E
expatriatewoes
Guest
What is the name of your state? NJ
Hello, here is a summary of the issues:
1) Attorney was asked to return tenants check
Attorney didn't do so
Two months passed
Tenant called up my attorney to findout where his check was
Attorney apologized for not having read the email, sent letter to myself
and tenant
Attorney charged me for sending time&materials sending apology letter
and, speaking to tenant on phone
I complained to attorney in writing and refused to pay
ISN'T THIS MALPRACTICE???
2) (Same) Attorney originally said his junior guy charged $150/hr
So I used junior guy
He instructed junior guy to forward all email contact I had to senior
Attorney
Senior attorney then charged me for both his time AND junior guys
time
ISN'T THIS MALPRACTICE???
3) Junior attorney was asked (by myself) to take all of my email questions
and answer them at once, rather than sporatically, one at a time. After
Junior guy said he had so many cases, he had to spend time to go back
and review my file for each question. He refused to honor my request.
As a result, attorney charged me (previously undisclosed) in 20 minute
increments for each question, whereas if he spent 1 good hour answering
all 5 it would have been more economical (for me) and much more p
productive since 90% of the time he mixed up the details of my case.
ISN'T THIS MALPRACTICE???
4) I moved overseas and instructed attorney during a closing to send me
my tenants security deposits (they were in trust) and also send me
deeds he was holding for 4 of my properties. Attorney ignored my request.
Tenants were vacating back in July- I told attorney with 2-3 weeks lead time
to return tenants security deposit in full + interest if above 1%. Attorney
said that I should give him the amount. I said, I couldn't give him the
amount as the funds were in his trust account and His firm was paying the
interest! Tenant contacted attorney demanding her deposit be returned
within 30 days. Attorney told tenant he 'no longer represented me'- Attorney
just turned around and billed me for his time talking to my tenant, and,
also added some amount that he evidently 'forgot to bill' 6 months before
ISN'T THIS MALPRACTICE???
5) Attorney went and got some court order back in may supposedly allowing
him to sue me for his fees - I never received notice that he asked for
a court order involving me, was I supposed to?
6) When I insisted that attorney return my money to me (he didn't have a
judgement) and my deeds, he said via email he was issuing a LIEN.
I told him to send back my belongings unless he could prove that a lien
existed, he never did so.
ISN'T THIS MALPRACTICE???
7) Attorney attempted to secure a 'power of attorney' from me during a
sale of one of my properties, then charged me to 'type up' a standard
'limited power of attorney form' just relating to that sale when I refused
anything else. Isn't this SLEAZY and, isn't charging me his billing rate to
type up such a form unethical?
8) Attorney sued me and (stupid stupid stupid me) although I attempted to
contact 8 malpractice attorneys via findlaw or someother related referral
service, none responded and (I being stupid) forgot to file an answer
within 30 days of Aug 4th. I am having trouble now living in England
for past 2 yrs dealing with this type of situation. Can i still sue attorney
for malpractice? Can I appeal a default?
Basically,
I need to know what is considered unethical and open to a malpractice suit as opposed to just an 'honest' misbilling and what my options are going forward. I am in Morris County and the deeds in question are in fact proprietary leases
for 4 coops. I am currently unable to sell them!
THANKS
Hello, here is a summary of the issues:
1) Attorney was asked to return tenants check
Attorney didn't do so
Two months passed
Tenant called up my attorney to findout where his check was
Attorney apologized for not having read the email, sent letter to myself
and tenant
Attorney charged me for sending time&materials sending apology letter
and, speaking to tenant on phone
I complained to attorney in writing and refused to pay
ISN'T THIS MALPRACTICE???
2) (Same) Attorney originally said his junior guy charged $150/hr
So I used junior guy
He instructed junior guy to forward all email contact I had to senior
Attorney
Senior attorney then charged me for both his time AND junior guys
time
ISN'T THIS MALPRACTICE???
3) Junior attorney was asked (by myself) to take all of my email questions
and answer them at once, rather than sporatically, one at a time. After
Junior guy said he had so many cases, he had to spend time to go back
and review my file for each question. He refused to honor my request.
As a result, attorney charged me (previously undisclosed) in 20 minute
increments for each question, whereas if he spent 1 good hour answering
all 5 it would have been more economical (for me) and much more p
productive since 90% of the time he mixed up the details of my case.
ISN'T THIS MALPRACTICE???
4) I moved overseas and instructed attorney during a closing to send me
my tenants security deposits (they were in trust) and also send me
deeds he was holding for 4 of my properties. Attorney ignored my request.
Tenants were vacating back in July- I told attorney with 2-3 weeks lead time
to return tenants security deposit in full + interest if above 1%. Attorney
said that I should give him the amount. I said, I couldn't give him the
amount as the funds were in his trust account and His firm was paying the
interest! Tenant contacted attorney demanding her deposit be returned
within 30 days. Attorney told tenant he 'no longer represented me'- Attorney
just turned around and billed me for his time talking to my tenant, and,
also added some amount that he evidently 'forgot to bill' 6 months before
ISN'T THIS MALPRACTICE???
5) Attorney went and got some court order back in may supposedly allowing
him to sue me for his fees - I never received notice that he asked for
a court order involving me, was I supposed to?
6) When I insisted that attorney return my money to me (he didn't have a
judgement) and my deeds, he said via email he was issuing a LIEN.
I told him to send back my belongings unless he could prove that a lien
existed, he never did so.
ISN'T THIS MALPRACTICE???
7) Attorney attempted to secure a 'power of attorney' from me during a
sale of one of my properties, then charged me to 'type up' a standard
'limited power of attorney form' just relating to that sale when I refused
anything else. Isn't this SLEAZY and, isn't charging me his billing rate to
type up such a form unethical?
8) Attorney sued me and (stupid stupid stupid me) although I attempted to
contact 8 malpractice attorneys via findlaw or someother related referral
service, none responded and (I being stupid) forgot to file an answer
within 30 days of Aug 4th. I am having trouble now living in England
for past 2 yrs dealing with this type of situation. Can i still sue attorney
for malpractice? Can I appeal a default?
Basically,
I need to know what is considered unethical and open to a malpractice suit as opposed to just an 'honest' misbilling and what my options are going forward. I am in Morris County and the deeds in question are in fact proprietary leases
for 4 coops. I am currently unable to sell them!
THANKS