I recently went through an awful malpractice case which my attorney, I feel and he admitted, messed up.  Three surgeons operated on me and I feel after reading reports which I never saw before the case began that the second surgeon is keeping something hidden.  He wasn't designated an expert witness but nonetheless was "shaking" in the courtroom before he had to testify.  He is now after six months sending me a bill for his testimony which my attorney never paid.  They haven't taken away my "freedom of speech" but I don't know how far I can go with this.  The statute of limitations has run out and after speaking with another attorney he also feels something went terribly wrong with my case but it would now cost me a small fortune to have something done. My family has lost so much...I no longer have a job, we've had to refinance twice to survive and my problem will never go away.  I heard the doctors lie on the stand and just can't understand this entire episode.  Can someone help me?
135696
i feel so bad for you, i am sorry. these things should not happen. i`am facing a case now about to call the lawyer and say settle, but i feel i`am getting screwed even before anything starts. car accident messed up back or tho claims arthritis my Dr. says nerve damage yet the or tho gives me nerve blocker medicine. well if i settle and arthritis is the issue i will gain very little monetarily. plus live with nerve damage the rest of life. but we need the money from settlement to help us out since i`am out of work.yes you can reopen a case if not by a different argument .
467070
Better check with the lawyer. They will drop the case and if things don't work out you will pay again cuz the lawyers are thieves. They will not let you know!!!!
41914
As a workers' comp. attorney, it has been my experience that proceeding on a WC claim is a very long and tedious affair for injured workers.  It sounds like you are currently receiving some form of treatment, which is good.  It can take months to go to a hearing, and then months more if there is an appeal.\n\nIf you think your attorney is not diligently representing your interests, you are always free to get a second opinion.
248278
I thought that you might find this informative to say the least. It will give you a better idea of what you are dealing with, unfortunately I am willing to bet that because of the situation a lawsuit may not even be considered. Sounds as if this is not a ordinary condition such as dealing with your gall bladder or appendix. In cases where they try different things in order to fix a problem that is not common it makes it difficult to prove that there is really any negligence involved. Case in point, my brother in law had lung cancer, they treated him for pneumonia for the year before it was actually diagnosis as cancer. In the mean time it had turned to small cell lung cancer, which basically is a death sentence. He died. Now the thing was is that because he was a smoker and had smoked his whole life he had symptoms of lung disease the cancer shows up on xrays very much like pneumonia and lung disease, where they negligent, well according to the lawyers my sister talked to NO. But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't consult with a medical malpractice lawyer just to be sure. The thing that I would do is get a notebook and document everything that has happened so far while it is still fresh in your minds. Have everyone that is involved write down everything they can remember. That will help when you go to talk with the lawyer. Also don't let anyone from the hopital know that you might take action. The lawyer can and will request all information and records involved in his care. Then they have people(experts) who can really tear things apart and decipher what just went on to see if there was medical malpractice.\n\nhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000068.htm\n\n\nAlso upon reading that article above from the link, a collapsed lung is not an uncommon thing with this condition. That I am sorry to say. Meaning, it can happen spontaniously without any trauma but just because of what is going on. Sounds like you are in for a tough time. I am truly sorry for your family and brother. My prayers will be with you.
486213
That was bad advise from your attorney. Get a free consultation from another one. 10,000 dollars is too much to just "forget about" Did the morgage fall through on bad faith actions from yourself? And besides it the Principal of the thing!
582385
Your lawyer may have been looking at everything correctly I'm sad to say.  You're obviously suing for money damages.  Your attorney was probably working on a contingency basis (taking a percentage of what the final verdict/award is).  Then, during the scope of investigations he finds there are no "deep pockets"... no money to gain.  Odds are, if the business that hit you has no insurance, then they have no assets of any value to take.\n\nThat being said, if all you're looking for is to get a judgment, then you can always find an attorney willing to take the case.  However, you will end up paying on an hourly basis... with a HEFTY retainer, and NO guarantee of a favorable outcome.\n\nThe potential is always there (as well), that you could get the award you're looking for from a judge or jury, and this "business" could always run and file a chapter 7 bankruptcy, and again... you'd get nothing.\n\nThere is no point in suing if the other person has nothing (which I suspect was the point of your attorney dropping your case).  Check with your state's bar association though... his actions (dropping the case) may have violated some rule of professional conduct.
3626
That's absolutly terrible!  I think you need to get a better lawyer.  2 1/2 years is ridiculous.  He needs to stop playing around, and get this resolved for you so you can get closure and begin to heal.  Check out this link below it's for the National Organization for Victims Assistance they promote the rights of victims of crime and crisis everywhere.  I know it sounds superheroish but they should be able to help or at the very least point you in the right direction.  If you just need to talk to someone, the churches in your city, any denomination, can help.  They are always willing.  Good luck!
439469
Look up the telephone number of the Texas Bar Association.  (I am assuming that as in PA they have what we call The Lawyer Referral Service).  They can provide you with a low cost referral to an attorney for a consultation.  You may also find in your yellow pages (as in PA) that there are display ads for attorneys who provide a free consultation on your problem.  I don't think pro bono services are easily located except in some types of legal disputes (medical malpractice and injury is an area where one might find one more easily).  I suggest otherwise that you get on line and look up attorneys and attempt to find one who might be interested.  Good luck.
296032
You should contact your American Bar Association and tell them your  story. Say you need to find a new lawyer immediately. Ask them to recommend appropriate ones. You may also want to file a formal complaint against the lawyer who took advantage of you. When you find a new lawyer let him or her handle your son's case and get your money back from the first lawyer.  You may also have a malpractice insurance case against first lawyer and you may want to discuss this with the new lawyer too. Another avenue you might want to look into is if your car insurance will cover your son's attorney. Good luck.
455130
First, find a better lawyer.  Then, they will be able to help you.  I would NOT continue with this lawyer who clearly does not have the skills to properly handle your case.
351518
The judgment may be void for want of proper service of process; although that possibility is not clear from your writing. If that is true, the Florida plaintiff tries to enforce the judgment in your state, the fact that you never appeared or defended may be dispositive.\n\nIf your lawyer is guilty of malpractice and you therefore have a judgment entered against you -- or the judgment was not overturned on appeal -- you have a claim against him and his malpractice insurer.\n\nI would write him and warn him to "notify your malpractice insurer". Failure to notify them might cause them to deny cover.\n\nBut I really don't have enough information to give you solid advice.\n\nFurther comment: by and large, honest banks do not try to enforce judgments wrongfully entered in identity theft cases. It seems to me that there has been a dialog of the deaf. You may want to seek the help of newspaper consumer columns, the police, the FTC and any other government agencies concerned with the crime.\n\nThe problem is that a judgment, once final, cannot be appealed. On the other hand, if the bank was made aware of the identity theft and did nothing and pursued a wrongful case against you, that may provide an avenue for relief.
273122
I am in the same position. I have talked to several attorneys in regards to this. I was advised the go to the county's bar association and let them know of the situation. they can refer you to a lawyer that is more affordable and perhaps will take payments. the only other option and the one that we have decided to go with for the time being is the public defender. there are a lot of good ones out there. good luck!
102167
You must have a strong case.  The injury must be the restaurant's responsibility through negligence.  You need to document the injury and cost of medical treatment (doctor's bill?).  Then you must preferably have the names of witnesses who were present and can (if necessary) testify that they saw the negligent act.  Try to recall the wait staff (name?) who may have witnessed or caused the incident.  Did you show the injury to restaurant management and did they try to assist you?  You likely will need a good attorney who will likely take the case only if the one third of a settlement (including pain, suffering and disfigurement?) pays more than enough for their efforts.  Of course the attorney will want to know how much of your own carelessness (if any) contributed to the injury.  I would not expect to collect if I enter a restaurant and deliberately used their knife to stab myself in the hand, right?  Good luck.
302755
If you injured yourself on active duty and it is documented in your medical records you have a great chance of some kind of compensation. Just see your local V.A. rep when you get a chance. On the other hand if you do not have it documented you can give it up now because they are over a million cases behind they won't even look at you. This is coming from first hand knowledge.
656241
first off im sorry this has happened to you..second off if this happened when you were a minor then the statue of limitations doesn't start running until you are 18 an it is 5 years then ..so you have till your 23...also yes iv had an experience an i know what you mean by the police part....if they were unhelpful rude an if there was a coverup ect. you can sue them....it was wromng on there behave an they should have made you feel comfortable an ok enough to where yiu wanted to speak to thwm an felt ok going through the procedures instead of bein diicks....if you want you can email me with further info about the case..i know people who can help you..also what state it happened in how old you are ect. ...please watch out for perv omn here..take care
612639
in today's court system, too many judges are quick to render judgement without looking at all the facts, my question to you is why did your attorney allow them to hear the case without you being present?  If your court date was scheduled for a day you were off work, then they should have honored that court date and not held the case without your being there.  I would suggest to you that you first file an appeal to have your case heard again, and I would look into finding another attorney.   Obviously, he was not looking out for your best interest.  And when it comes to someone handing you a choice of work or school, that is wrong, I am a single parent, and am involved with a corrections officer, who also works 12 hour or more shifts, and I understand how much you want to be there, but to ask you to give up your schooling is odd.  The only way to get a better job that can give you the hours you need is to get that degree.  For your boys sake, find another attorney and keep fighting....women like me love men like you who are all about their kids.  Good luck and God Bless....
148435
You have my sympathy.  But I suspect you need to listen carefully and try to understand what you are told.  It may be that the lawyers you talked to over the five years were telling you that 1) you have your facts wrong, and 2) you have no case, as hard as that may be to accept.   The people here can't help you, and you should instead take the advice of professionals with whom you have consulted.