Comments on: How do I deal with a lawyer that overcharged me in a court case and is now suing for payment? http://www.lawyerweblog.com/how-do-i-deal-with-a-lawyer-that-overcharged-me-in-a-court-case-and-is-now-suing-for-payment.php Your One Stop For Legal Information Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:00:12 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Barry C http://www.lawyerweblog.com/how-do-i-deal-with-a-lawyer-that-overcharged-me-in-a-court-case-and-is-now-suing-for-payment.php/comment-page-1#comment-22173 Barry C Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:06:11 +0000 http://www.lawyerweblog.com/how-do-i-deal-with-a-lawyer-that-overcharged-me-in-a-court-case-and-is-now-suing-for-payment.php#comment-22173 I am sure he didn't sue you righ away - three must have been a period in which he explained the charges, you disputed them and three was a period of negotiation. While lots of people may not be satisfied with the often unpredictable outcome of a case, it is in fact pretty easy for an attorney to keep track of charges - hours and actual expenses. My guess is that unless you have solid evidence of discrepancies in actual hours billed or charges billed through, you are wasting your time while running up additional expenses defending yourself. Even if you are not satisfied with the outcome of the original case, negotiate a settlement and a payment plan as it will be cheaper then defending yourself only to have the judge impose a payment plan, while incurring additional costs. I am sure he didn’t sue you righ away – three must have been a period in which he explained the charges, you disputed them and three was a period of negotiation.

While lots of people may not be satisfied with the often unpredictable outcome of a case, it is in fact pretty easy for an attorney to keep track of charges – hours and actual expenses.

My guess is that unless you have solid evidence of discrepancies in actual hours billed or charges billed through, you are wasting your time while running up additional expenses defending yourself.

Even if you are not satisfied with the outcome of the original case, negotiate a settlement and a payment plan as it will be cheaper then defending yourself only to have the judge impose a payment plan, while incurring additional costs.

]]> By: Daniel http://www.lawyerweblog.com/how-do-i-deal-with-a-lawyer-that-overcharged-me-in-a-court-case-and-is-now-suing-for-payment.php/comment-page-1#comment-22172 Daniel Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:36:39 +0000 http://www.lawyerweblog.com/how-do-i-deal-with-a-lawyer-that-overcharged-me-in-a-court-case-and-is-now-suing-for-payment.php#comment-22172 It is quite rare that an attorney sues a former client for payment because the counterclaim is ALWAYS malpractice. Contact the local bar association and the State Bar and request arbitration of the attorney's fees. If he actually filed a lawsuit against you... you should counterclaim if he made even ONE tiny mistake. That should back the attorney WAY off. It is quite rare that an attorney sues a former client for payment because the counterclaim is ALWAYS malpractice.

Contact the local bar association and the State Bar and request arbitration of the attorney’s fees.

If he actually filed a lawsuit against you… you should counterclaim if he made even ONE tiny mistake. That should back the attorney WAY off.

]]> By: ToriJo http://www.lawyerweblog.com/how-do-i-deal-with-a-lawyer-that-overcharged-me-in-a-court-case-and-is-now-suing-for-payment.php/comment-page-1#comment-22171 ToriJo Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:42:50 +0000 http://www.lawyerweblog.com/how-do-i-deal-with-a-lawyer-that-overcharged-me-in-a-court-case-and-is-now-suing-for-payment.php#comment-22171 Request a hearing and make the judge aware of the discrepancies. Then report him to the Ethics Committee in your state. Request a hearing and make the judge aware of the discrepancies. Then report him to the Ethics Committee in your state.

]]>