If you believe that your lawyer has taken or improperly kept money or property that belongs to you, contact the state client security fund, client indemnity fund, or client assistance fund. The state or local bar association or the state disciplinary board can tell you how to contact the correct fund.
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Sep 24, 2013 · Yes, you may call the insurance company and/or the opposing attorney and ask them what's up with the settlement check. They may decline to speak to you as you have representation, but then again they may at least tell you if, and when, the check was sent.
Jul 17, 2009 · Depending on the type of lien, the other party may be on the settlement check. If this is the case, your attorney would not be able to cash the check until the lien is released by the lienholder. Even if you fired your attorney, the insurance company will not release the funds until they have confirmation that the lien has been resolved.
In theory your attorney is supposed to not distribute the settlement to you, any lien holders, and him or herself until the check has "cleared." Other clients' money is in the same trust account and if the check bounced but your attorney wrote your check right away, you could receive someone else's money. But as a practical matter, let's say ...
When a class action lawsuit settles, people who could collect part of the settlement may receive a letter in the mail or an e-mail that contains instructions on how to claim their money or refunds. In some cases, however, attorneys working on the case have no way of gathering the contact information of people who could claim part of a final settlement.
When a class action lawsuit settles, people who could collect part of the settlement may receive a letter in the mail or an e-mail that contains instructions on how to claim their money or refunds. In some cases, however, attorneys working on the case have no way of gathering the contact information of people who could claim part of a final settlement.
Class action lawsuits are designed to hold companies accountable for misleading and deceiving their customers. When a case settles, the attorneys who handled the case will collect a percentage of the settlement or receive a fee award separate from the settlement. The lawyers get paid, and so should you.
If you believe you have a valid complaint about how your lawyer has handled your case, inform the organization that governs law licenses in your state. Usually this is the disciplinary board of the highest court in your state. In some states, the state bar association is responsible for disciplining lawyers.
A lawyer must be loyal to his or her client. This means that a lawyer cannot represent two clients who are on opposite sides in the same or related lawsuits. And, ordinarily, there can be no representation of a client whose interests would conflict with the lawyer’s interests.
In a lawyer-client relationship, acting responsibly involves duties on both sides—and often involves some hard work. You have a right to expect competent representation from your lawyer. However, every case has at least two sides. If you are unhappy with your lawyer, it is important to determine the reasons.
A lack of communication causes many problems. If your lawyer appears to have acted improperly, or did not do something that you think he or she should have done, talk with your lawyer about it. You may be satisfied once you understand the circumstances better. I have tried to discuss my complaints with my lawyer.
A lawyer must be able to communicate effectively with a client . When a client asks for an explanation, the lawyer must provide it within a reasonable time. A lawyer must inform a client about changes in a case caused by time and circumstances. Fees.
For example, a lawyer may not be involved in writing a will for a client who leaves the lawyer substantial money or property in that will. Keeping Clients’ Property. If a lawyer is holding a client’s money or property, it must be kept safely and separately from the lawyer’s own funds and belongings.
Communication. A lawyer must be able to communicate effectively with a client. When a client asks for an explanation, the lawyer must provide it within a reasonable time. A lawyer must inform a client about changes in a case caused by time and circumstances. Fees.
If you seriously suspect your lawyer has misused any money he holds for you in trust, complain to your state's attorney regulatory agency pronto. Although regulation of lawyers is lax in most states, complaints about stealing clients' money are almost always taken seriously and acted on promptly.
No. There is nothing ethically wrong with opposing attorneys playing tennis, bridge, golf or enjoying other common social interactions. If they talk about your case (on the tennis court or anywhere else), however, and your lawyer lets slip something that you said in confidence, that would be a clear violation of your attorney's duty to you.
Unfortunately, it is very hard to win a malpractice case . Malpractice simply means that the lawyer failed to use the ordinary skill and care that would be used by other lawyers in handling a similar problem or case under similar circumstances.
A: No, there is no minimum or maximum settlement amount in personal injury cases (although some state laws limit the amount of damages you can be awarded by a judge or jury in certain kinds of lawsuits). Every case depends on its own unique set of facts.
A: Yes, it's quite common. Most health insurance policies now have language that allows the insurance company to be reimbursed for the amount paid out on medical bills if the insured person gets a personal injury settlement. This right of repayment is sometimes called a “personal injury lien.”
A: Yes. The term "bodily injury claim" usually refers to a personal injury claim, and after an accident, compensation for all medical treatment made necessary because of your injuries is part of that claim against the at-fault party. Medical bills are a component of “economic damages” (sometimes also called “special damages”), which also include lost wages and other out-of-pocket losses stemming from the accident and your injuries.
A: A parent usually doesn't have access to a child's settlement funds. The reason for this is to protect children from parents who might use the money to benefit themselves, instead of the child. A court will generally place a child's settlement money in a "blocked" trust account until the child turns 18. A court will sometimes allow withdrawals from blocked accounts if the funds are needed for the child's care and well-being, and the court is satisfied the funds will be used to benefit the minor. You and your lawyer should discuss what expenses might be paid for with the settlement funds.
The term "bodily injury claim" usually refers to a personal injury claim, and after an accident, compensation for all medical treatment made necessary because of your injuries is part of that claim against the at-fault party. Medical bills are a component of “economic damages” (sometimes also called “special damages”), ...