WE DIDN'T SIGN ANYTHING...NOR WAS THERE ANY MENTION ON HIS ADD OR DURING THE CONVERSATIN OF 30min
My mother is going through a divorce and she and I decided to go see this attorney who's add said "free consultation." We simply needed an attorney to negociate a buy-out price against my stepfather to obtain the house...nothing further. But this attorney wouldn't listen to us and instead would be chatting about his experience dealing with other cases not related to our desires. I'm farely familar with the law and I knew up front that he wasn't suited for our needs.
We left before an hour and then tried to make my mother sign a retainer agreement and I told him that my mother would need at least a day to think about it. Then he said "Well if you don't take your case with me I will charge you for this consulation since it's free only for 30 minutes." FIRST OF ALL, THERE WAS NO PLACE IN THE ADD THAT SPECIFIED A TIME FOR THAT FREE CONSULATATION. SECOND, HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD US ABOUT THE
Addi
2006-07-24 05:20:27 · 12 answers · asked by christiansareawesome 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
THIS IS IN LOS ANGELES,CA...his add said free consulation but no specific time was added. He sent us a letter asking for $350 how should we respond???? HELP
2006-07-24 05:21:18 · update #1
I am a California attorney and I am begging you -- please report this scumbag to the California Bar Association. You can call the Bar toll free at 800-843-9053 or you can fill out a complaint form online at http://www.calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/DispComp.pdf and then mail it in.
They take every complaint seriously. I interned for the enforcement division the summer after my first year of law school.
Please please please report this guy. I promise that this is not the first time he's done something like this. He must be punished for this unethical behavior. He certainly should learn that he can't bully people like this. Man, what an #ss.
2006-07-24 10:01:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lawyers are governed by the law and the applicable state/jurisdiction code of professional responsibility. Without knowing anything else, I strongly believe you have no obligation to pay any amount to this lawyer. The most effective means to avoid confrontation is to contact the state ethics board or similar agency with the State Bar to indicate the nature of your problem. It should end with that. Given that you signed nothing, your position is quite strong but still should be referred to the State Bar's board of professional responsibility.
2006-07-24 12:26:40 · answer #2 · answered by pcgodwin 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Send a letter with a copy of his add stating that you do not owe him any money. If you receive another request for payment, then forward it to your local TV station that has a consumer reporter, that works on problems of the community. It may force him to stop requesting payment from you for services that he did not preform. You may find that he is actually doing this to many people, when they do not use his services, there for extracting money from them one way or another. I'd try that, he wont be able to sue and win because his own add will work against him, and if he reports it to a credit reporting agency as a bad debt, you can then sue him for that, it is not a legitimate debt.
2006-07-24 12:29:04 · answer #3 · answered by whatelks67 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look up California Law Bar Association in the yellow pages and call them.They will help you.If you did not sign anything you should not have to pay.Also I would call the better business bureau on them and file a complaint.They most likely have other complaints as well.Good Luck!
2006-07-24 12:27:21 · answer #4 · answered by Lisa M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the Lawyer has any ethics at all he will cease asking for money he did not earn. But since Lawyers are paid to lie. I doubt he will. My advise is to call the Bar Association and report him. Advise the Lawyer he needs to use truth in his advertising. I know it's a stretch but maybe he'll learn his lesson.
2006-07-24 12:32:32 · answer #5 · answered by SHASHA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are under no obligation to pay any money whatsoever. What he has done is illegal. What this lawyer has done is called a "bait and switch" in which the business person engages in deliberately deceptive practices. This practice has been outlawed by the federal trade comission. I would advise you to report this individual.
2006-07-28 11:14:45 · answer #6 · answered by Cas 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You already asked this question, and I've answered it already. But, here goes again:
You can contact the California Bar Association and file a complaint if you believe his ad was fraudulent. They also help with fee disputes. http://www.calbar.ca.gov
2006-07-24 12:28:14 · answer #7 · answered by Phil R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
File a complaint with the states ethic committee
2006-07-24 16:13:14 · answer #8 · answered by goz1111 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call an attorney or call the local bar assn and report this guy
2006-07-24 12:28:40 · answer #9 · answered by Mark 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go see another lawyer, stay there for only 25 minutes.
2006-07-24 12:23:49 · answer #10 · answered by Amangela 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋