleagues. Everyone was scampering for employer sponsors, and many lawyers did not verify whether the employers provided were legitimate. It got a lot of people into trouble, the lawyer said. Villarica said he was directed to these employers by an outside agent of Attorney Beirne. When he confronted the office after making some discoveries, Ching Mendoza of the Beirne Law Office threatened him with words to the effect that they knew powerful people and he better not tell anyone what happened. All in all, Villarica, by his estimate, had paid Beirnes law office some $7,000.00, never got any visa, and in the end received only threats. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag (I was able to breath easy) for the first time in many years after I read your newspaper, Villarica said. Gertrudes and Rick Pecaoco Judge to Atty Beirne You Filed the Wrong Petition

A couple from Burbank also contacted PWD to air their grievances against Atty Beirne. The Pecaocos were no longer able to afford the $6,000amonth mortgage payment on their house and it was on the verge of foreclosure when they sought the legal advice of Atty Beirne. Unfortunately, the Pecaocos said recently to PWD, The help and assistance they perused in Beirnes advertisements (published in Balita) were not met. PWD had previously reported that the L.A. Superior Court had recently ordered Attorney Beirne to cease this type of deceptive, false advertising. It appears that Attorney Beirne is now complying with this court order and no longer places false advertising in Balita newspapers. According to the couple, they only met with Beirnes assistant, Ruby Sexon, who explained various bankruptcy procedures. PinoyWatchdog.com has learned that Sexon has no formal legal training even though she was the only assistant the couple ever met at the law office. Rick says that Sexon advised them to stop paying the mortgage and some important bills. With every letter received regarding their house and notice to vacate, Beirnes law office and Sexon would simply say that their bankruptcy petition would be filed. Its more of everything was just paperwork, says Gertrudes. Sabi naman niya, pag-aaralan nila ito, she added. Regardless of Sexons reassurances and claims, the negligence and lack of concern for clients was revealed at the hearing when, for the first time, Gertrudes actually Gertrudes further expressed her sentiments of not feeling secure even after finally meeting the attorney himself. Parang, he was just there to file it. But he didnt care to be concerned of ano ba talaga ang gusto mo? How can I be there to help you? What do you want to do? Simply put, He was not helpful. He was not concerned. The case was eventually pulled out. Dismissed ang kaso ko. Bali wala. As for a refund, the couple assures that the only refund they received was for the lien stripping which was between $3 to 4 thousand out of an estimated $10,000 in total that the couple says they paid the law firm. Gertrudes said, the refund for the lien stripping would never have been returned if she had not demanded for it. Nung tumawag ako, sabi ko pwede ba irefund. Kasi na

dismiss naman yung kaso. Sabi nya (Ruby Sexon) dismissed or not dismissed hindi na kailangan ang refund. The Pecaocos also spoke about the hassle and inconvenience they experienced with Beirnes law office. They said that simple questions regarding their case and files could not be answered over the phone. I dont know, but it was easier for them to collect money than really helping out, says Gertrudes. Yung feeling mo na matutulungan ka, wala rin. If you dont call, theyre not going to do anything. A direct trip to the office was needed. Even then, proper direction, guidance, and answers to their questions were never seen. They wont even entertain you, says Rick. Needless to say, the couples grievances with their overall experience with Beirne can still be felt. As Rick expresses near the end of the interview, their initial case was manageable and could have been properly handled had they not consulted with Atty Beirne, but went to an attorney who actually reviewed the case, and not leaving the matter up to an untrained assistant such as Ruby Sexon. PinoyWatchDog.com has earlier reported that Ruby Sexon was the Beirne staff member that mishandled the case of Diosdado and Janet Duldulao, whose home was actually foreclosed upon when Sexon failed to file the bankruptcy petition.

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