Paid CA lawyer $2K to file 2 documents in addition to retainer to handle case. Law changed after I paid but BEFORE he could file. I asked for refund of $1K for form he could not file. He sent me $250 with a stmt of how his office spent the balance! I have retainer not hrly contract. At his insistence he called a mtg, refusing to discuss issue on phone. Mtg ran 40mins; he's trying to charge me 90min. Issue was case-related; never told me he would charge me. Next mtg, also case-related trying to solve the problem. Never told me he'd charge me. He didn't show up (typical)-paralegal stepped in. Trying to bill me 1hr at lawyer rate for 40min mtg. Another mtg I had w/his paralegal he's billing me 1hr lawyer rate;mtg ran 20mins. Not told I would be charged for this either but not directly case-related. He was miffed I sent 20 emails in 5yrs & wrote he should have charged me extra for the emails. Emails sent because he didn't keep me apprised. Does he owe me balance for form he couldn't file?
2006-09-19 08:15:25 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Sounds like something a lawyer would do... Good luck...
2006-09-27 06:57:25 · answer #1 · answered by Juliette 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The retainer is like an intial deposit against future expenses.
You may have a legitimate complaint, either for overbilling, or for his failure to file before the law changed as malpractice.
But aside from filing a complaint with the state bar ethics board, if you cannot reach some sort of settlment either directly or through mediation, then your only other option is probably to get another attorney and sue him. And that is likely to not get you what you want.
2006-09-19 15:35:50 · answer #2 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can go to the bar association, but there is another way you can sue this attorney without another attorney, look on cam.law for the state you reside in, usually if the amount is lless than 5000 dollars you can file a civil suit through the courts going prose, that is representing yourself in the matter, it usually requires a filing fee that varies from state to state and county to county. but it can be done. Hope this helps.
2006-09-27 11:03:07 · answer #3 · answered by LILLIE B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Report this SOB to the Legal board.
This is flagrant and dishonest law practice.
He has financial problems.
You may never collect anything, but he will wish to hell that he had paid you.
Write a letter, include copies of all bills with explanation, all correspondence to and from.
I hope you have your emails.
Send it "registered" to the board, and a copy to the attorney, registered unnecessary. Your copy should show a copy sent to the attorney.
Good luck.
2006-09-19 15:32:42 · answer #4 · answered by ed 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like typical lawyer billing to me.
I believe that the typical lawyer in this country is devoid of ethics and honor. Problem is, your only appeal is to other lawyers.
2006-09-19 15:19:33 · answer #5 · answered by Chuck N 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
go to the bar associations
2006-09-25 20:14:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋