I was a client of Haynes & Haynes. I was harassed in the workplace, and treated like a criminal by coworkers for speaking out. Management retaliated against me for calling out the "frat house" environment. There had never been a time in my life when i felt 100% helpless other than that time. Everyone knew I was being treated wrong but no one wanted to take the chance on losing their job to speak up with/for me. Of course, you have those that will tell you to stand up for yourself, push you to be the one to speak out, and give you advice, but when it comes down to choosing a side, everyone has to feed their families so they side with the company. I needed help putting these people and this company in their place; walking away was not an option.
Little did I know that God was sending me the best attorneys to handle my situation. When I first met Alicia Haynes, I was full of worry thinking: There's no way she can just take my word how bad my situation is. Within 10 minutes of talking to her, I honestly felt as if I had a protective shield around me. Night after night I stayed up wondering how in the world I could go on living without making sure everyone knew I was telling the truth, and within 10 minutes of meeting Ms. Haynes, I knew things were going to work out. From the first meeting with her in 2006 until May of 2009, when my $5,795,000.00 verdict was announced, I felt as if nothing could/would stop Haynes & Haynes from getting justice for me. They worked day and night on my case as if their lives depended on it. Watching them work and seeing the desire they both had for justice was amazing. During my two-week trial, Alicia Haynes and Kenny Haynes both knew my case as if it had happened to them. It was not just about money and getting paid for representing me. They wanted justice and they got it.
I had talked with other attorneys for advice and it was so "by the book," answer questions, talk about attorney fees/agreements, attorney looking at his watch for time of his next appointment and so on... When I met with Alicia, she never looked at her watch, never mentioned fees, but instead she listened to EVERY word I said and after two hours (not 30 minutes other attorneys allow for consultation), she told me how wrong they were and she would do everything she could to prove it. I walked in her office connected to my husband's arm because I felt as if he were the only person that had my back. When I walked out of Haynes & Haynes, I felt as if no one, not even Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, could touch me. There was not a doubt in my mind that they were going down and everyone would know I was treated wrong and was telling the truth.
Getting the right attorney makes all the difference in the world. I can honestly say I would not be here today if it had not been for Haynes & Haynes.Not only was it hard to hear people lie about me but the thought of not being able to prove to everyone that I was telling the truth was just more than I could handle. Thanks to Alicia and Kenny, I don't have to worry about that. Not only did they clear my name, they put every person involved in their place and made them pay. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about what happened to me and thank God for putting Haynes & Haynes on my side. They didn't just change my life, they gave me my life back.
Tammy Edwards
Edwards v. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC