URGENT, please help

[modida]

URGENT: Please Help

URGENT: My friend is being evicted. His landlord broke several laws obtaining his deposit, and his (pro bono)lawyer sought return of the deposit (as required by law) and a 30 day moveout date. He and his lawyer appeared in court at the scheduled date and time, only to find out that the other team had requested and received a postponement. They waited several hours, and the county clerk's office told them there was no new date/time. They called daily for a new date/time and were told there wasn't one. Two days ago my friend was served with an eviction notice that said that he had defaulted because he didn't appear in court -- the other team had somehow gotten into court on the same day at a later time, in another courtroom. My friend and his lawyer were not made aware of this.

I believe that he opposing team's lawyer decided that the only way to win was by default, so he found some way to get into court without my friend being aware of the change. The judge refused to grant my friend the 10 allowable days he would need to notify the landlords of a new hearing. I know this is wrong. My friend cannot reach his lawyer. He has three days.

What can he do? Thanks. Seattle, WA

 

[djdj]

This will teach YOU and YOUR FRIEND a very valuable lesson.

you get what you pay for.....

most pro bono lawyers are new and inexperienced, and you didnt not research your adversary... you didnt not check for court cases they had won,on Lexis and Westlaw, and new rulings they may have be involved in.

It is obvious the landlord had very experienced lawyers working for him and your friend didnt.

Also your friend probably had PLENTY of time to do research on his case, and why didnt he go to the court house and see for himself if there was a court date? NOTHING gets done on the phone with government workers!

Why isnt he camped out his lawyers office right now?

 

[modida]

Thanks...

My friend is a single father of three with very low income. He had no choice but to accept the services of a pro bono lawyer -- it was that or nothing. Please don't assume that he didn't try to find out all he could about his situation given the available resources. My friend has been back and forth between his lawyer's office and the legal library and the courthouse and the phone for weeks.

Thanks.