1929chrysler
06-25-2008, 01:59 PM
There was an incident last summer (July 17,2008) in which I accidentally started a fire in my fiance's garage. I lived and still live in her house. It destroyed her garage and did damage to the neighbor's. My fiance's insurance company says that I was not insured under her policy and payed my fiance for the damages but in return want to sue me for re-imbursement.
I hired an attorney to research my case and to protect my interest. He gave a pretty good presentation at my "free"consultation to discuss the case and at that time I gave him a retainer fee of $1800. The free consultation was the first and last time I ever spoke with him.
I've received three e-mails from him after our consultation basically telling me that he is in consultation with the insurance companies and that he is continuing his research as to whether there would be possible "courtesy coverage" for me. That was the last time I heard from him which was in December. I have sent several e-mails to which he never responded to any of my questions I had. Last month I get a statement and letter in the mail informing me that the insurance companies have decided that I was at fault and that they would seek reimbursement. He also informed me that I owe him an additional $650.00 in time along with no explanation of any options that I may have.
I again e-mailed him with questions and he never responded. So I sent in the check for $650.00 along with a letter with my questions and I also asked him for an itemization of all his time as it was not clear or listed. I also asked for copies of all correspondence to and from the insurance companies.
He responded with a letter showing an itemization of all his charges which NOW include an additional $918.00 of charges that were not in his intial statement for the SAME time period. At short glance one charge of $180.00 for the initial consultation. I called his office pretending I was a new prospect and asked if the initial consultation was free(like they told me the first time)and the answer was yes, the first initial consultation was free. There was also a charge for one time when I called and his secretary informed me he was not available. I never spoke with the attorney yet he billed me (and never returned my call). I can't prove the other charges but there are additional charges that weren't there originally in his first statement. I think these are "I'll teach him to bug me charges"
To top it off, in his itemization letter he never sent the copies of correspondence I requested nor did he STILL not answer any of my questions! He did state in his letter however that "As I know" he did send me a summary of their legal research and if I would like a copy to please request it! This gentleman never sent me any such summary!
I went through a divorce with an established well known attorney a few years ago and this man sent me copies of everything and answered every one of my questions including four different court appearances. I got itemizations every month and everything was crystal clear to me. I had no problem with him what so ever and the money I paid him is starting to dwarf in comparison to what I am paying this insurance lawyer. I can't figure it out and he won't give me answers. I know no more about any of this than the first day of the consultation.
I almost feel like this attorney knows that the insurance companies have a slam dunk case against me but he is withholding this info so that I feel like I have a fighting chance so I will continue to pay.
I still don't have answers to my questions and I don't know what to do.
Please Help!
Thank You
Dan
I hired an attorney to research my case and to protect my interest. He gave a pretty good presentation at my "free"consultation to discuss the case and at that time I gave him a retainer fee of $1800. The free consultation was the first and last time I ever spoke with him.
I've received three e-mails from him after our consultation basically telling me that he is in consultation with the insurance companies and that he is continuing his research as to whether there would be possible "courtesy coverage" for me. That was the last time I heard from him which was in December. I have sent several e-mails to which he never responded to any of my questions I had. Last month I get a statement and letter in the mail informing me that the insurance companies have decided that I was at fault and that they would seek reimbursement. He also informed me that I owe him an additional $650.00 in time along with no explanation of any options that I may have.
I again e-mailed him with questions and he never responded. So I sent in the check for $650.00 along with a letter with my questions and I also asked him for an itemization of all his time as it was not clear or listed. I also asked for copies of all correspondence to and from the insurance companies.
He responded with a letter showing an itemization of all his charges which NOW include an additional $918.00 of charges that were not in his intial statement for the SAME time period. At short glance one charge of $180.00 for the initial consultation. I called his office pretending I was a new prospect and asked if the initial consultation was free(like they told me the first time)and the answer was yes, the first initial consultation was free. There was also a charge for one time when I called and his secretary informed me he was not available. I never spoke with the attorney yet he billed me (and never returned my call). I can't prove the other charges but there are additional charges that weren't there originally in his first statement. I think these are "I'll teach him to bug me charges"
To top it off, in his itemization letter he never sent the copies of correspondence I requested nor did he STILL not answer any of my questions! He did state in his letter however that "As I know" he did send me a summary of their legal research and if I would like a copy to please request it! This gentleman never sent me any such summary!
I went through a divorce with an established well known attorney a few years ago and this man sent me copies of everything and answered every one of my questions including four different court appearances. I got itemizations every month and everything was crystal clear to me. I had no problem with him what so ever and the money I paid him is starting to dwarf in comparison to what I am paying this insurance lawyer. I can't figure it out and he won't give me answers. I know no more about any of this than the first day of the consultation.
I almost feel like this attorney knows that the insurance companies have a slam dunk case against me but he is withholding this info so that I feel like I have a fighting chance so I will continue to pay.
I still don't have answers to my questions and I don't know what to do.
Please Help!
Thank You
Dan
