What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pennsylvania
Hi, my case may be a little complicated and I was hoping anyone would be able to assist.
My husband and I divorced in mid-2013. I had hired an attorney which I will refer to by his initials, P.M. I paid P.M. $3000 upfront for drafting the divorce settlement and to proceed with all legal matters. My husband sues me and P.M. claiming that we had falsified information on the divorce settlement in order to cheat him out of a larger settlement. I paid P.M. an additional $2000 upfront to deal with the claim. He said he or his partner would be able to represent himself in court and that everything would be fine. On the day of the trial the judge informs us that P.M. would not be able to plead his own case and that his partner wouldn't be able to as well since they are affiliated. So then P.M. tells us that he'll call upon his former boss, which I will refer to as R.D., to represent him and subsequently handle the case as a favor to P.M. He once again told us everything was fine and never mentioned any additional fees or payments and neither did R.D.
Everything was settled after the second trial and both attorneys never asked for any additional payment at the time. However, I just received a letter from R.D. claiming that I owe him $3000 for his services, and that he would send debt collectors if I do not do anything within 30 days. I sent him a letter basically explaining what P.M. told me and that I request a breakdown of how he came to that total. Haven't gotten anything back yet, but it's only been a couple days. I have contacted P.M. about it as well, and he said he would talk to R.D. I haven't heard back from P.M and he's been out of office for a week.
I find it suspicious that R.D. would suddenly claim I owe him for services from almost three years ago while never hearing anything from him prior. I never signed any agreement or acknowledgement of services from R.D. and have records of payments to P.M. I also find it odd that P.M. had been gone for a week after inquiring about this.
Are R.D.'s claims valid? Is there a statute of limitations on this claim? Would this fall under malpractice?
Any assistance or insight into this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, my case may be a little complicated and I was hoping anyone would be able to assist.
My husband and I divorced in mid-2013. I had hired an attorney which I will refer to by his initials, P.M. I paid P.M. $3000 upfront for drafting the divorce settlement and to proceed with all legal matters. My husband sues me and P.M. claiming that we had falsified information on the divorce settlement in order to cheat him out of a larger settlement. I paid P.M. an additional $2000 upfront to deal with the claim. He said he or his partner would be able to represent himself in court and that everything would be fine. On the day of the trial the judge informs us that P.M. would not be able to plead his own case and that his partner wouldn't be able to as well since they are affiliated. So then P.M. tells us that he'll call upon his former boss, which I will refer to as R.D., to represent him and subsequently handle the case as a favor to P.M. He once again told us everything was fine and never mentioned any additional fees or payments and neither did R.D.
Everything was settled after the second trial and both attorneys never asked for any additional payment at the time. However, I just received a letter from R.D. claiming that I owe him $3000 for his services, and that he would send debt collectors if I do not do anything within 30 days. I sent him a letter basically explaining what P.M. told me and that I request a breakdown of how he came to that total. Haven't gotten anything back yet, but it's only been a couple days. I have contacted P.M. about it as well, and he said he would talk to R.D. I haven't heard back from P.M and he's been out of office for a week.
I find it suspicious that R.D. would suddenly claim I owe him for services from almost three years ago while never hearing anything from him prior. I never signed any agreement or acknowledgement of services from R.D. and have records of payments to P.M. I also find it odd that P.M. had been gone for a week after inquiring about this.
Are R.D.'s claims valid? Is there a statute of limitations on this claim? Would this fall under malpractice?
Any assistance or insight into this matter would be greatly appreciated.