Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What counties do you guys live in? On paper, MCPS is great but in reality they don’t have the staff and resources to support my child, I have no other option.

I’ve heard about Brian gruber- but I also heard he doesn’t give back the retainer. Is he aggressive? Do you have personal experience with him?

Why would he give back the retainer? Attorneys need to be paid. Do you work for free?

Attorneys who require a retainer are permitted to bill against the retainer for all work they perform at the agreed upon hourly rates. If the retainer is used up before the representation ends, there is nothing to return. If there is money left, then it must be returned. You can always request an accounting.

And I can about guarantee that Brian Gruber does return any retainer not yet used because the fastest way to lose your Law license is to screw with client money. Lawyers are meticulous about record keeping.

This is an accurate explanation of how law firm retainers work, and I agree it would be very surprising for a respected attorney to not return unused funds from the trust account. If that happened, it would warrant a complaint to the state bar. I'm guessing the earlier posters didn't understand how retainers work, and perhaps thought they were owed money back when the funds were likely depleted through legal services billed.

Fee arrangements should be spelled out in the Retainer Agreement, and clients should get a monthly invoice.

- Special Ed Attorney

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes MCPS settles out of court before hand. I know a few families who got an attorney and started the process and MCPS finally agreed to a placement. Finding a placement was far harder.

Yes, that's really a far bigger issue. Getting the agreement for the private placement is just the first step in a difficult process. There aren't all that many options and once you identify them, the school has to agree to accept your child. I've seen it take as long as two years to actually get back into school - that wasn't in MC, but the issue wasn't getting the approval, but rather finding a place that would accept the child.

Sometimes MCPS settles out of court before hand. I know a few families who got an attorney and started the process and MCPS finally agreed to a placement. Finding a placement was far harder.

I’m currently in Montgomery county, which is suppose to be the best, but I’ve had a very different experience experience

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry that you need attorney to fight for your child. I was in your shoes 10 years ago with Montgomery county for my child. Another family was in the same elementary school area fought and costed them hundreds of thousands dollars. They gave up the fight with the country. They moved away. I fought for 2 years. We could not get the service that my child need. We sold our house and move. It was the best thing for my child. 50k just to sell the house. Over all, I would do it again in a second.

Did you find a school district that’s better? Where?

Choosing the right attorney is a difficult process. Everyone causes an arm and a leg.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What counties do you guys live in? On paper, MCPS is great but in reality they don’t have the staff and resources to support my child, I have no other option.

I’ve heard about Brian gruber- but I also heard he doesn’t give back the retainer. Is he aggressive? Do you have personal experience with him?

Why would he give back the retainer? Attorneys need to be paid. Do you work for free?

Attorneys who require a retainer are permitted to bill against the retainer for all work they perform at the agreed upon hourly rates. If the retainer is used up before the representation ends, there is nothing to return. If there is money left, then it must be returned. You can always request an accounting.

And I can about guarantee that Brian Gruber does return any retainer not yet used because the fastest way to lose your Law license is to screw with client money. Lawyers are meticulous about record keeping.