Editorial note: This article summarizes allegations made in an October 2025 complaint and related case materials. A complaint is not a disciplinary finding, and the allegations described below have not been presented here as proven facts.
The October 2025 complaint identifies Michael Anthony Treviño, State Bar of Texas No. 24070762, as one of the lawyers involved in the underlying probate representation and later fee arbitration. Stop Legal Bullying also maintains a separate Michael Trevino complaint resource so readers can review the allegations in their original context.
What the complaint alleges
Advice about the strength of the case. The complaint alleges that Treviño and other lawyers encouraged the clients to continue costly litigation while presenting the underlying case as strong enough to pursue. It further alleges that, during the later malpractice dispute, the lawyers took a different position and argued that the case had serious evidentiary weaknesses.
Fiduciary duty and informed consent. Clients need candid information about risk, evidence, cost and available alternatives before they can decide whether to continue litigation. The complaint alleges that material weaknesses were not adequately explained while fees and financial exposure increased.
Fees claimed against Richard Allison. The complaint states that Richard Allison did not sign a written agreement retaining Treviño. It nevertheless alleges that fees and an arbitration award were later pursued against him. That allegation belongs in the broader discussion of fee harvesting in inheritance disputes, where engagement terms and billing responsibility should be clear from the start.
Private arbitration. The complaint also raises questions about whether the clients understood the arbitration provision and the rights they were giving up. Our guide to forced arbitration in legal disputes explains why the wording and disclosure of these clauses matter before a conflict begins.
Why the distinction matters
The allegations are serious, but the filing itself does not establish that Treviño violated a rule or committed misconduct. Readers should separate the complainant’s account from any later response, disciplinary decision or court finding.
For separate campaign context, Stop Legal Bullying maintains the Damn Lawyers investigation hub, an Anne Ashby arbitration resource and a resource for Houston probate victims. These pages collect other allegations and advocacy materials; linking them here does not establish a finding against the person discussed in this article.