M
MS from So Cal
Guest
Two years ago I was involved in an auto accident in CA in which I was 0% at fault. A week later I hired an attorney with a small office of herself and 2 employees. I went for tests and treatment and after about 4-6 months she started a suit for $131k (my C-5 vertebrae was dislocated 5mm in the accident).
I have yet to personally speak with my attorney once, and to be honest I did not care to until about a year ago. That is when the contact with my attorney's office stopped. Since then I have been unable to communicate with them at all, I have called and emailed repeatedly and haven't gotten a single call or email back. My next step is to send a certified letter demanding a return call within 24 hours along with a status check on my case once a month. I will also include a statement saying that if I do not receive what I am asking for I will be terminating their services, filing a grievance with the state bar, and challenging her fees.
This is the first time I've ever had to deal with a lawyer and what I'd like to know is, am I out of line expecting a call back, or a status check once a month?
If I have to fire her will another attorney even take my case or will they think that I'm a trouble maker, how do I even go about trying to get another attorney?
If I do have to terminate her services how can I keep from paying her 30+% of my future settlement? (since she seems to of abandoned my case)
The reason I say this is because I'm worried about potential statute of limitations problems if this woman flakes on me and because of this review of her services I recently found.
by Unsatisfied
05/02/2009
This is the worst Attorney I have ever dealt with. It took her a year and a half to tell me that I should take the person to court myself instead of going through her. She will never return your phone calls and she lies constantly. She will add several hundred dollars in fees with out you knowing until it is time to settle. Even though I went to court for her she still charged 1/3+ on the settlement. I basically paid her $2050.00 for her to write 2 letters to an insurance company and send me to court. Take my advice and use a different attorney.
This is just it, I don't mind paying for my medical fees (which I was told are at ~$7000) and even legitimate services rendered but I don't want to have to pay this woman 30+% just for her to send me to court on my own behalf.
Any help on how to deal with this situation and get her to either do something or resign from my case would be greatly appreciated.
I have yet to personally speak with my attorney once, and to be honest I did not care to until about a year ago. That is when the contact with my attorney's office stopped. Since then I have been unable to communicate with them at all, I have called and emailed repeatedly and haven't gotten a single call or email back. My next step is to send a certified letter demanding a return call within 24 hours along with a status check on my case once a month. I will also include a statement saying that if I do not receive what I am asking for I will be terminating their services, filing a grievance with the state bar, and challenging her fees.
This is the first time I've ever had to deal with a lawyer and what I'd like to know is, am I out of line expecting a call back, or a status check once a month?
If I have to fire her will another attorney even take my case or will they think that I'm a trouble maker, how do I even go about trying to get another attorney?
If I do have to terminate her services how can I keep from paying her 30+% of my future settlement? (since she seems to of abandoned my case)
The reason I say this is because I'm worried about potential statute of limitations problems if this woman flakes on me and because of this review of her services I recently found.
by Unsatisfied
05/02/2009
This is the worst Attorney I have ever dealt with. It took her a year and a half to tell me that I should take the person to court myself instead of going through her. She will never return your phone calls and she lies constantly. She will add several hundred dollars in fees with out you knowing until it is time to settle. Even though I went to court for her she still charged 1/3+ on the settlement. I basically paid her $2050.00 for her to write 2 letters to an insurance company and send me to court. Take my advice and use a different attorney.
This is just it, I don't mind paying for my medical fees (which I was told are at ~$7000) and even legitimate services rendered but I don't want to have to pay this woman 30+% just for her to send me to court on my own behalf.
Any help on how to deal with this situation and get her to either do something or resign from my case would be greatly appreciated.