Chris Kowalczuk Law Office

With reference to the above-referenced Revdex.com complaint filed by ***, please allow this email to serve as my response. At the outset, please be aware, unlike others "businesses" the relationship with my client is privileged information and is confidential in most respects because of the "attorney-client privilege." That being said, I can comment on those matters that are in the public record. As a matter of public record, Mr. retained my services as a lawyer on September 20, 2017. On September 19, 2017, Mr. was arrested on two criminal warrants - (1) felony strangulation of his wife (***); (2) misdemeanor assault and battery of his wife (***). The felony of strangulation carries up to 10 years in prison and the misdemeanor assault and battery charge carries a maximum of 12 months in jail plus a fine of up to $2500. On September 18, 2017, Officer *** Police Department filed the following criminal complaint, under oath: "On 9/18/2017 I spoke with *** at ***. *** advised on 9/12/2017 at 6:00 pm she and her husband got into a verbal argument outside the residence. She advised her husband *** grabbed her arm and pulled her inside and forced her up against the wall. She advised she pushed him away at which point things became more physical and he threw her to the floor and body slammed her several times. *** stated she attempted to flee down the spiral stairs and *** chased and grabbed her picking her up, which caused her to hit her head on the wooden wall frame. *** took her upstairs and threw her into her bedroom. *** stated she exited her room to see if *** had left. *** went downstairs to *** room and they began fighting again. *** advised she was taken to the floor with *** and he wrapped his legs around her head and neck and began to squeeze. *** stated everything became cloudy and she heard a loud pop. *** was eventually able to get up and lock *** out of the house."As you can see, this was a very serious allegation resulting in two criminal charges. When anyone retains my services, is impossible to know what the end result will be. Some cases get worked out with 'plea deals' and other cases have to go to trial. In any case where I judge that a case may or has the possibility to go to trial- I charge the appropriate fee. The fact that a case gets resolved in a manner different than an actual trial makes no difference because the lawyer has to be ready for all contingencies - as I was in this particular case. Once Mr. was charged, there was a fully contested preliminary hearing on November 27, 2017, followed by his charges being certified to the Grand Jury on December 8, 2017. At the Grand Jury stage Mr. was indicted on the strangulation charge and the assault and battery charge. Based on my cross-examination of the "victim" in this case at preliminary hearing I was very confident that the prosecution was fully aware that I was able and fully prepared to go to trial in this matter. The prosecution agreed that a jury trial could likely end badly for them and agreed on March 9, 2018, to discontinue the prosecution of the felony strangulation charge and took the remaining misdemeanor assault and battery charge under advisement until September 21, 2018, at which time the remaining charged was dismissed. At the end of the day, Mr.' case was resolved totally in his favor. He was convicted of no charges. In criminal cases, when the defendant is never convicted that is the best possible outcome. Far from not doing anything for Mr., the opposite was true. This was an extremely successful representation.As for Mr.' claim that I am "crook and a swindler" this is a false and slanderous statement. I will vigorously and aggressively defend my self by the filling of a civil lawsuit for defamation and slander should the Revdex.com elect to publish such a false and slanderous comment on their website on behalf of Mr..While Virginia law prohibits me from discussing any communication between Mr. and me, I can say that the vast majority of criminal defense lawyers in the Roanoke Valley and, indeed in most of Virginia, do not charge by the hour as is frequently done in divorce cases and other civil matters. I can state that it is my customary practice to charge flat fees in criminal cases. Thus, at the end of the case, win - lose - or draw - the lawyer is retained to handle the case for the agreed upon fee. There is never a refund simply because a particular client deems the value of the fee to have been diminished because there was never a trial. Of course, the flip side of the same coin is that a lawyer who charges a flat flee is obligated to defend the client to the end of the case irrespective of how much time he/she puts into the case including when a case goes to trial even if not contemplated.Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further information -- Chris K. Kowalczuk, Esq.Attorney-at-Law