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capellam44

Junior Member
The court is in Colorado Springs, CO

My best friends (and adopted family) are in a bind and don't know where to turn. They are broke and live paycheck to paycheck. They are in need of an attorney but have no idea how to obtain one. Can anyone here help?

No they don't qualify for a public defender for although they are broke, they still make too much money.

Long story short. The boy (now 16) was found in the church parking lot near a car that had recently been keyed (scratched) The owner of the car decided to take this young man to court. To quote the boy "If I had just lied about being in the parking lot, none of this would have happened, but I didn't lie. I didn't key her car either."

I have known this kid for the past 10 years and I have seen him brought up. The family was told that most judges are jaded towards teenagers and being innocent until proven guilty isn't really truth any more. The family was also told that it was most likely that the boy would be charged as it is his word against that of an adult. There was no one who actually saw him do it. But the fact that he and his brother were the only two in the parking lot when the damage was discovered automatically puts him in a bad situation.

Is there any hope for this family? Is there any way to find a lawyer or attorney for a price they can afford? Is a public defender the only "help" they can be offered and what if they don't qualify for that and still can't afford an attorney? What can they do or expect?
 


Silverplum

Senior Member
The court is in Colorado Springs, CO

My best friends (and adopted family) are in a bind and don't know where to turn. They are broke and live paycheck to paycheck. They are in need of an attorney but have no idea how to obtain one. Can anyone here help?
We don't provide referrals on this site.

They could use the "Find An Attorney" feature, which appears on every page of this site.

capellam44 said:
No they don't qualify for a public defender for although they are broke, they still make too much money.

Long story short. The boy (now 16) was found in the church parking lot near a car that had recently been keyed (scratched) The owner of the car decided to take this young man to court. To quote the boy "If I had just lied about being in the parking lot, none of this would have happened, but I didn't lie. I didn't key her car either."

I have known this kid for the past 10 years and I have seen him brought up. The family was told that most judges are jaded towards teenagers and being innocent until proven guilty isn't really truth any more. The family was also told that it was most likely that the boy would be charged as it is his word against that of an adult. There was no one who actually saw him do it. But the fact that he and his brother were the only two in the parking lot when the damage was discovered automatically puts him in a bad situation.

Is there any hope for this family? Is there any way to find a lawyer or attorney for a price they can afford? Is a public defender the only "help" they can be offered and what if they don't qualify for that and still can't afford an attorney? What can they do or expect?
Tell them to use their yellow pages, call and ask attorneys if they will take payment plans. Some do, certainly.
 

Antigone*

Senior Member
The court is in Colorado Springs, CO

My best friends (and adopted family) are in a bind and don't know where to turn. They are broke and live paycheck to paycheck. They are in need of an attorney but have no idea how to obtain one. Can anyone here help?

No they don't qualify for a public defender for although they are broke, they still make too much money.

Long story short. The boy (now 16) was found in the church parking lot near a car that had recently been keyed (scratched) The owner of the car decided to take this young man to court. To quote the boy "If I had just lied about being in the parking lot, none of this would have happened, but I didn't lie. I didn't key her car either."

I have known this kid for the past 10 years and I have seen him brought up. The family was told that most judges are jaded towards teenagers and being innocent until proven guilty isn't really truth any more. The family was also told that it was most likely that the boy would be charged as it is his word against that of an adult. There was no one who actually saw him do it. But the fact that he and his brother were the only two in the parking lot when the damage was discovered automatically puts him in a bad situation.

Is there any hope for this family? Is there any way to find a lawyer or attorney for a price they can afford? Is a public defender the only "help" they can be offered and what if they don't qualify for that and still can't afford an attorney? What can they do or expect?
The boy's parents might call the BAR Assn for their State. Maybe they can point them in the direction of some pro bono help.
 

LdiJ

Senior Member
The court is in Colorado Springs, CO

My best friends (and adopted family) are in a bind and don't know where to turn. They are broke and live paycheck to paycheck. They are in need of an attorney but have no idea how to obtain one. Can anyone here help?

No they don't qualify for a public defender for although they are broke, they still make too much money.

Long story short. The boy (now 16) was found in the church parking lot near a car that had recently been keyed (scratched) The owner of the car decided to take this young man to court. To quote the boy "If I had just lied about being in the parking lot, none of this would have happened, but I didn't lie. I didn't key her car either."

I have known this kid for the past 10 years and I have seen him brought up. The family was told that most judges are jaded towards teenagers and being innocent until proven guilty isn't really truth any more. The family was also told that it was most likely that the boy would be charged as it is his word against that of an adult. There was no one who actually saw him do it. But the fact that he and his brother were the only two in the parking lot when the damage was discovered automatically puts him in a bad situation.

Is there any hope for this family? Is there any way to find a lawyer or attorney for a price they can afford? Is a public defender the only "help" they can be offered and what if they don't qualify for that and still can't afford an attorney? What can they do or expect?
An important factor to understand in this case, which is not clear at all from your thread, is whether the boy is being charged criminally, or whether the boy is being sued civilly.
 

capellam44

Junior Member
An important factor to understand in this case, which is not clear at all from your thread, is whether the boy is being charged criminally, or whether the boy is being sued civilly.
Ah sorry forgot that. He is being charged criminally.

Thanks guys I will check around and see if we can find anyone who accepts payment plans, or will do some pro boho work.
 

LdiJ

Senior Member
Ah sorry forgot that. He is being charged criminally.

Thanks guys I will check around and see if we can find anyone who accepts payment plans, or will do some pro boho work.
His parents also need to be certain that he is truly not eligible for a public defender. The rules regarding minors are usually different than the rules regarding adults, and minors usually are able to get public defenders more easily than adults.
 

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