What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?New Jersey
Hi,
My question is regarding asking for my retainer's fee as well as any remaining balance to be refunded.
I retained an attorney to handle my foreclosure and signed a retainer's agreement. We paid 5k and $700. every month. We hired him on hired and sign the agreement on August 8, 2010. He has not filed a single paper and has not even filed a substitution of attorney.
We receive an invoiced from him in September but the following month and to this day we have not received any invoice nor any kind of written correspondent to keep us inform of his work or services.
We are not satisfied with his lack of performance and responses. The last draw was when I got worried and personally called my previous law firm and they informed me that they have not received the substitution letter as requested by them in September so that the proper procedure can be taken to notified the plaintiff of the substitution as well as the court.
So, so far he has not done so. I sent him a letter for his dismissal of services and for a refund of our retainer and full account for the services he can charge based on his actual work on our case.
What is the normal and proper way to settle this matter? What is a standard or procedure that an attorney can charge for their services when he has done very little to show for?
Do attorney keep a daily journal or log for their expenses and work to justify their fee? Are they accountable for estimate of expenses and must show why they deserve the fees?
Thank you,
Hi,
My question is regarding asking for my retainer's fee as well as any remaining balance to be refunded.
I retained an attorney to handle my foreclosure and signed a retainer's agreement. We paid 5k and $700. every month. We hired him on hired and sign the agreement on August 8, 2010. He has not filed a single paper and has not even filed a substitution of attorney.
We receive an invoiced from him in September but the following month and to this day we have not received any invoice nor any kind of written correspondent to keep us inform of his work or services.
We are not satisfied with his lack of performance and responses. The last draw was when I got worried and personally called my previous law firm and they informed me that they have not received the substitution letter as requested by them in September so that the proper procedure can be taken to notified the plaintiff of the substitution as well as the court.
So, so far he has not done so. I sent him a letter for his dismissal of services and for a refund of our retainer and full account for the services he can charge based on his actual work on our case.
What is the normal and proper way to settle this matter? What is a standard or procedure that an attorney can charge for their services when he has done very little to show for?
Do attorney keep a daily journal or log for their expenses and work to justify their fee? Are they accountable for estimate of expenses and must show why they deserve the fees?
Thank you,