Attorney slow to release settlement check?

Question

I settled a PI case in Mid-October. My attorney is notorious for a lack of follow-through and poor, if any, communication. I have heard from opposing counsel who sent the check a couple of months ago, and was surprised to find out that I had not received the check yet.

I sent my attorney an e-mail 3 days ago, with no response as of yet. Other than taking him to small claims, what other options do I have?

I'm in CA, Los Angeles County, case was filed in Ventura County.

Answer 1

Send a demand letter via certified mail demanding the settlement funds within 3 days. If you do not receive the settlement funds, then file a complaint the with California State Bar using the link listed below.

Answer 2

Report the deadbeat to the Bar Association in your state. Tell me which state you're in and I'll provide the link. Believe me, this guy will not want to lose his license to practice.

SoCal Atty has provided you with the link w/info to report this guy. As SoCal Atty stated, the site advises: "If you do not receive a return call within a reasonable period of time, write a letter to the attorney, preferably with return receipt requested, requesting the attorney to contact you within a specified (reasonable) period of time. If the attorney fails to respond, this letter can be used as evidence for future State Bar purposes."

The reason is so that you will have a paper trail to substantiate your complaint. I'm pretty sure that when you send a certified letter to this guy, he'll get the message pretty quick and you won't have to go to the next step.

Answer 3

only were given off the phone with ameriquest settlement pepes, no longer something particularly new, states the checks will be mass mailed from small city outdoors of minneapolis, by technique of the 14th... he stated we'd want to be in a position to get an volume even as they're mailed. He stated possibly by technique of the thirteenth. He doesnt have self assurance it is going to take 2 weeks to get to their places, he says the reason they say enable 2 weeks is because that's the vacation season and mail is slower with the aid of more desirable volume. so there continues to be wish. also he hinted the checks were more desirable than the reported minimums. So it might want to be a merry christmas...

Answer 4

File a grievance with the local Bar Association. They will conduct an investigation. After the first telephone call, your attorney will release your funds.

Or, you can contact your State Bar Association...

Answer 5

Not sure about California law, but in Louisiana, you can advise your attorney that you will report him to the State Disciplinary Board. Once they start in on an attorney, they're like a dog with a bone.

Answer 6

I would send him a certified letter telling him that you know that he has long since received the money. Tell him that he has ! week to get your money to you or you are going to contact the Ethics Board or whatever it is called where you live. Tell him you are going to file a complaint against him. You may need to do a little research to find out who would be best to go to in this situation but it will be worth it. Remember, the longer he has your money the more interest he is earning on it.

Good Luck to you.

Answer 7

Hi
You can report to the bar association in your state. Check for the role of attorney here. You can collect more informations and proceed in a right track.

http://www.lawandlawyers.biz/
http://www.lawandlawyers.biz/r-lawers.html

Answer 8

I had the same thing happen in n.y., I went to his office , after waiting for my check for 2 months! I nicely told him if i did not leave with my check i was going to the attorney general , I left with my check!

Answer 9

You need to confront him first, get your money WITH interest, and then file a formal complaint against this shady character!

Best of Luck

Answer 10

Write to the state bar association. That will get his lazy butt attention....Mary.