Consumer complaint received 2018-01-30
Company: THE JUDGE LAW FIRM, A LAW CORPORATION
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was already discharged in bankruptcy and is no longer owed

Complaint:
In XX/XX/XXXX there was a devastating fire in which many of the building in the apartment complex where my son lived in were burned. He was living with his wife and son. His unit was damaged with water from the fire department. He was displaced for 2 weeks not being able to get into the complex as the fire department had it blocked off. 
He was eventually able to go back. The management company said they would reduce the rent. He applied for FEMA relief to move. The management company name is XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

The manager sued him and his wife on XX/XX/XXXX and the attorney representing the complex consulted with their client to drop the suit as he was moving. They verbally agreed. 
He did receive FEMA funds to help with the move. They moved. The manager never refunded the {$800.00} security deposit and never provided an itemized deposit statement. 
The judgement was filed after he moved on XX/XX/XXXX. 

The original amount was {$3900.00}. 

By the way my son and grandson are permanently XXXX. His wife XXXX XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX. 
In XX/XX/XXXXI needed his help and I put my son on title to my home. I was not aware of the lien against my son. 

He filed bankruptcy in XXXX. There was a lien placed against the house when a he was added to the title. The home had no equity at that time and today still has no equity. 

The attorney representing the management company has XXXX XXXX and a new law firm has the file. 
I am short selling the home. This lien is preventing the sale. The law firm sent a demand to escrow for {$7800.00}. On the demand was a phone number. My son and I called it several times and left a message. They never returned the call. 
We drove to meet them in person to discuss their releasing the lien. When we arrived, the receptionist told us, we could not just show up. They gave us an attorney 's name to send an email to and they said he would call us. My son did that. The attorney 's name is XXXX XXXX. 

He never called. My son again made phone calls everyday. There was no return call. We went in person again. They told me us we need to speak to someone else who was not there. Her name is XXXX .They told my son to call her. I asked how could we do that if they never answer the phone. They said they did answer the phone. My son then called the phone number that was provide on the paperwork for the demand on the letter in front of them. Their phone did not ring and went to voicemail. They said they did not know that number did that and then they gave me a new number. 

My son spoke to the lady they asked him to talk to. She told him she could not help him as she need to speak to the attorney who had the file. She told him to call back on Monday. He did that. He left messages. One time XXXX did answer the phone and said for him to call him back the next day after XXXX XXXX. My son did that. Their was no answer. He has called every day they will not talk with him or return calls I need them to release this lien. My son filed bankruptcy and there is no equity in this property. I will have a foreclosure on my record if they do not do release the lien. This will cause great hardship on me as I will not be able to work in the field I am training for. 
The escrow is supposed to close on XX/XX/XXXX. 

I do not know what to do at this point. Can you help u contact this law firm. 
I am writing this on behalf of myself and my son. 
The law firm who is handing this file is The XXXX XXXX XXXX. The original law firm was XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

The phone number to the XXXX XXXX XXXX office is XXXX. 
Their website is : XXXX Their email is : XXXX The attorney we were asked to speak with is XXXX XXXX XXXX.

Company public response: Company disputes the facts presented in the complaint
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation