how to sue a lawyer who said they'll file bankruptcy but never did and took your money

by Zack Koch 6 min read

Can a lawsuit be filed against a debtor who has filed bankruptcy?

Mar 31, 2012 · As a side note, what was your full attorney fee amount? If you filed bankruptcy and had a balance with the attorney, depending on the State and how the laws are applied, you may have a claim for any money paid post petition. I hope you get a positive outcome. Jim Webster www.jpwlegal.com 1845 S. Dobson Rd. Ste 201 Mesa, AZ 85202 (480) 464-4667

How do I sue a lawyer for negligence?

To continue the lawsuit, you'll have to file a motion asking the bankruptcy court to lift the automatic stay (and you'll need a good reason to do so). Pursuing the litigation without court permission could lead to a loss of your right to a recovery, being held in contempt of court, being charged a hefty fine, and possibly being ordered to pay damages (compensatory money) to the …

Do I need a lawyer to file a lawsuit?

Sep 04, 2020 · Negligence. To sue lawyer for negligence, you need to be able to prove the attorney didn't use the proper care in your case and missed a deadline, filed the wrong papers, didn't comply with court orders, or made other errors that were not intentional but were sloppy. Negligence happens when the attorney makes mistakes that other attorneys ...

How does a bankruptcy stop a lawsuit?

Mar 14, 2009 · well, by your statements, at least part of the claim is untrue. That should obviously be brought to the trustees attention. as to the last part; well, depending on what you said to them, they could be correct. If you simply said you were going to file BK and they stopped collection due to that, then it is on them for failing to take available action.

What are the easiest things to sue for?

The law must support your contention that you were harmed by the illegal actions of another.Bad Debt. A type of contract case. ... Breach of Contract. ... Breach of Warranty. ... Failure to Return a Security Deposit. ... Libel or Slander (Defamation). ... Nuisance. ... Personal Injury. ... Product Liability.More items...

What happens if someone owes money and declares bankruptcy?

If the person who owes you money filed Chapter 11 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, he or she will have to abide by the payment plan. Debts such as secured claims will be paid first. Unsecured claims rank low in the hierarchy, so if your debt is unsecured, you might be waiting for a while.

Can you sue for something that happened years ago?

No, you can't sue after the statute of limitations runs out. But there are situations where the statute of limitations begins late. For example, in a case of medical malpractice, the injury may have occurred weeks, months, or possibly years before the harm and cause of harm are discovered.Oct 19, 2021

Which of the following Cannot be discharged by filing bankruptcy?

Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy eliminates credit card debt, medical bills and unsecured loans; however, there are some debts that cannot be discharged. Those debts include child support, spousal support obligations, student loans, judgments for damages resulting from drunk driving accidents, and most unpaid taxes.

Can creditors collect after Chapter 7 is filed?

Once you file for bankruptcy, an automatic stay goes into effect. An automatic stay specifically states that creditors cannot contact you to collect debts after you've filed for bankruptcy. It protects you from harassing phone calls, emails, and letters.Feb 20, 2020

Does statute of limitations apply to civil cases?

Civil litigation The most relevant civil claims include: Personal injury - the limitation period is typically 3 years (from the date of the injury or date of knowledge, whichever comes later). Legislation provides the right to claim compensation if a defective product causes damage, injury or death.

How do you get around the statute of limitations?

In general, there's no way around the statute of limitations. You have to officially file the suit in the courts within two years of your accident, or unfortunately, there's very little that even the best personal injury lawyer can do for you.Jan 3, 2012

Can I sue for something 20 years ago?

Technically you can be sued for anything at any time, but in most cases can succeed on a motion to dismiss because the statute of limitations for most claims is less than ten years.Sep 1, 2021

How to sue a company that is already in bankruptcy?

How to Sue a Company Already in Bankruptcy. You'll file most lawsuits—call ed adversary proceedings—in the bankruptcy court itself. In most respects, they're conducted like cases filed elsewhere; however, you should be aware that there are significant procedural differences (for instance, the way you'll file and serve the initial complaint) ...

What happens if a civil lawsuit is filed in bankruptcy?

If your civil lawsuit is in progress when the defendant files a bankruptcy case, the case will come to a stop. The automatic stay —a court order (injunction) that prohibits a creditor from collecting its debt—gets put in place immediately after a bankruptcy filing.

What is Chapter 7 bankruptcy?

A company that files Chapter 7 bankruptcy is shutting down and using bankruptcy as an orderly way to dispose of assets and wrap up its affairs. As with any Chapter 7 case, a bankruptcy trustee will administer the case by gathering the assets, liquidating them, and using the proceeds to pay creditor claims.

What is an automatic stay in bankruptcy?

The automatic stay —a court order (injunction) that prohibits a creditor from collecting its debt—gets put in place immediately after a bankruptcy filing. To continue the lawsuit, you'll have to file a motion asking the bankruptcy court to lift the automatic stay (and you'll need a good reason to do so).

What happens if you don't follow the rules?

If you don't follow the requirements, you could lose your right to prosecute the action, or worse yet, the court could hold you in contempt of court.

Can a company file for bankruptcy in state court?

Just because you initially filed your case against the company in state court, doesn't mean that it will stay there. After the bankruptcy case gets filed, the bankruptcy court can order the state case moved to federal bankruptcy court (if you or someone else requests doing so by filing a motion).

Will a bankruptcy case be moved?

Whether the court orders the case moved will depend on the type of case and how far the lawsuit has progressed. For instance, if the case involves money owed or property ownership— and the outcome will affect the amount of money that bankruptcy creditors will receive—then there's a good likelihood the court will order the lawsuit moved ...

How to win a lawsuit against an attorney for malpractice?

To win when you sue an attorney for malpractice, you need to show that: The attorney was supposed to do something. He or she didn't do it (or did it wrong) This resulted in a financial loss to you (losing the case or losing money)

What happens if an attorney violates the law?

If the attorney violated proper ethics, you can file a grievance with the ethics committee of the state bar association, which ensures all attorneys are in good standing to renew their licenses. The attorney could be disbarred or directed to pay you compensation.

What to do when you hire an attorney?

When you hire an attorney, you do so with trust and confidence. Most attorneys are upstanding and do a good job for their clients. Unfortunately, there are also some bad eggs out there. If your attorney has done something wrong, you may want to consider suing a lawyer for malpractice.

Can an attorney be disbarred?

The attorney could be disbarred or directed to pay you compensation. If you are disputing a fee with your lawyer, the state also likely has a fee dispute committee that can help you obtain an out-of-court resolution. You can hire another attorney to complete or fix your case and obtain the outcome you need.

Can you sue a lawyer for negligence?

To sue lawyer for negligence, you need to be able to prove the attorney didn't use the proper care in your case and missed a deadline, filed the wrong papers, didn't comply with court orders, or made other errors that were not intentional but were sloppy.

Does losing a case mean you committed malpractice?

It's important to understand that just because you lost your case, it does not mean your attorney committed malpractice. In every case, one side will win and one will lose, despite the skill and experience of the lawyers on each side.

Can you sue a lawyer for malpractice?

It is very frustrating to feel that an attorney you trusted has let you down. Suing for malpractice is one way for you to be compensated for wrongdoing by your lawyer.

How long after bankruptcy can you sue?

Two months after the debtor filed a bankruptcy case, the debtor caused an accident that totaled your car. New debt. Three months after filing for bankruptcy, the debtor asked you for a loan but failed to pay it back. In both of these cases, you can file a lawsuit because the incident took place after the debtor filed the bankruptcy case.

What happens when someone files bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy Stops Most Lawsuits. When someone files a bankruptcy case, a court order called the automatic stay immediately goes into effect. The stay stops a creditor's attempt to collect a debt from the debtor. For instance, a creditor must stop calling the debtor, as well as sending bills.

What happens if a lawsuit is already pending?

If the lawsuit was already pending when the debtor filed the bankruptcy case—and it pertains to an issue other than a debt that will be discharged in the bankruptcy, as discussed above—the parties have the option of choosing how to go forward. They can: dismiss the lawsuit.

Can bankruptcy be discharged?

The bankruptcy won't discharge a debt if the debtor caused death or injury while intoxicated. The bankruptcy court will usually allow this type of lawsuit to continue or be filed to determine if the debtor was intoxicated.

Can you file an adversary lawsuit in bankruptcy?

If the debtor filed for bankruptcy before the filing of a lawsuit, the parties can: file an adversary proceeding (a lawsuit filed in the bankruptcy court that is related to but separate from the bankruptcy case), or.

Can you file a lawsuit for fraud?

Fraud. If you're a victim of fraud and bring a lawsuit for relief, you might be able to file or continue the lawsuit during the bankruptcy case. Many debts that arise from fraud aren't discharged in bankruptcy if the bankruptcy court or a state court determines the debt arose from fraud. (Learn about bankruptcy adversary proceedings .)

Can bankruptcy stop a criminal case?

Filing bankruptcy won't stop a criminal case. Divorce and child custody. Child custody cases and marriage dissolution matters will not be directly affected by a bankruptcy. The same is true for restraining orders and "peace bonds.".

Bankruptcy Stops Most Lawsuits

  • When someone files a bankruptcy case, a court order called the automatic stayimmediately goes into effect. The stay stops a creditor's attempt to collect a debt from the debtor. For instance, a creditor must stop calling the debtor, as well as sending bills. The stay's power includes stopping many types of lawsuits cold. But the automatic stay has limitations. It only ends litigation involvi…
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Prohibited Lawsuits

  • You won't be able to file or continue with a lawsuit if the damage occurred before the bankruptcy filing and relates to one of the debts below: 1. credit card balances 2. personal loans 3. most business debts 4. debt arising from an accident (except for those that result in bodily injury or death due to intoxication) 5. medical bills 6. utility bills 7. unpaid rent, or 8. a car loan or mortgag…
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Allowed Lawsuits

  • The automatic stay doesn't prevent you from filing or continuing with all court proceedings, however. For instance, some court cases: 1. don't involve debts 2. concern nondischargeable debts, or 3. involve a legal right that won't arise until after the bankruptcy filing. Below you'll find examples of obligations that fall into each of these categories.
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Bankruptcy and State Court Lawsuits

  • If the lawsuit was already pending when the debtor filed the bankruptcy case—and it pertains to an issue other than a debt that will be discharged in the bankruptcy, as discussed above—the parties have the option of choosing how to go forward. They can: 1. dismiss the lawsuit 2. ask the bankruptcy court for permission to continue the state court su...
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