Thomas H. Roberts & Associates, P.C. – Legal services

I retained an attorney from this law firm and had to quickly end the representation due to multiple red flags and inappropriate behavior. Below are the serious concerns:

Conduct Issues:

Asked inappropriate and legally irrelevant questions:

1. “Why are you filing FOIA?” (No justification is needed for a FOIA request under Virginia law.)

2. Claimed I was “filing too many FOIAs” – again, there is no legal limit to how many FOIA requests a citizen can submit.

3. Stated I was “harassing them with FOIA” – A public body’s frustration is irrelevant to the legality of a FOIA request.

4. Said “They can sue you for filing FOIA” – Filing a lawful request is not grounds for a lawsuit, and no court would entertain such a claim.

5. Referred to me as a “thorn” – This kind of commentary shows bias, not advocacy.

6. Took a scolding tone over the phone – Completely unprofessional and unacceptable for someone who was retained by the client.

Premature Judgment:
• The attorney did not review all the FOIA materials or the supporting evidence I had compiled before dismissing my case.

• He made a quick determination that I “have no case” — all within 3 hours of engagement.
• His claim that the firm “tells the truth and does not give false hope” is hollow if the actual evidence is never reviewed.

Misstep with Opposing Counsel:
• The attorney contacted opposing counsel quite early after engagement — before reviewing my case files, without my consent, and before any litigation began.

• Step 1 should have been to review the client’s evidence — not preemptively coordinate with the opposing side.
This was one of the most disappointing legal experiences I’ve encountered. I regret having paid the retainer and hope this review helps other potential clients make an informed decision.