Testimonials

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Client Testimonials

The following interviews were conducted by consultwoosley, an independent consulting firm. As part of BurmanLaw's total client satisfaction program, BurmanLaw contracted with consultwoosley to interview select clients and measure, in depth, their degree of satisfaction. The people and the experiences referenced in the following interviews are real, are unaltered, and are used with their permission.

Distracted Driver Causes Permanent Disability And Loss Of Income
Case Brings The Highest Jury Verdict In Christian County For The Year 1999

Family of Five Injured By Irresponsible Driver
Father Loses Military Career

Employee Wrongfully Terminated Because of Race
After 27 years, Hopkinsville Man loses Career

Work Related Injury Causes Permanent Disability
Hopkinsville woman in complicated work injury case

Distracted Driver Causes Permanent Disability and Loss of Income
Brings The Highest Jury Verdict In Christian County For The Year 1999

Background:
Accident Victim: Clyde McCombs
Hopkinsville, KY

Mr. McCombs was injured when the driver of another car was distracted and did not see Mr. McCombs come to a complete stop. As a result, the driver of the car rammed Mr. McCombs' car in the rear, causing Mr. McCombs permanent disability and serious financial hardships.

Q. How did you select Mr. Burman as your attorney?
A. We were referred by one of his clients. And we had seen his office. It just felt like a blessing for us to go by and see him. And from the beginning, whatever we needed, he was there to help us with it. He's a man that will speak the truth and let you know how things are going with your case. I still talk with him from time to time. He's always got his door open.

Q. Did you feel that Mr. Burman cared about you and your situation, personally?
A. Mike is a caring man. When things would get rough, he would always try and reassure us. He would even pray with us. All I can say is that he supported us whole heartily. We feel we were blessed to find him as an attorney…to help us. Mike is a rare breed. He really cares about his clients.

Q. Did you feel like Mr. Burman kept you informed and was accessible to answer your questions and concerns?
A. Oh yes, like I said before, he is always there. If I called him and he was busy working, he would always call me back. That was one thing I really like because he keeps ties with his clients. He wants to make sure you are informed about everything that is going on. I liked that.

Q. When you would ask questions, did you feel like Mr. Burman was speaking to you or speaking down to you?
A. No, he's very interested in his people, his clients, and he spoke to us and never spoke down to us. I felt very comfortable. My wife felt very comfortable. Every time we had to go in and see him, we felt comfortable because we knew we could trust him. Knowing that you are scared and afraid about what is going to come up, it just means a whole lot to know you can trust your lawyer. He just …well, I feel that he just treated us like he would want to be treated.

Q, After your case was settled, have you had cause to contact Mr. Burman?
A. Yeah, I've called him from time to time about some other matters. After my settlement, he did a will for me. I had a workman's comp problem too and he worked on that for me. Actually, Mike was handling three cases of mine at the same time. It was pretty busy. Yet, he still kept us informed on everything. If we had to go to a hearing, he was always right there with us. He's just all around a good person.

Q. How would you feel about recommending Mr. Burman to either a friend or family member?
A. Actually, we have already referred some clients to Mike. Every time I hear about someone in need of an attorney, I always stress to see Mike Burman first.

Family of Five Injured By Irresponsible Driver
Father Loses Military Career

Background:
The Salter Family
Clarksville, TN

Mr. & Mrs. Salter, along with their three children, were injured when a driver stopped his van in the middle of I-24, at the bottom of a hill, without any legitimate reason. As the Salters topped the crest of the hill, they were caught in the midst of other traffic trying to avoid hitting the van parked in the middle of the road also. Circumstances caused by the driver of the van made it impossible for the Salters to avoid hitting another vehicle. The driver of the van was arrested and the Salter's family members were taken for emergency treatment. Mr. Salter's injuries were serious enough to force the termination of his military career, causing the family serious financial hardships. The case was settled just before the trial was to begin.

Q. Mr. & Mrs. Salter, can you tell me why you selected Mr. Burman as your attorney?
A. Well, it's kind of funny. We looked in the Yellow Pages and called two attorneys. Mike called us back within a few hours. It took four days for the second lawyer to return our call. The fact that Mike called us back so quickly indicated to us that he would be responsive to our needs. So, we picked Mike. And we should say that just mentioning the word lawyer raised all kinds of concerns for us. I mean, you know all the lawyer jokes. You think lawyer but you don't necessarily think the best person. It's kind of a fearful thing. You're putting your problems in the hand of an individual you don't really know. But from our very first meeting with Mike, we felt at ease. We felt that this was someone who cared about us. He actually showed compassion for us and that's something you don't expect from a lawyer.

Q. Then you felt like Mr. Burman cared about you and your situation?
A. Absolutely! I have to admit that I was scared about our first meeting with Mike. But within five minutes, we both felt at ease. Mike seemed more concerned about us than about himself. He knew that we had been injured both physically and emotionally. He was sensitive to that. We wanted to solve our problems. I hate to admit it, but I was pleasantly surprised that a lawyer could be so personable, so reassuring.

Q. Did you feel that Mr. Burman kept you informed and was available to answer your questions and concerns?
A. Yes, certainly. Anytime Mike was working on any part of our case, he would always send us follow-up letters and copies of the information. We always knew what was going on. If we called him with a question, he would call us back as soon as he could. And he would give us a clear answer at that…an answer we could understand. I mean, that's pretty important when you think about it. In a case like this, your whole life changes in a few seconds…with us, not only was the health of our family at stake but our livelihood too. I was career military with almost ten years of service completed. We were looking forward to our retirement with just ten more years to serve. But that accident changed all that. My injuries were permanent and I wasn't physically fit to remain in the Army. And I loved being a soldier; I loved serving my country. Tell me, how can a court make that right?

Q. Do you feel Mr. Burman understood the full scope of your problem …I mean, not only the physical injuries that you and your family suffered but the loss of your career as well?
A. Yes, without a doubt. You have to understand that I not only lost my career but my medical benefits for my family, base housing as well as my retirement income. And my compensation: Oh, I was able to find work earning about half as much before the accident with twice the bills. It was pretty scary for a while. But Mike was there for us, reassuring us, giving us moral support. Listen, when you're going through that much emotional and spiritual pain, having an advocate-someone who cares and understands your personal pain-well, it just makes all the difference in the world. It was during those times, that we came to see Mike as much of a friend as a lawyer. And when it came time for us to be compensated for our injures, suffering, continuous medical problems, loss of income, loss of retirement…well, Mike took everything in account and saw to it that we received what was rightfully ours.

Q. Would you recommend Mr. Burman to others who face similar legal problems?
A. Absolutely!

Employee Wrongfully Terminated Because of Race
Hopkinsville man fired after a 27 year career.

Background:
James Jordan
Hopkinsville, KY

Mr. Jordan worked at the same business for 27 years. His job performance and evaluations by management earned him promotions to management positions. Even after new management assumed responsibility for the Hopkinsville branch office, the last formal management review of Mr. Jordan's performance stated that "James has been very helpful and supportive since my arrival in Hopkinsville. He met all his objectives (for the past year) and takes great pride in his contribution to our overall efforts in Hopkinsville." In spite of Mr. Jordan's performance, he was fired on a claim of poor performance shortly after the review. Mr. Jordan was not only the sole African-American manager in the Hopkinsville branch, he was the only African-American manager in the division. Mr. Jordan's case was successfully tried before a Federal Court jury. The jury awarded Mr. Jordan rightful compensation for the loss of his career and retirement benefits.

Q. Mr. Jordan, how did you come select Mr. Burman as your lawyer?
A. My wife and I had been talking about the problem for a couple of days. She said I ought to get a lawyer. I knew all along that I was going to get one. So, she just picked up the phone book and looked in the Yellow Pages and saw Michael's ad. I called him and made an appointment to talk to him about my case. And when I talked to him and told him what was going on and about everything that had happened to me and he took the case. I think Michael believed me from the first time I talked to him. After I talked to him, I found that he was a man of God too because that was the first thing he spoke about. I came back and told my wife that I found the lawyer that I needed.

Q. How did Mr. Burman handle your first interview and did you think he was prepared?
A. Yes, I think Michael understood the case. Later on, when we would talk and have meetings, Michael told me that this was a big case…a complicated case. He told me, "James, I think this is a case where we either going to win it all or lose it all." I think the happiest day in my life was when Michael called to tell me we had won the first round of motions to dismiss my case. And then they set up a jury trial in Federal Court. The trial went on for three days. Later on, the jury came out and awarded everything to me. I never will forget it. And the day after we got back home, I had one lady on the jury from McCrackin County to call me. She said she wanted to meet with me. She came to Hopkinsville and met with me at my wife's restaurant. And she told me that the jury could tell, from the first minute I got on the witness stand, that I was telling the truth and that the other people-the people who had fired me-were lying.

Q. Did you find Mr. Burman's paralegal staff easy to work with and respectful of your situation?
A. Michael's staff…well, all of them were just great. I could tell that they believed me too and that they believed in my case, right from the start. You know that's important… I mean being believed. You want to feel like your lawyer and his people are on your side. And Michael, he had to ask for some help from another lawyer… that's how complicated this case was. Michael, he didn't have any problem asking for help when he needed it. What was important to Michael was not his ego or being the big man but my case and seeing that the wrong that had been done to me-being fired and all that-well, seeing that it was made right… at least as much as the law would allow.

Q. Were Mr. Burman and his staff on time in getting material to you?
A. Yes, sir. I mean, Michael would always send me a letter explaining what he was doing and what he had found. Everything that went on, he made sure I knew about it… even down to the smallest of details. He and they… I mean, his staff… well, they were all just great.

Q. On those occasions when you needed to talk to Mr. Burman, did you have any problem with him answering your phone calls?
A. No. No, I didn't. He was so good in keeping me up with every detail of my case that I didn't need to call him much. My wife would say, "Why don't you call Michael and see what going on?" I would just laugh. I told her… "Listen, if there's anything going on that I needed to know…well, Michael will let me know." And he would, too. It didn't take me long to realize I had not only a great lawyer working for me, but a great man as well. Listen, Michael cared about me more than he cared about the case. And he cared a whole lot about the case. With Michael,it was personal. He cared about me as a person and seeing that I was taken care of. I knew I could trust him right from the start. I trusted him so much that, out of the three years I dealt with Michael, I don't think I had to call him over twice. And those two times, he got right back with me. It might be a couple of hours but it would be that same day.

Q. When Mr. Burman talked to you about your case, did you feel like he was talking to you and in a manner that was easy for you to understand or did you feel like he wasn't communicating with you.
A. No. That was one thing about Michael. He always talked to me like a person. He never played the big shot lawyer or that all he was interested in was what he could get out of the case. He never did say anything to me about his money. He would say, "James, I'll get paid when you get paid." And Michael always talked to me in a way I could understand. He could bring these complicated legal problems down to my level, in a way I could understand. He didn't talk down to me, either. He talked to me…well, as a person, a person he cared about. I'll tell him to his face, he just a good man, a down to earth person.

Q. Did the defendants ever make you an offer to settle out of court.
A. Yes. About a week before we were set to go to trial, Michael called me to meet him in his office. He said, "James, they've made an offer to settle out of court." I think it was something like $5,000. Michael explained it all to me. But he let me make the decision. I said, "No, I'm not going to accept that." Michael just looked up and smiled at me. He said, "Well, I guess we are going to trial."

Q. How did Mr. Burman handle himself in front of the jury?
A. Well. I think he did an excellent job. I think he convinced the jury…well, to my way of thinking, I don't think there was any convincing to it. I think the jury believed him right from the start. To me, when Michael started presenting the case to the jury…well, you can look at the jury and tell what they are thinking. They could look at Michael and tell he was telling the truth. Besides, he was prepared. He knew the facts and he knew how to present them so the jury would understand them.

Q. Would you recommend Mr. Burman to your family or friends if they needed legal help?
A. I've already done that. In fact, my wife got a letter from Michael just yesterday thanking her for referring a friend who needed a good lawyer. And that's what Michael is: a good lawyer, a good man.

Work Related Injury Causes Permanent Disability
Hopkinsville woman in complicated personal injury case.

Background:
Debra Hardison
Hopkinsville, Kentucky

Mrs. Hardison was injured at work. The injury was serious enough to require continuous medical treatment, including several surgeries. The nature of Mrs. Hardison injury and its complexity necessitated a long and complicated legal process.

Q. Mrs. Hardison, how did you select Mr. Burman as your attorney?
A. I looked in the phonebook and found him.

Q. Tell me a little about your case.
A. It's a workers' comp case. It's been a long, drawn-out process. I was having problems with my employer and knew I was going to need a lawyer. When I found Michael, though, I felt much better about things. He's been excellent. He's a good Christian man and he's fair.

Q. Have you found Mr. Burman's staff easy to work with?
A. Oh, they are wonderful. Usually, I talk to Lee or Brandi. They call me and are always pleasant and helpful on the phone. If I have a question, they are right there with the answer. They're just really, really good.

Q. Have you had any problems with Mr. Burman returning your phone calls?
A. No. He always returns his phone calls. But if Mike is not there, Lee or Brandi usually has the answer or will find out the answer to my question. And when Mike does anything on my case, he will send me a copy of it in the mail every time. I bet I have a file an inch or an inch and half thick with information Mike has sent me on my case.

Q. Did you have any hearings or a trial associated with your case?
A. Yes, I had two hearings in front of an Administrative Law Judge.

Q. Did you feel that Mr. Burman was well prepared for the hearings?
A. OH, my goodness! Listen, Mike has a file over 12 inches thick on my case. He always gets copies of all the papers and of the briefings to me before the hearing. So, not only is he prepared but he makes sure I'm prepared, too. There wasn't one issue that was at question that Mike didn't have the answer and a piece of paper to back it up. Mike had thought through the case and was prepared to present every fact that supported my claim.

Q. How did you think Mr. Burman handled himself in front of the judge?
A. Real well. Mike's real professional but he's real personable, too. And that comes across not only to me but to everybody in court, including the judge. Actually, he comes across that way in everything he does. My grandchild plays on the same soccer team that his son plays on. And I see him with his family all the time. Mike's family means a lot to him. He's a good lawyer and a good man.

Q. How well do you feel Mr. Burman explained to you the legal issues of your case?
A. Mike has always talked to me, never down to me. He explained all that legal stuff where I could understand it. And he'll get my input on things, A lot of times, he'll ask me, "What do you think about this? How do you think we ought to do this? Is this the way you want to do it?" I usually just say, "Mike, you're the lawyer. You know what you're doing. You just do what you think is best for me." And he does. He always does the right thing for me.

Q. Is Mr. Burman the only lawyer who has represented you?
A. No, I had another lawyer on another case. He was a good lawyer but not as good as Mike has been. I mean, I never understood things the way I do with Mike. The other lawyer was all business, kind of cut and dry, you know. Mike took the extra time to help me understand. And Mike saw me as a person. I mean, he has called me just to see how I was feeling. He looked after me like I was a special person and not just another case. You just couldn't find somebody who was more attentive to a client than Mike. To me, he's a friend and a lawyer too.

Q. Would you recommend Mr. Burman to other people who have work related injuries?
A. Oh, I would recommend him to anybody who needs any kind of legal help, but especially for workman comp type cases. I've already recommended Mike to my sister on a similar case and a couple of friends who were in car accidents. So, yea, I highly recommend Mike for anybody needing legal help.

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