MY PRIOR ATTORNEYS KNOWLEDGE OR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE USFSPA

In February ,1997, while trying to conclude the divorce matter with my 
attorney, I requested he file suit against my ex-spouse and attorney or 
negotiate with the opposing side concerning deducting the military retirement 
payments that were wrongfully taken in 1995 from any funds the Court ruled I 
had to pay my ex-spouse.

My attorney refused to do as I requested and claimed such payments were not 
recoverable under existing laws.  

I persisted and then my attorney withdrew from the matter.

Since the divorce occurred in Texas and I was in California and had become 
dependent upon my attorney by virtue of a lawyer-client relationship, I 
requested he conclude the case due to his prior involvement in the matter.  

My attorney refused my request. 

So while in California, I was forced to search for another attorney in Texas 
with a Court judgment pending.

When I was searching for an attorney, I made a settlement offer to the 
opposing attorney in March, 1997 which was refused. 

Two weeks later, in mid-March, 1997, I was served by a Civil Process Server 
(i.e., a sophisticated Bounty Hunter) with a Motion for Enforcement (defacto 
Motion for Contempt).  

The Motion for Enforcement claimed I owed my ex-spouse military retirement 
payments of 28% of my gross/disposable pay retroactive from May, 1995 to 
present (i.e., March, 1997).  Specifically:

     -  The amount claimed was the amount before taxes and I had already paid 
income taxes for years 1995 and 1996.  

     -   The amount claimed was the full 28%, which was more than the 28% 
minus SBP costs ex-spouse allotment the court ordered.    

The Motion for Enforcement also ordered I report to Court on a date in April, 
1997 in San Antonio, Texas to face being jailed on Contempt of Court charges 
for failing to pay military retirement pay claimed owed by my ex-spouse's 
attorney.

Since I was living in California, my father (a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant 
Colonel) who lived in San Antonio assisted and located another attorney in 
San Antonio on my behalf.  

After being paid a $1,500.00 pre-consultation fee, the attorney agreed to 
represent me only after I paid him another $3,500.00 by certified check.  The 
justification for his expensive fee rates was he was a State of Texas Board 
Certified Family Law Specialist and had the highest professional competence 
rating possible for a lawyer.

I paid the attorney $3,500.00 by certified check.