Phebus & Koester, LLP:Thomas F. Koester in Urbana, Illinois

Mr. Koester was my attorney for a personal injury case from 2009 to 2013. He always treated my husband and I with courtesy and respect. Communication and responsiveness to our phone calls/emails were excellent. His office staff were exceptional. However, I would not recommend him for this type of case for the following reasons: (1) I did not feel he was very aggressive in handling my case. Seems we were made to make too many concessions to the other attorney involved, and (2) he took 25% of the outcome for himself. The contract stated 20% if agreement reached in arbitration and 25% if it went to court. His explanation was since a judge was the arbitrator it was considered as going before a court. (7/9/17: My husband just told me this and said I was at the table when Mr. Koester stated this. I have no remembrance of Mr. Koester saying this however I do believe my husband.) I do know that during and/or after the arbitration if I didn't accept the outcome I still had the option of taking the case to court. This was made clear by all. After almost 5 years of litigation and constant turmoil, an outcome was agreed upon. My husband didn't mention Mr. Koester's statement again until now when I said I never left a review for Mr. Koester (after seeing his company mentioned in a random search on google of Illinois lawyers). He thought I had heard Mr. Koester's explanation of the percent on the day stated. My husband handled the outcome as I was in no shape to do so at the time. It was my error in not ensuring the outcome given to me by Mr. Koester was correct and I am not attempting to recoup that loss. I am stating, in my opinion, that it was unethical to take advantage of the situation and mincing words to increase the percent of outcome for himself (Mr. Koester). For these reasons, I do not recommend Mr. Koester as a personal injury lawyer. (I am not posting this review to slander Mr. Koester in a personal manner nor is there any reason to do so. This is my review for professional services rendered. Nothing more and nothing less. I have reviewed this before posting and all is true to the best of my knowledge and memory.