Jim Dennis' rant

[king]

I am very angry about Jim Dennis’ comments about me posted here. He is a stranger to me that came to my office on his own accord after asking me for my business card. I spent 10-20 minutes with him answering his questions and then I asked him to talk with my assistant for more information about the process and fees. Then he left. He came back a day or so later with two other American guys with their SOs as they had questions about their situations and Mr. Dennis joined in that discussion. At no time has Mr. Dennis been a customer of the company I work for or of myself. Mr. Dennis paid no money for any time he spent with us, or for any information or suggestions he may have received nor was he asked for or expected to pay anything for the time he spent talking with us.

Mr. Dennis is not my client. And has never been.

Since I don’t take kindly to people insulting me and trying to impugn my reputation and lying about me, I will use this thread to defend myself and show Mr. Dennis off for what he is, mean individual.

What Mr. Dennis has failed to tell you is that I have been a member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association since 1967, never had any ethical or legal complaints filed against me with the Bar Association and as far as I know/remember, only one complaint about a fee issue. I have been a member of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association since the 1990s with a break of several years when I first came to China in 1997.

For many of the newer members and guests on this site who may know nothing about me I will tell a little of my story. I have been coming to Candle for almost 3 years. I found it about the time of the big “Black Hole” in 2003. I found a lot of information useful to my immigration law practice here in China from the people who were going through the travails of that time. There were many frustrated people using Candle, some because they did not know the system of immigration law and/or they did not know their way around the Consulate or the local DHS office and what was like to deal with dysfunctional bureaucratic agencies and of course, because of the Black Hole problems. At that time there were several outspoken members who did not like lawyers at all.

In this situation I decided I could give back to this site and be a bit helpful with my knowledge of the consular visa processes. However, I saw two problems in trying to provide some help on Candle. One was not to irritate those members who disliked lawyers and/or get into verbal battles with them and the other problem was not to appear I was soliciting business from people on the site. I accomplished this to my satisfaction by letting the site operators know I was a lawyer and gain their acquiescence to provide comments on the site and choosing to use a pseudonym as a handle instead of my real name. (Actually, I don’t know what the big deal is with Mr. Dennis on using a handle instead of my real name as many, if not most, of the writers here use handles. I chose to use one so as NOT to publicize myself.)

That I have remainder relatively anonymous has worked well as those who were really interested in talking with me could reach me privately through Candle’s PM, that is, until Mr. Dennis chose to blab my information all over the Net and Candle.

The way Mr. Dennis has chosen to identify me and to comment about me is quite suspect, as if he had another agenda he is working on.

Why does he take me to task for doing a legitimate business in a legitimate way? (He paid no fee for discussing his case and concerns with me, and then my assistant, for about an hour.) Neither he nor his wife was threatened, lied to or manipulated into signing any contract. If he didn’t like what he was told by me or my assistant, why did he chat with me on the street a day or two after he had been into my office twice and ask me more questions about his case? Why then in a two-faced manner has he falsely complained about my business practices in writing in public?

What I think is that he has libeled me and is intentionally interfering with my business opportunities by posting his comments on this site. I ask why he was not big enough to come to me instead to discuss any problems he had with me, my assistant or with the business I work for?

Mr. Dennis is wrong about our fee structure and motivations. We do not automatically charge a 20% non-refundable fee. We do charge a non-refundable fee upfront that is based on what we think about the difficulty of the case, which non-refundable portion of the fee works out to be usually to be less than 20%. We do not walk away from visa cases as Mr. Dennis has suggested when they are difficult. The services and conditions of our undertaking are all explained upfront to the potential customers before they sign a contract. Mr. Dennis said in his message, “Also if there is anything wrong with the documents he walks with the down.” Actually that is a lie. We do tell potential customers that we will not use fake documents on their behalf and they will have a chance to replace fake documents with true ones before we submit them, but if they do not want to take corrective action we will withdraw from the case. There could be other things wrong with a document besides being false. In those cases, we work with the customer to correct mistakes and errors and don’t just “take the money and run.” If Mr. Dennis did not like that message, why is he complaining about an honest and necessary position on my part? (I assure you it is necessary for me to maintain my ability to effectively representation customers at GUZ to maintain a good working relationship with the Consulate visa section.)

Mr. Dennis paid nothing; we did not agree to do anything for him or his wife. What is his problem I ask myself? I didn’t know this guy from Adam, but I think he is trying to take his problems out on me at the least. No way you horse’s ass! If you have something to say about me come to say it to my face.

An explanation of all the trivial points Mr. Dennis makes to imply what I and the company do is somehow devious, unethical, cheating or worse, follows:

1. I do not find it useful to be listed with the Consulate as a lawyer. I am registered as a U.S. citizen with the Consulate. Most of the customers we have are Chinese mainlanders who probably would not be able to get that information from the Consulate anyway. The company I work for is a Chinese corporation licensed by the Gong An Bu, the National Police Bureau in Beijing, and is licensed also by the Provincial government Industrial and Commercial Bureau. It had to deposit 1,000,000.00RMB with a government agency in the licensing process to be maintained as a kind of trust fund for any company consumers who claim and establish they have been improperly treated under laws and regulations for consulting companies.

2. I practiced law in the King County, WA area for 30 some years. Only in my early years in practice was I involved in appealing cases to the Washington Supreme Court. BTW we won the case Mr. Dennis mentions. Over the years I made court appearances and tried cases, but most of my practice was an office type practice that would leave little public trail.

3. The policy of the company is to have the contract with the beneficiary/applicant as they are here in China, are virtually all Chinese citizens (99%,) don’t read English and it is short by preference, just to say the essentials.

4. We do not give up on a case because some documents are defective or there are mistakes on the application. We will quit a case if we think the customer is misrepresenting information to the Consulate or us and won’t come clean with us. So Mr. Dennis’ statement “… and will see it thru to the end as long as none of the documents are defective or we have made no mistakes on the application” is a fabrication.

5. “He walks with the down.” This galls me. The Mr. Dennis misrepresents the company’s policy and actions. Only if a customers misleads us with false documents or false statements (they would have been warned of the consequences) would we turn a case back to a customer and keep part or all of the down payment depending on how much work we had performed and how egregious their misrepresentations were.

6. No lawyer can perform miracles, but we do help people because they cannot help themselves adequately. And yes in most instances I believe I could get the Consulate to respond better to me than Mr. Dennis could.

7. “Two of them had spent a great deal of money on lawyers….” Those two guys, whoever they may have been, were not our customers.

8. In the matter of trust, it is a two way street. I don’t take marriage or fiancé cases if I don’t trust there is a bona fide relationship. I won’t represent a case when I know there are fake documents or misrepresentations. I trust facts, not a customer’s tears or emotions. I do sympathize with potential customers wanting to go to America; they all have their needs or desires to go, but I won’t violate my obligations to follow the US immigration laws.

9. The quote is from Mr. Dennis: “At worst it is ‘King’ or some one like him setting up people to make mistakes so they can ‘help’ fix them.” This is a complete fabrication and is unfounded on Mr. Dennis’ part. And it is detrimental and injurious to my business and law practice.

There is enough false and idiotic bashing here by Mr. Dennis to make me wonder why he is trying to harm me. All that I will say at this point is that it will not continue without consequences. No waiver of any tort is made or implied.

[Mylife]

I must have missed the complaint. But from what I have seen King's posts have been informative and very professional. There has been no solicitation by him for any business whatsoever. Seems, like a bunch of members even suggest those with serious problems seek him out.

 

Love lawyer or hate lawyers. Thats your choice. However, from King's defense, if you dont hire him, and he had the courtesy to answer your questions for "free." Why complain?

 

As Benjamin Franklin once said " A Lawyer's time is his stock and trade."

[Randy W]

I must have missed the complaint.  But from what I have seen King's posts have been informative and very professional.  There has been no solicitation by him for any business whatsoever.  Seems, like a bunch of members even suggest those with serious problems seek him out.

 

Love lawyer or hate lawyers.  Thats your choice.  However, from King's defense, if you dont hire him, and he had the courtesy to answer your questions for "free."  Why complain?

 

As Benjamin Franklin once said " A Lawyer's time is his stock and trade."

185828[/snapback]

I read the post in question, but don't remember what was said, except that I thought it was more emotional than factual. King seems like a good prson and a very good lawyer. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his contributions to the board.

[Dan R]

I did not read the post(s) in question. King with the reputation you have on Candle I can't imagine a vindictive member out for satisfaction could affect it. You have been a great asset to Candle with your explanations and experience that none of us has equaled.

 

While our case went smoothly and I have had no need for legal assistance, I have always found your posts helpful. There has never appeared in those posts the slightest appearance of solicitation. Your professionalism always comes through. Details you supplied have helped many of the members if in nothing more but to understand the process more and thereby reduce the stress of it.

 

I would like to thank you for being a fellow member.

[rogerluli]

I also did not read the 'rant' in question but I for one was helped by King's knwledge of 'the process'. When we were asked for new documentation at the interview I posted the story on CFL and King came on to give great factual info on the new procedure for overcome documents which helped us tremendously. I never paid him a dime but he graciously gave his help for free here on CFl. I think he has been a great and very knowledgeable resource here on Candle and I wish to thank him personally for his help.

 

Roger & Lu Li

[frank1538]

I also did not read the 'rant' in question

Roger & Lu Li

185831[/snapback]

http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...ndpost&p=182412

[rogerluli]

I also did not read the 'rant' in question

Roger & Lu Li

185831[/snapback]

http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...ndpost&p=182412

185832[/snapback]

OK I skimmed the 'rant' and it all makes me very glad of 2 things;that I am not a paranoid person by nature and that we did not run into any of the really bad problems that some couples have had.

[chef4u]

Just read the "rant" too. On another site, I read a paranoid episode with almost similair complaints. However, the ranter was blasting a paralegal type guy who, like King, is an outstanding individual who exudes the upmost professionalism and integrity. I certainly can appreciate and understand set-backs. I have had my share of them as most people have as well. It is however, what we do to pick ourselves up off the ground, wipe the dust off and continue on resolving our issues in a positive manner. I just am bothered to read post where good people's reputations are being attacked with unfactual documentation. The statements appear to be more out of despair and anger. I would like to think that we certainly can use Candle and other sites, as vehicles(sp) to "Sound Off" our fears and our disappointments. But, please not to the expense of good, honest, and hardworking people.

 

Regards, Chef Richard

Edited January 25, 2006 by chef4u (see edit history)

[jim_julian]

I read the post in question when it was current. My reaction, then and now, is the same.

 

Any lawyer, in fact anyone in a professional service business, is occasionally going to have a contact/client express dissatisfaction ... for reasons which may or may not be valid.

 

You have to weigh these expressions of dissatisfaction with all the evidence at hand. Many people here speak highly of King. I don't recall anyone else expressing dissatisfaction. I've had a very positive reaction to all of King's posts, save this one, that I have read.

 

In my view he has an excellent reputation.

 

Relax ... tempest in a tea pot ...

[rogerluli]

... tempest in a tea pot ...

185838[/snapback]

...yixing...

[warpedbored]

King you are a highly valued member of this site and the only immigration lawyer I would refer anyone to who is having problems with the consulate in GZ. Normally I would delete this post because it is an attack on another member but I read Mr Dennis's rant too and thought he was out of line. If the admins want to delete this fine. I'm leaving it.

Edited January 25, 2006 by warpedbored (see edit history)

[Guest pushbrk]

King you are a highly valued member of this site and the only immigration lawyer I would refer anyone to who is having problems with the consulate in GZ.  Normally I would delete this post because it is an attack on another member but I read Mr Dennis's rant too and thought he was out of line.  If the admins want to delete this fine. I'm leaving it.

185846[/snapback]

This is not a democracy but if we were voting I would suggest deleting both posts and any that quote them. The first was clearly out of line. The second would not have been needed without the first.

 

Regular readers have seen both already and formed their own opinions.

[Trigg]

Pushbrk is right--this ain't no democracy.

 

King, you needn't defend yourself. We already know you are a quality person and one persons ranting won't do anything to change that!!!!

[Dan R]

Rather than delete why not close both threads. This is not the only time that the process has caused people to go to excess in their statements. It would be good for members to know how stressful this process can be. I don't take this as ranting but rather issues resulting from the process that we are all exposed to.

[fewmgf]

Just read the "rant" too.  On another site, I read a paranoid episode with almost similair complaints.  However, the ranter was blasting a paralegal type guy who, like King, is an outstanding individual who exudes the upmost professionalism and integrity.  I certainly can appreciate and understand set-backs.  I have had my share of them as most people have as well.  It is however, what we do to pick ourselves up off the ground, wipe the dust off and continue on resolving our issues in a positive manner.  I just am bothered to read post where good people's reputations are being attacked with unfactual documentation.  The statements appear to be more out of despair and anger.  I would like to think that we certainly can use Candle and other sites, as vehicles(sp) to "Sound Off" our fears and our disappointments.  But, please not to the expense of good, honest, and hardworking people.

 

Regards, Chef Richard

185837[/snapback]

Pretty sure I read the same other thread you did, and I think you hit the nail on the head.

 

*To the op's ranter, I hope things get better, but don't take it out on the people who are genuinely trying to help in what way they can.

 

*edit not the op; from what I have seen and heard he is not at fault at all.

Edited January 25, 2006 by fewmgf (see edit history)