california:
attorney and client sign a contract for pi case
attorney works alone with a paralegal/secretary in practice
one month before statute of limitations, client gets a call from a man who says he needs some information to file a lawsuit before deadline. he says he is helping the attorney because she "let the ball drop on the case".
client sees new attorney name on court filing papers and suddenly the contracted attorney is gone and this unknown man is handling the case. his office is at another location, he is a sole practicing attorney and is not an associate of the contracted attorney, etc.
question: can an attorney turn over a case like this to another attorney without telling, asking or getting any permission from the client? the two attornies are completely separate and are not associates.
attorney and client sign a contract for pi case
attorney works alone with a paralegal/secretary in practice
one month before statute of limitations, client gets a call from a man who says he needs some information to file a lawsuit before deadline. he says he is helping the attorney because she "let the ball drop on the case".
client sees new attorney name on court filing papers and suddenly the contracted attorney is gone and this unknown man is handling the case. his office is at another location, he is a sole practicing attorney and is not an associate of the contracted attorney, etc.
question: can an attorney turn over a case like this to another attorney without telling, asking or getting any permission from the client? the two attornies are completely separate and are not associates.