Perlstein, Sandler & Mccracken

I hired Attorney Chappell for a discrimination case i brought against my child’s preschool via the CT CHRO. Chappell pressured me into settling the case, it was very clear that he didn’t want to do anything other than settle. At one point I felt he was defending the school I brought the charges against. I was knee deep in at that point and backing out with him would still leave me with a financial obligation to him and in need of another attorney (not easy to find for a preschool disability discrimination case). In hindsight I should have just used the CT CHRO attorney but I was confused about the entire process, hence the reason I sought out my own attorney. The CHRO was on my side but they are busy and you literally don’t hear from the attorney scheduled to represent you until a few days to a week before you are scheduled to meet with the Respondent. Chappell received 30% of the settlement and claimed that was a huge discount. He spoke on phone calls with me 3 times and met with the school (virtually) twice. I asked for a certain monetary amount from the school that was within reason according to settlement amounts we had discussed. I told him I didn’t want to budge from that number but he would not argue that to the school. He came back with a counter from the school and argued with me to accept it without justification as to why. He did explain that the case was viewed as an employment discrimination case because the CHRO doesn’t have a means to address the case any other way. In hindsight I should have filed the complaint with the US Civil Rights Office, I probably would have made out better. I feel Chappell knew more than he was telling me to keep me on as a client for quick money, which this was for him - he was retained for 8 weeks and worked on the case for a few hours (phone calls, virtual meeting, minimal paperwork). I don’t recommend Chappell or this law firm.