Lawyers selling their case? San Deigo area.?

Question

My brother was injured on a job site. His leg/knee/foot was injured. He slipped on an object that should not have been where it was. They can prove this object was there before the incident and after the incident...but oddly, not the day of the accident. Most are workers afraid of testifying against their boss. But, there are witnesses that have recently come forward to say it was there. Anyway, a day before the witnesses came forward, my brother met with his lawyers. They were trying to "sell" the case to another law firm--larger and well known, top 10. This new group will have a meeting to see if they want to "investigate" the case...to see if they want to TAKE the case. My question is--what does that all REALLY mean? Should my brother try to find a new lawyer? In the meantime, my brother cannot work and is running out of $. He also needs surgery...which will put him on another 6 months of therapy/disability. Advice??

Barry, I am sure you are trying to be helpful. My brother did not ASK me to ASK you guys. He's in CA, we are all in the midwest. I don't sue people on a regular basis...nor does he. We don't know if this is typical. BUT--as a family, we are trying to come together to help him and look out for his best interest. We are asking around. Asking friends who know lawyers...etc. He's crippled now.

And yes--he's asking questions. He's not getting prompt calls back. And the guy is out of the office today. Monday is the "meeting". A lawyer friend (different area) told him the current lawyers didn't seem fit. So since they are "selling" his case, would it be wise for my brother to "shop" around for new lawyers?

What happens if the bigger firm passes on his case?

Answer 1

When the small law firm can't afford the expenses or doesn't have the experience, they "collaborate" with a larger firm with more experience and money.

It isn't so much selling the case, as it is the smaller attorney getting paid for the work they have done, while the bigger firm takes over.

Generally this is good for the client.

Answer 2

It is fairly common for firms to transfer cases -- it's not really "selling" in the classic sense -- different firms have different capabilities, and if a law firm finds out that it cannot adequately press a case, it often goes looking for a larger firm who can.

Ultimately, the client has the say over whether the new firm can take the case -- but looking for his own new lawyer will not speed things up any -- and if the current firm does hand over the case to the new larger firm, that generally improves his chances of successfully pressing the claims.

Answer 3

I'd let the attorneys handle it. If one firm is trying to give it to another firm, it might be in your brother's best interests to have a bigger (i.e., richer) firm on the case. The attorneys handling it now are under ethical obligations to do the best they can for your brother, so if they're giving it to a better equipped firm, I'm sure that's the best way to get his money.

Answer 4

Why is he having you ask us a quesion he can easily ask his lawyer?


If he is out of money, probably the original attorney can not finance the rest of the case on his own.

He is probably trying to get your brother the best representatin he can recommend to see the case to trial.

The original lawyer would probably stay involved - it sounds like a case financing arrangement to me. teh new arrangements will be that your brother pays nothing unless they win him some money. Wonder why it wasn't that way all along?

But seriously, by now can't he just ask his lawyers any questins that pop into his head?

Answer 5

After the Panthers received, and that i become extra back to existence from cardiac cat arrest, i could not have cared a lot less about something of the day. for this reason, the reason i'm the following! although, i imagine San Diego needs it more suitable, so as it really is my professional answer. pass Panthers, Braves, Falcons (after Panthers), and the finished south!