I am very grateful that I chose this firm to help me with my workers compensation case. They are very professional, the staff is knowledgeable and they made me feel like I wasn't just a number to them. I would highly recommend this firm if you've been injured at work and need someone to fight for you.

This is long, but a worthy read, if you don't have time bottom line, DO NOT hire this firm! First little background on how workers compensation works so this really makes sense. When you're injured it is intimidating and often times scary to deal with. However, when all is said and done, the state has a chart that lines up your body part(s) injured and the % of permanent disability of that body part. Put the two together and you have the amount of money it's "worth"... Nothing more. Lawyers manipulate the situation and make themselves seem NEEDED. The fact of the matter is, they can't get you more money than what the precalculated amount. When  you do get more, it's because they find additional injuries and aliments to add to your claim, usually holding up treatment for whatever you were originally in this situation for to begin with. This also ups their percentage and THEY get more money. So, my story: my late husband was injured at work in 2011. We dealt with workers compensation directly for a while and he wasn't satisfied with the speed of his treatment. This is very standard, lawyer or not.  Unfortunately it's hard to know how this really works until you're already in it. So, he hired what used to be The Law office of Wm. Todd Berry, now Berry Smith and Bartell. After his consultation and signing a contract they said he needed to be switched to THEIR doctor,  Alan Moelleken, this was another joke, but I'll spare the details. However, a law office has absolutely no business giving medical advice and telling you which Dr to see. The fact is, an attorney gets in cahoots with the Drs office and they can work together to manipulate the situation. My late husband started with a spine and hip injury. After the lawyer getting involved and being switched to THEIR doctor, he had hip, spine, knee, psychological damage, and "injuries to unspecified body parts." So, fast forward,  with all these  aliments and lack of treatment he ends up on disability, loses his job over it, and all they're doing is throwing copius amounts of pain medication at him. He ends up passing away after his respiratory drive was knocked out from all combination of medication he was on. He passed away in July 2013. Attorney client relationship ends at death. Berry Smith and Bartell no longer had a client. I did supply them with a death certificate which should have been supplied to the court and thus terminating any involvement from them. I never reached out to them after that, I never signed a contract or fee waiver. I was NOT their client.  However, they never reported the death to the court and never removed themselves from the case. I do wish I had a better idea of how all this worked so I could have been more aware of the crap they were pulling, but I was learning as I went. I had no desire to deal with them and started working directly with State Fund to resolve the issue. AFTER we reached a settlement, Berry Smith and Bartell, swooped in and promptly put a lien on the death settlement. The battle with them held up the money that was intended to care for my children, who lost their father for almost 5 years. The stress and emotional trauma from fighting them has caused our family more grief than you could imagine. Andrea Lopez from BSB is the lawer I had the "pleasure" of dealing with in court. The first jusge we had strongly encouraged her to drop it. She all but had a temper tantrum in the court room. She's rude and manipulative. Finally, after years of fighting, winning at trial, the court has denied their appeal (because they just would NOT drop it). Something that could have been complete in 2014, and would have let my grieving family better move on was drug out until January 2019. They'd do anything to to keep their greedy hands in the pot. They are unethical, manipulative, greedy, and I can only hope my story will keep others from being deceived and ever letting them get involved to begin with.

Poor service

Demonstrated unethical and unprofessional behavior. Will do anything for money.

Worst decision I ever made

Do NOT hire these guys! They will drag out your court appearances for years!

Thieves! I wish I had never hired them!

A law firm that despite being ruled against several times continues to go after a single mother with two kids. Scum bags. There are so many more reputable places than this.

I would like to say my experience was great and I recommend them highly. I would like to acknowledge and thank Claudia A., for all her help. She was so attentive and always making sure I was comfortable with the decisions being made as well as taking care of all my concerns. Her people skills are so carrying. I don't take lightly your hard work and humbleness.
The Office manager Melissa as well was very professional and carrying...Thank you both for making me feel valuable when I most needed it...

took on my husbands case and although it took a very long time to settle (not the firms fault at all) they hardly took any cut of the settlement and treated us with nothing but professionalism, respect and fought for what we deserved! i would HIGHLY recommended this firm for all work comp needs. Maria the Paralegal was the best and helped us. front staff is not very friendly and seems like they HATE their job but the back office staff is highly professional. Todd Berry is one of the best best attorneys i could ever experience and really knows his stuff. answers all of our questions and treated us like family

Excellent lawyers

Lost every single Appeal for medication and epidurals even after Doctor found 3 herniated discs and the Ame doctor said I was 25% disabled. Do not use this law firm!!!!!

They are very professional and caring. Thank you Claudia Almaraz for always been there when I had questions and continuing to help me after my case. I will always be thankful for all the services Berry, Smith & Bartell provided to me.

They are very understanding and work with you They help explain the process and help you get what your entitle too.

Great people that care about the client

Great Plce To Receive Help.

thanks for helping me on my case.

Don't use this place. Soooooo many headaches. The first 3 yrs I had 3 different case managers. It was like starting over every year because none of them knew my case. It got to the point where finally the manager had to manage my last two years, yes it took 5 years before I could even be treated!

It’s bad enough having to go through getting hurt at work twice. I had the opportunity to work with the Bakersfield office as well as Fresno office, both offices was very professional and made me feel they had my back and was very supportive and understanding with other life situations. I would definitely recommend this firm and my only advice will be trust and let Berry Smith and Bartell handle your case.

I just want to say THANK YOU, for everything you did to help me out. My case manager was very insightful and understanding of my situation. She listened when I just needed someone to hear how difficult it was for me not to have any benefits and my claim being denied. There is nothing more frustrating then working for a company for 10+ years, and the one time you get injured your left out in the cold. After fighting the Insurance company on my own I turned to you guys, and not only was I finally getting treatment but I was able to move forward with my life after settling my claim. Thank you, you all make such a wonderful team! God Bless!

Professional, understanding, welcoming, caring and patient, hardworking firm. I'm glad they are on my side!
Thank you Berry, Smith & Bartell and I will refer you to all family friends, who will need someone on their side.

My lawyer showd up to trial wearing some kind of hoody after I firmly requested that my lawyer dress professionally, Did not uphold my rights.

If I can do zero stars I would
They didn’t help me at all, they saw my paperwork and they told me sorry is nothing we can do for you !!!! The lawyer never saw me at all
I visit another lawyer right next day and he was more
Helpful, explaining me what should I do.
YOU WASTE YOUR TIME IF YOU COME TO SEE
BERRY, SMITH & BARTELL PROFESSIONAL

Very Professional, knowledgeable and Sincere! I am extremely satisfied with the help I got with my workers comp problems! I was beginning to wonder if there was any hope of obtaining any help. God Bless all of your staff. Sincerely yours, Steve Stirling.

When my husband was injured on a job we were fortunate to have the team of Berry Smith & Bartell accept our case. They were professional, empathetic and walked us through every aspect of our claim. They are knowledgeable and understand exactly what needs to be done to win. I highly recommend Berry Smith & Bartell if you need a workmen comp attorney. It's what they do!

Overall don't really hear from them they give me no insight on how my case is going . Not very good on keeping me informed on anything

(Translated by Google) VERY good lawyers and very helpful ...

(Original)
MUY BUENOS ABOGADOS Y MUY ATENTOS...

Nice and friendly staff!

Great firm. Friendly and helpful staff.

Awesome Firm! Very helpful

This firm does a GREAT job. The legal assistants go out of their way to help injured workers.

My review is exactly the same as the previous review by Robbie_Robb Mendoza. There are too many bad things to say about this firm they have done absolutely zero for my case.

Warning!!! This place is all commercials and numbers no results. They claim to help they will drag you along, not prepare you for depositions or trial. Then just give up on you and your case leaving you out in the cold. You are just another number. Do your self a favor look for legal representation outside of kern county beleive me it will be worth it in the long run.