For two weeks I\u2019ve been trying to connect with Lefty Ledoux, the litigating partner of the law firm I employed to sue the Skush-O\u2019Briens. So far, no Lefty, even though I will be deposed in exactly three weeks and I assume it\u2019s Lefty who will be representing me at the deposition.<\/p>\n
Miss Billy Perry, Esq., my erstwhile lawyer, is erstwhile because she left Lefty\u2019s law firm last week.<\/p>\n
Still, since I\u2019m such an old hand at lawsuits and depositions, I\u2019m not as troubled by Lefty\u2019s lack of response as I am about the non-response of another lawyer in another case. Here’s what happened:<\/p>\n
My married friends C and L called me from Alabama two days ago. We hadn\u2019t spoken in a long time so there was a lot of catch-up. It was a wonderful talk.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been close to C and L since L\u2019s lawsuit (upon which I worked), which settled a few years ago for quite a lot of money. L\u2019s case, unlike my co-op case, was on contingency. That is, the case was so promising in its financial expectations, L\u2019s lawyer had committed himself to advance all legal costs during the lawsuit\u2019s process. At settlement, the lawyer first would be reimbursed for the costs he advanced and then would take one third of L\u2019s final settlement as his fee. A fairly standard contingency arrangement.<\/p>\n
Although this guy worked very hard and intelligently during the several years he handled L\u2019s case, as settlement negotiations approached, I started not to like what I was hearing from the lawyer. Suddenly he was downgrading how much L might get, was complaining to me about the costs \u2013 things no one should hear out of a lawyer\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n
My uneasiness proved predictive: the lawyer settled the case with unbecoming speed and for less than I believed it should have. Toward the end, too, this lawyer wasn\u2019t treating C and L very nicely. Guilt, I figured. Guilt, I still figure.<\/p>\n
A few months ago, C tried calling the lawyer with a question related to the case. She left a message; he did not respond. She called again and left another message. He never responded.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut why wouldn\u2019t he call me back?\u201d she asked me plaintively.\u00a0 \u201cGuilt,\u201d I told her, but I am furious. This guy got a bigger payday out of L\u2019s case than I believe he\u2019d ever received in his entire professional life.<\/p>\n
He should have called her back.<\/p>\n
I want to hear from lawyers about this pervasive problem you seem to have in responding to us, your clients.<\/p>\n
(And Lefty, if you\u2019re reading this, call me, huh?)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lawyers do not respond to their clients’ phone or e-mail messages. Why? Continue reading