Angie
02-12-2010, 09:49 PM
My name is Angie. I have a quick question. I'll give a bit of my situation. A lot of drama. I'm curious if what I am about to explain constitutes fraud.
I had a lawyer and his paralegal. Well, they really screwed up our case. I'm familiar a bit with fraud but not sure if this would constitute it.
We went to mediation on Dec 17, 2009 where my representation claimed a 77,000 bill owing to them which greatly alarmed me because my prior billing from a month ago had only amounted to about 15,000. This 77,000 was stated in front of the Admin Law Judge and opposing party and their counsel at this mediation. Both the judge and the opposing party questioned their claimed billing and had asked to see a detail of it which of course they never supplied. I knew then that they were attempting to get them to pay more than what they had charged me? Is this Fraud?
There was a huge blow out with my representation which I ultimately fired them. I later got a bill for 45,000. In the beginning of August 2009, I only had a balance owing of 1100. Somehow I racked up almost 10,000 a month in legal services and they never attended any hearings? Is this Fraud?
They have now filed a lawsuit against us trying to get a judgment to collect this 45,000. My response to that lawsuit was and is to file for bankruptcy. They screwed our case up pretty bad and now are attempting to blame it all on me which is ridiculous. You hire counsel when you don't know the laws and know you need protection. They advise you. They are now trying to claim that it was all me and I had control of everything. Well, the emails show otherwise. Since I can't file for a malpractice suit against them because of money and I can't afford the Fee Arbitration meeting which of course they didn't advise me of this option before filing the suit, I have gone to the Calif State Bar to file a complaint against them.
They have been busted before as I found out for fraud in a pump and dump scheme, ultimately were fined and disbarred from practicing as attorneys in front of the SEC and this is what prompted me to fire them amongst other issues.
If they claimed 77,000 as fees owing them when they knew it wasn't that much and stated this 77,000 in front of judge and opposing party, I'm assuming it would be considered fraud or intent to commit fraud?
Claiming that I owe them 45,000 in attorney fees in a 4 to 5 month period when they never even attended any hearings, appearances, etc., would this be considered fraud or just overcharging?
Thank you for any replies,
Angie
I had a lawyer and his paralegal. Well, they really screwed up our case. I'm familiar a bit with fraud but not sure if this would constitute it.
We went to mediation on Dec 17, 2009 where my representation claimed a 77,000 bill owing to them which greatly alarmed me because my prior billing from a month ago had only amounted to about 15,000. This 77,000 was stated in front of the Admin Law Judge and opposing party and their counsel at this mediation. Both the judge and the opposing party questioned their claimed billing and had asked to see a detail of it which of course they never supplied. I knew then that they were attempting to get them to pay more than what they had charged me? Is this Fraud?
There was a huge blow out with my representation which I ultimately fired them. I later got a bill for 45,000. In the beginning of August 2009, I only had a balance owing of 1100. Somehow I racked up almost 10,000 a month in legal services and they never attended any hearings? Is this Fraud?
They have now filed a lawsuit against us trying to get a judgment to collect this 45,000. My response to that lawsuit was and is to file for bankruptcy. They screwed our case up pretty bad and now are attempting to blame it all on me which is ridiculous. You hire counsel when you don't know the laws and know you need protection. They advise you. They are now trying to claim that it was all me and I had control of everything. Well, the emails show otherwise. Since I can't file for a malpractice suit against them because of money and I can't afford the Fee Arbitration meeting which of course they didn't advise me of this option before filing the suit, I have gone to the Calif State Bar to file a complaint against them.
They have been busted before as I found out for fraud in a pump and dump scheme, ultimately were fined and disbarred from practicing as attorneys in front of the SEC and this is what prompted me to fire them amongst other issues.
If they claimed 77,000 as fees owing them when they knew it wasn't that much and stated this 77,000 in front of judge and opposing party, I'm assuming it would be considered fraud or intent to commit fraud?
Claiming that I owe them 45,000 in attorney fees in a 4 to 5 month period when they never even attended any hearings, appearances, etc., would this be considered fraud or just overcharging?
Thank you for any replies,
Angie