The Law Offices of James A. Cuddy, LLC

Reviews

• TL

  Thomas L.

  1 day ago
  1.0
  My experience with Attorney Jeff Forte was deeply disappointing, especially given the price tag and the promises. He presents himself as warm, attentive, and highly invested — almost like a politician on the campaign trail. But once you “elect” him by signing the contract, the tone shifts, and the personable advocate from intake is replaced by someone who seems to expect you to accept whatever level of service he chooses to provide. Concerns began before I even hired him. His intake person told me he would offer a flat fee at the initial consult. At the consult, he said he charges by the hour, insisted she would never say otherwise, and claimed he records all calls. I provided exact dates and times from my phone bill and asked him to pull the recordings because I know what was said. No recordings were provided. When I attempted to record the next call myself, he refused to continue the conversation, so I switched to email for clarity and documentation. During the first contract, all he really had to do was attend (via Zoom) the very first PPT — a meeting that also included the district’s attorney — and simply signal that legal counsel was now involved. It was the shortest PPT I’d ever experienced and it didn't seem like we asked for anything. Two weeks later, I received a revised IEP with nearly everything I had been requesting since elementary school. My son was 19 and attending a post High School Transition Academy at the time. That moment alone showed how little actual advocacy was required — it was, frankly, one of the easiest cases an attorney could be handed. At this point, I'll acknowledge my part: I misunderstood the monthly contract structure for the second year. Even with $5,039.50 left in our “trust,” I received a bill for $9,500 to “replenish your trust account.” I was already dissatisfied, but instead of starting over with a new attorney, I stayed. Across the full two year contract, I paid $13,675. For almost eight months, I avoided contacting him, thinking I was “saving billable hours.” After twice requesting an accounting of billable hours in the second year, he finally explained that under the installment‑fee contract, I was paying $675 a month whether I contacted him or not — meaning I had been paying for nothing. I take responsibility for not having another lawyer review the contract; I read it myself, and it wasn’t clear to me. But I didn’t expect to need a lawyer to interpret a contract from the lawyer I was hiring. After that, I didn’t reach out much because the Special Education team at the community college stepped in and provided the support the district had failed to offer. As an advocacy attorney, he knows how complex PPT scheduling is and how difficult it is to get every required participant available at the same time. So when a meeting was scheduled for three days after the contract would end — during a period when he was planning to be out of the country for the last two weeks of the contract, which made scheduling even harder — I was told he wouldn’t attend. When the meeting was moved to fall within the contract period, he did attend, but with his camera off, minimal participation, and no meaningful engagement. Most frustratingly, he did not advocate for the one specific issue we had repeatedly asked him to address. The district’s dysfunction is systemic, and families are already navigating a landscape stacked against them. What made this experience so disheartening was seeing similar behavior from someone who markets himself as a champion for those families. In my view, clients already dealing with a broken system deserve steady, reliable advocacy — not disengagement and inconsistency. I can only speak to my own experience, but based on that experience, the level of commitment I received did not match the level of trust or financial investment I made.
• SN

  Shanna Noble

  Feb 26, 2026
  1.0
  My experience with Attorney Jeff Forte was deeply disappointing, especially given the price tag and the promises. He presents himself as warm, attentive, and highly invested — almost like a politician on the campaign trail. But once you “elect” him by signing the contract, the tone shifts, and the personable advocate from intake is replaced by someone who seems to expect you to accept whatever level of service he chooses to provide. Concerns began before I even hired him. His intake person told me he would offer a flat fee at the initial consult. At the consult, he said he charges by the hour, insisted she would never say otherwise, and claimed he records all calls. I provided exact dates and times from my phone bill and asked him to pull the recordings because I know what was said. No recordings were provided. When I attempted to record the next call myself, he refused to continue the conversation, so I switched to email for clarity and documentation. During the first contract, all he really had to do was attend (via Zoom) the very first PPT — a meeting that also included the district’s attorney — and simply signal that legal counsel was now involved. It was the shortest PPT I’d ever experienced and it didn't seem like we asked for anything. Two weeks later, I received a revised IEP with nearly everything I had been requesting since elementary school. My son was 19 and attending a post High School Transition Academy at the time. That moment alone showed how little actual advocacy was required — it was, frankly, one of the easiest cases an attorney could be handed. At this point, I'll acknowledge my part: I misunderstood the monthly contract structure for the second year. Even with $5,039.50 left in our “trust,” I received a bill for $9,500 to “replenish your trust account.” I was already dissatisfied, but instead of starting over with a new attorney, I stayed. Across the full two year contract, I paid $13,675. For almost eight months, I avoided contacting him, thinking I was “saving billable hours.” After twice requesting an accounting of billable hours in the second year, he finally explained that under the installment‑fee contract, I was paying $675 a month whether I contacted him or not — meaning I had been paying for nothing. I take responsibility for not having another lawyer review the contract; I read it myself, and it wasn’t clear to me. But I didn’t expect to need a lawyer to interpret a contract from the lawyer I was hiring. After that, I didn’t reach out much because the Special Education team at the community college stepped in and provided the support the district had failed to offer. As an advocacy attorney, he knows how complex PPT scheduling is and how difficult it is to get every required participant available at the same time. So when a meeting was scheduled for three days after the contract would end — during a period when he was planning to be out of the country for the last two weeks of the contract, which made scheduling even harder — I was told he wouldn’t attend. When the meeting was moved to fall within the contract period, he did attend, but with his camera off, minimal participation, and no meaningful engagement. Most frustratingly, he did not advocate for the one specific issue we had repeatedly asked him to address. The district’s dysfunction is systemic, and families are already navigating a landscape stacked against them. What made this experience so disheartening was seeing similar behavior from someone who markets himself as a champion for those families. In my view, clients already dealing with a broken system deserve steady, reliable advocacy — not disengagement and inconsistency. I can only speak to my own experience, but based on that experience, the level of commitment I received did not match the level of trust or financial investment I made.
• JS

  Jessica Spadaccino

  Dec 8, 2025
  5.0
  Attorney Cuddy helped walk me through filing contempt for child support against my ex, and I couldn’t be more grateful for his support. He was incredibly knowledgeable and treated me like a person, not just another case file. His communication style stood out immediately — he spoke clearly, responded quickly, and was patient and professional as he explained every step of the process. He consistently went above and beyond, spending extra time with me to make sure I had exactly what I needed to get the justice I deserved. Because of him, I felt confident, supported, and never alone in navigating something that could have been overwhelming. I would 100% return to him in the future and highly recommend him to anyone who needs a compassionate, capable attorney who genuinely cares about his clients.
• SM

  Sean Mahabir

  Nov 21, 2025
  5.0
  I had the privilege of working with Attorney James A. Cuddy, and I can confidently say he is one of the most exceptional attorneys I’ve ever encountered. His professionalism is evident from the very first conversation and he approaches every situation with clarity, confidence, and a deep understanding of the law. What truly sets Attorney Cuddy apart is his genuine care and compassion for his clients. He took the time to understand my situation, listened without judgment, and consistently made me feel supported throughout the entire process. It’s rare to find someone who blends legal expertise with sincere empathy, but he does so effortlessly. His knowledge of the law is remarkable, and he used that expertise to guide me, advocate for me, and ultimately secure the best possible outcome in my case. He worked tirelessly, communicated clearly, and ensured I always knew what to expect. At every step, I felt confident that I had someone dedicated, skilled, and trustworthy in my corner. I wholeheartedly recommend Attorney James A. Cuddy to anyone seeking representation. He is not only an outstanding attorney but also an exceptional person. I am truly grateful for everything he has done.
• CJ

  Cheryl Jacobs

  Oct 29, 2025
  5.0
  Working with Attorney James, was a true blessing. His level of compassion and expertise are unmatched in handling family cases with care. I highly recommend this attorney, as he shows great leadership, punctuality and flexibility with clients. Please take this as a sign to inquire!!

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