what can i do if my lawyer lied to me

by Alfonso Erdman 9 min read

My Lawyer Lied to Me

  1. Fire Your Lawyer The first step in fixing your problem will be ending the relationship as soon as possible. Remember, you are the boss. ...
  2. Get Your Retainer Back If you have advanced your attorney money for services that have not yet been rendered, you have the right to have that money returned to ...
  3. Request Refund for Services Rendered

Full Answer

What should I do if my lawyer lies to me?

Oct 07, 2010 · Posted on Oct 8, 2010. You may want to call the PA State Bar and ask them this question. Because it was not your lawyer who misinformed you, there may not be anything you can do. Then again, it may be possible to hold your employer responsible if …

Can I fire my lawyer if he lied to me?

Nov 09, 2012 · To say the attorney "lied" might be an overstatement, but it appears he was mistaken. Your husband needs to file a "notice of post-conviction relief" and request an attorney be appointed if you can't afford an attorney. He needs to file this immediately. This starts the process of reviewing the case.

What to do if your lawyer stole from you?

Apr 04, 2004 · If not, then even if the attorney failed to get it on file, it's no big deal (although it's disconcerting that he might have lied to you). On the other hand, if you missed the deadline, then you need to look into hiring another attorney and suing the first guy for malpractice.

What should I do if my lawyer is not responding?

Oct 12, 2016 · if he lied to you, about what? you do not say,'' what recourse do you want? money damages? how were you damaged financially? do you want him punished? then you could get a complaint form on line from the attorney registration and disciplinary commission. based on what you wrote, i doubt it will do anything to him.

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Yes. If your lawyer is unwilling to address your complaints, consider taking your legal affairs to another lawyer. You can decide whom to hire (and fire) as your lawyer. However, remember that when you fire a lawyer, you may be charged a reasonable amount for the work already done. Most documents held by your lawyer that relate to the case are yours—ask for them. In some states, …

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What is the most common complaint against lawyers?

Perhaps the most common kinds of complaints against lawyers involve delay or neglect. This doesn't mean that occasionally you've had to wait for a phone call to be returned. It means there has been a pattern of the lawyer's failing to respond or to take action over a period of months.

What happens when a lawyer lies to his client?

If a lawyer, the lawyer's client, or a witness called by the lawyer, has offered material evidence and the lawyer comes to know of its falsity, the lawyer shall take reasonable remedial measures, including, if necessary, disclosure to the tribunal.

Can I sue a lawyer for lying?

The rules of legal ethics in most states require attorneys to be honest and to be able to do their job at a certain level of competence. If you feel that your legal representative has lied or misled you, or is performing their duties at a level below that of a competent attorney, you may want to file a lawsuit.May 8, 2020

What should you not say to a lawyer?

9 Taboo Sayings You Should Never Tell Your LawyerI forgot I had an appointment. ... I didn't bring the documents related to my case. ... I have already done some of the work for you. ... My case will be easy money for you. ... I have already spoken with 5 other lawyers. ... Other lawyers don't have my best interests at heart.More items...•Mar 17, 2021

Jeffrey Allen Howard

I'm sorry you've had this experience. It's situations like this that make people suspicious of lawyers; even if everything is on the up and up, when things are thoroughly explained misunderstandings can lead to big problems.#N#I am only licensed to practice law in North Carolina, so I can't really give you legal...

Glenn Neiman

I agree with Jeffrey. The contents of the Compromise & Release Agreement (and any attachments) is what governs the terms of a workers' compensation settlement in PA. There is also a transcript of the hearing which would approve the settlement. Hopefully, it was mentioned in the Agreement or the testimony.

Bobby L. Bollinger Jr

You may want to call the PA State Bar and ask them this question. Because it was not your lawyer who misinformed you, there may not be anything you can do. Then again, it may be possible to hold your employer responsible if you can prove what he told you.

Robert L. Cullen

I'd agree with Glenn. Reimbursement of sick time is a common theme in PA WC claims. In a perfect world, the issue would have been worked out prior to the C&R hearing. My hope is that you were paid sick time (while you were out for your work injury) & got paid WC (indemnity) benefits for the same time period.

Frederick Charles Thomas

As to the comments below, understand that the post conviction relief you are seeking is a tough burden. This is even more difficult in plea matters.

David Michael Cantor

If your husband has already been sentenced he can always try to get out of the plea agreement. In order to do this he, through his attorney, would need to show that a manifest injustice has occurred. This is a difficult hurdle to get over however it is possible.

Theodore W. Robinson

While I fully agree with the first answer offered, you should also know that the US Supreme Court has ruled that a criminal attorney must fully and properly advise their client of any potential immigration problems that could arise as a result of entering a plea of guilty.

David Kephart

To say the attorney "lied" might be an overstatement, but it appears he was mistaken. Your husband needs to file a "notice of post-conviction relief" and request an attorney be appointed if you can't afford an attorney. He needs to file this immediately. This starts the process of reviewing the case.

Burton Albert Gross

You say your lawyer lied to you then give examples of what may be poor communication between the two of you. Those are not the same thing. Either way, you discharged the attorney which was appropriate since these things =get worse no better.

Gary L. Schlesinger

what recourse do you want? money damages? how were you damaged financially? do you want him punished? then you could get a complaint form on line from the attorney registration and disciplinary commission. based on what you wrote, i...

What to do if you have a complaint about a lawyer?

If you believe you have a valid complaint about how your lawyer has handled your case, inform the organization that governs law licenses in your state. Usually this is the disciplinary board of the highest court in your state. In some states, the state bar association is responsible for disciplining lawyers.

What happens if your lawyer doesn't communicate?

A lack of communication causes many problems. If your lawyer appears to have acted improperly, or did not do something that you think he or she should have done, talk with your lawyer about it. You may be satisfied once you understand the circumstances better. I have tried to discuss my complaints with my lawyer.

What is the relationship between a lawyer and a client?

In a lawyer-client relationship, acting responsibly involves duties on both sides—and often involves some hard work. You have a right to expect competent representation from your lawyer. However, every case has at least two sides. If you are unhappy with your lawyer, it is important to determine the reasons.

Can a lawyer write a will?

For example, a lawyer may not be involved in writing a will for a client who leaves the lawyer substantial money or property in that will. Keeping Clients’ Property. If a lawyer is holding a client’s money or property, it must be kept safely and separately from the lawyer’s own funds and belongings.

What is the job of a lawyer?

Communication. A lawyer must be able to communicate effectively with a client. When a client asks for an explanation, the lawyer must provide it within a reasonable time. A lawyer must inform a client about changes in a case caused by time and circumstances. Fees.

Can a lawyer represent two clients?

A lawyer must be loyal to his or her client. This means that a lawyer cannot represent two clients who are on opposite sides in the same or related lawsuits. And, ordinarily, there can be no representation of a client whose interests would conflict with the lawyer’s interests.

What to do if you lost money because of a lawyer?

If you lost money because of the way your lawyer handled your case, consider suing for malpractice. Know, however, that it is not an easy task. You must prove two things:

What to do if your lawyer doesn't work?

If that doesn't work, as a last resort you may need to sue your lawyer in small claims court, asking the court for money to compensate you for what you've spent on redoing work in the file or trying to get the file.

What is the agency responsible for licensing and disciplining lawyers?

Every state has an agency responsible for licensing and disciplining lawyers. In most states, it's the bar association; in others, the state supreme court. The agency is most likely to take action if your lawyer has failed to pay you money that you won in a settlement or lawsuit, made some egregious error such as failing to show up in court, didn't do legal work you paid for, committed a crime, or has a drug or alcohol abuse problem.

What to do if you can't find out what has been done?

If you can't find out what has (and has not) been done, you need to get hold of your file. You can read it in your lawyer's office or ask your lawyer to send you copies of everything -- all correspondence and everything filed with the court or recorded with a government agency.

What to do if you are not satisfied with your lawyer?

If you're not satisfied with your lawyer's strategy decisions or with the arguments the lawyer has been making on your behalf, you may even want to go to the law library and do some reading to educate yourself about your legal problem.

Can you sue for legal malpractice?

If you want to sue for legal malpractice, do it as quickly as possible. A common defense raised by attorneys sued for malpractice is that the client waited too long to sue. And because this area of the law can be surprisingly complicated and confusing, there's often plenty of room for argument.

Does the state bar reimburse clients?

But all states except Maine, New Mexico, and Tennessee do have funds from which they may reimburse clients whose attorneys stole from them.

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