Is it normal for an attorney to not keep you informed on what's going on with your case?
971169
Absolutely normal.  The wheels of justice turn very very slowly, largely in part due to the discover process.  You are in the early stages of discovery.  This is a tedious process, especially in personal injury cases.  The questions you referenced are known as "interrogatories".  Your attorney probably filed the answers, or if he didn't, he might have made an agreement with defendant's attorney for an extension of time. In the grand scheme of things, this is not a very big deal.  Remember that there is a lot of stuff that goes on behind the scenes between counsel.  Discovery takes FOREVER.  For a personal injury case, you might be looking at boxes of documents that the attorney has to put together and send out.  Also, there are typically a dozen or so requests for medical records and subpoenas that have to be sent out to the hospitals in order to get your medical records.  It's a pain, and a time consuming pain at that.\n\nYour best bet would be to write him a letter and ask for a status update of your case.  Find out what discovery requests have been served, what discovery the defendants have produced, what additional depositions have been scheduled.  Tell him you understand that he has other cases and clients and that he is a busy guy, but that you want a monthly status report detailing what has been done in the last month to move the case forward, and what his next plan of action is going to be.  Ask him to place the sending of this status report on his calendar.  (Keep in mind he's going to bill you for the time it takes to write this report.)\n\nAlso, if you want to monitor what papers have been filed in your case, search for the website of your local county/circuit court.  You should be able to search by party name, or if you have any of the pleadings, the docket number.  This way, you can check for yourself to see what has been filed.\n\nYour attorney does not have an obligation to call you everytime something happens with your file.  However, this does not mean he can ignore phone calls or requests for information.  It seems like he is moving the case along.  Keep in mind that any delays might be because of conflicts in his schedule or opposing counsel's schedule, not necessarily laziness or ambivelence.  Request the status report.  If he doesn't start providing you with updates, talk to a representative of the state bar association to lodge a complaint.\n\nGood luck.
808514
He is doing exactly as he should.  \n\nThese cases can cost a firm a fortune to pursue and he needs to make sure that taking this case on is a good financial decision, meaning that not only is it a good case that they can reasonably expect to win on but also that the recovery involved will be sufficient to justify the time and expense involved in taking it on.\n\nHe can't do that without an informed opinion on the facts involved.\n\nWhat more are you expecting him to tell you?  He will either agree to represent you or decline based upon the others opinion weighed against his risk factors.  And even if he declines to represent you, it doesn't necessarily mean that your case isn't worth pursuing in general.  It just means that it isn't worth it to him.  If he feels you have no case period, he will tell you that also.
933011
He is trying to play games and you should report the attorney that told you not to contact the office again . you can report them to the bar association they might also be playing games. good luck and god bless you.
1021654
You need to get your lawyer to subpoena the report.  He can get it prior to the court date, as he will need it to prepare for his arguement.
61137
ask your attorney when you are in court
719106
The Rules of Professional Conduct, which varies by jurisdiction, generally prohibits a lawyer from advancing an unmeritorious argument in court, except where the lawyer is defending a criminal defendant, who is constitutionally entitled to have the government prove every element of the case against him/her beyond all reasonable doubt.\n\nJust because a case is ultimately a lost cause, does not mean that an attorney cannot make a good faith argument to defend his/her client's interests.\n\nIt is only the plaintiff/petitioner's attorney in a civil action who is ethically not permitted to advance a case where there is no meritorious good faith legal argument.\n\nAnd, as a practical matter, there are very few circumstances where some good faith argument cannot be presented.\n\nUltimately, all cases depend upon their facts, and it is impossible to accurately answer your question without knowing the facts of your particular case. So, if you believe that an attorney has taken an unmeritorious case to court against you, then you should file a complaint with the lawyer disciplinary agency in your jurisdiction, and allow the agency to investigate your claim.
790507
Its not your job to defend yourself.  Thats for the attorney calling you as a witness.  Answer the question you are asked, keep it sort, but add nothing more.  Assuming you are a witness for the defense, the plaintiff's attorney or prosecutor will try to entice you into answering more than the question, so they can get testimony admitted they could not get otherwise, or impeach yourself.  It is up to the defense attorney to object if the questions are not proper, go afield, or are harrasing.  If you cannot recall your prior testimony, just say you don't remember.  Your attorney can have your prior testimony shown to you to help your recall.  Have fun.
1154823
thought about asking a lawyer?
1059394
You are in a bind.  If, when, you let the attorney know that you have such a recording, then he or she will be less happy to represent you properly.  On the other hand, when the attorney demands more fees and payments, and you do not come through or balk at paying these, then the attorney can be less than stellar in representing your best interests.  Either way, it is difficult.  No matter, it is common practice that either you pay a flat fee or charges as they happen (like by the hour).  Either way, if the attorney has outside expenses, those are passed along to the client.  This would be true especially for a mediator.
918217
Yes you are on the right track and the correct term is non-disclosure. It is a very law embedded field and can be twisted and turned at every post. Such as matters of opinion can be withheld from you and other similar documents. The best way is really to have a legal representative who will not be railroaded by the other side. A solicitor will try and eat you up with legal jargon that will make your head spin.
935489
call up the court I guarantee they got your case log they can tell ya right off the bat. they don't want to have to clog up the court room.
325053
Of course, you very well may. If you think your attorney is not representing your best interest, simply let your attorney know how you feel. If it's a State appointed attorney, you would have to inform the court of your dissatisfaction. However, first get a second opinion during some free first consultation before deciding - just to be sure you're not merely discarding because you're being told the truth. Good luck!
679904
No.\n\nThe location of an attorney while reading or researching has nothing at all to do with what happens at trial.
801767
I don't know the details of your case, but I think you are probably learning why you shouldn't be doing this pro-se.  \n\nIf you have been to attorneys and they have told you that the case has no merit, and you filed it pro se, then you may have subjected yourself to sanctions for a frivelous complaint.\n\nThe defendant in this matter has probably retained an attorney, and its the attorney who filed the answer and then moved for dismissal.  You should review the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for information on how to proceed, if you are going to represent yourself.  However, I strongly suggest that you should retain counsel.\n\nIf you want to retain an attorney, contact your local or state bar association for a referral to an attorney licensed in Virginia.
642581
You need a to talk to an attorney.
847643
Anyone can get all those info (except for court dates, you can get those any time) AFTER the verdict has been delivered. If you get it before, then the defense counsel can argue tainted witness testimony and the whole case can be flushed down leading to a not guilty verdict.
547978
there is a time when the executor will wrap up loose ends and close bank accts etc-- after that, the 'case is considered "closed"  if you have questions or complaints you should address the person who was appointed to be the executor and try and work things out- if some time has passed & you have not received 'satisfaction' - consult an attorney  thanks  the brain