Lawyer For Suing Lawyers

[Spec.-K]

I handed my lawyers a slam dunk of a divorce case, and they've gone and squandered away over $20K, and 2.5 YEARS of my life.
When I hired them, they told me that it might take 6 months, and I'd likely get money back from my retainer....
And I hired them because there was someone taking my money, and not delivering on what they said they would, so it added insult to injury....
So now I'm about to fire them for their inaction and gross mishandling of my case, file Bar Complaints against them, and I want to come back and sue to get my money back from them, and damages for the money I'm missing out on because they failed to do their job in a timely manner...(might have to pay Capital Gains on the sale if the house too, as they've f**ked it off so long).

So...does anyone know if I need a specific type of lawyer to go after them...?
Would it be better to sue them after the Bar Complaint findings...?
Anyone have any experience in something like this...?
Also, I'd like to go on to start a fund for going after dirtbag lawyers that take advantage of guys going through a divorce, but that's much further down the road.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.
-K

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[Lilhigbee]

Sorry to hear about your situation, but take the loss and get on with your life. Lawyers do not work for you, they work for themselves. You're just the cash cow. Finding a lawyer who will actually do what you want done to your benefit ain't likely to happen. They'll just be another miner in your pocket, promising anything to keep the cash flowing. 98% of all lawyers give the rest a bad name!!
Case in point, my uncle's estate. A lawyer, ostensibly representing the adult children against the wife, has decided that the wife's marriage certificate MAY not be valid. She is Vietnamese and they were married in Vietnam. Before he died my uncle told multiple people that they were married, the wife likewise told people they were married. They were married for twelve years before he died!! What possible reason would there be for a forged marriage certificate?? None except to pad the lawyer's bill while challenging it.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.

 

[arakboss]

Sorry to hear about your situation, but take the loss and get on with your life. Lawyers do not work for you, they work for themselves. You're just the cash cow. Finding a lawyer who will actually do what you want done to your benefit ain't likely to happen. They'll just be another miner in your pocket, promising anything to keep the cash flowing. 98% of all lawyers give the rest a bad name!!
Case in point, my uncle's estate. A lawyer, ostensibly representing the adult children against the wife, has decided that the wife's marriage certificate MAY not be valid. She is Vietnamese and they were married in Vietnam. Before he died my uncle told multiple people that they were married, the wife likewise told people they were married. They were married for twelve years before he died!! What possible reason would there be for a forged marriage certificate?? None except to pad the lawyer's bill while challenging it.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Attorneys remind me of psychologists. They like to keep the meter running for as long as possible.

 

[Alexx1401]

I handed my lawyers a slam dunk of a divorce case, and they've gone and squandered away over $20K, and 2.5 YEARS of my life.
When I hired them, they told me that it might take 6 months, and I'd likely get money back from my retainer....
And I hired them because there was someone taking my money, and not delivering on what they said they would, so it added insult to injury....
So now I'm about to fire them for their inaction and gross mishandling of my case, file Bar Complaints against them, and I want to come back and sue to get my money back from them, and damages for the money I'm missing out on because they failed to do their job in a timely manner...(might have to pay Capital Gains on the sale if the house too, as they've f**ked it off so long).

So...does anyone know if I need a specific type of lawyer to go after them...?
Would it be better to sue them after the Bar Complaint findings...?
Anyone have any experience in something like this...?
Also, I'd like to go on to start a fund for going after dirtbag lawyers that take advantage of guys going through a divorce, but that's much further down the road.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.
-K

What a damn mess. Don't know if any of the members here are lawyers. As much as you have already sunk here if it was me I would be seeking the answers from another lawyer. Hopefully one you can trust. What anyone here says may mean very little especially since you are already out a chunk of change here.

 

[Tlock]

I handed my lawyers a slam dunk of a divorce case, and they've gone and squandered away over $20K, and 2.5 YEARS of my life.
When I hired them, they told me that it might take 6 months, and I'd likely get money back from my retainer....
And I hired them because there was someone taking my money, and not delivering on what they said they would, so it added insult to injury....
So now I'm about to fire them for their inaction and gross mishandling of my case, file Bar Complaints against them, and I want to come back and sue to get my money back from them, and damages for the money I'm missing out on because they failed to do their job in a timely manner...(might have to pay Capital Gains on the sale if the house too, as they've f**ked it off so long).

So...does anyone know if I need a specific type of lawyer to go after them...?
Would it be better to sue them after the Bar Complaint findings...?
Anyone have any experience in something like this...?
Also, I'd like to go on to start a fund for going after dirtbag lawyers that take advantage of guys going through a divorce, but that's much further down the road.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.
-K

I went threw something similar, the lawyer completely $#!+ the bed. I cut my losses and walked away. Been married again now for 10 years tomorrow and have a great relationship with my boys from my previous marriage. They have been living with me since they decided on their own that their mothers house wasn't where they needed to be, regardless of what the court said

 

[roseburger]

Divorce, the act of ripping out a man's heart through his wallet.

~Robin Williams

 

[Provincial]

Lawyers do not really take action against other lawyers. They go through the motions to justify billing for their time, but do not accomplish anything for their client.

Remember, the bar association is the one that disciplines lawyers, and it is made up of lawyers. They only take action if the culprit literally stole money from the client, like raiding a trust fund. Incompetence or failure to perform are not punished.

 

[Stomper]

Sorry to hear about your situation, but take the loss and get on with your life. Lawyers do not work for you, they work for themselves. You're just the cash cow. Finding a lawyer who will actually do what you want done to your benefit ain't likely to happen. They'll just be another miner in your pocket, promising anything to keep the cash flowing. 98% of all lawyers give the rest a bad name!!
Case in point, my uncle's estate. A lawyer, ostensibly representing the adult children against the wife, has decided that the wife's marriage certificate MAY not be valid. She is Vietnamese and they were married in Vietnam. Before he died my uncle told multiple people that they were married, the wife likewise told people they were married. They were married for twelve years before he died!! What possible reason would there be for a forged marriage certificate?? None except to pad the lawyer's bill while challenging it.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Total money grab...

You KNOW the marriage certificate is legit, ESPECIALLY if the State Department issued her an entry visa and permanent resident alien card!


They put you through the wringer at the U.S. Consulate... ask me how I know!

 

[Stomper]

Divorce, the act of ripping out a man's heart through his wallet.

~Robin Williams

Actually, the wallet is the target, the pathway is via his sphincter.....


-Stomper amendment #442

 

[arrowshooter]

As from above it's best to move on, there is really no chance that you will you see anything positive come from it. Count it as a blessing if you're only in for $20k.

 

[Mikej]

Actually, the wallet is the target, the pathway is via his sphincter.....


-Stomper amendment #442

^^^ MUCH more than just the edgy, funny guy on this web site! ^^^ Yep!

 

[Tlock]

As from above it's best to move on, there is really no chance that you will you see anything positive come from it. Count it as a blessing if you're only in for $20k.

After it was all said and done....the divorce was a do it yourself at the courthouse. The close to 100k was to keep my kids from moving out of state, first to Seattle the to Alabama.

 

[Stomper]

^^^ MUCH more than just the edgy, funny guy on this web site! ^^^ Yep!

 

[P7M13]

I hope your divorce is final. $20K is cheap - that was the initial retainer one attorney required for my divorce in 2007.
Your lawyer is obligated to keep detailed records of hours and costs to justify billing against escrow funds you paid them. Those details can be as generic as "phone call with client", "review case", or "at courthouse" (even if there was no court proceeding on your case that day). You may want to review them.
"Slam dunk" is just an opinion - whether yours or your attorney's, it means nothing. There are two sides, and if the opposing party chooses to fight, cost estimates mean nothing. If your attorney and opposing counsel are foursome partners at the local country club, they can be completely ethical and still bilk you both.
If you report it to the bar association, don't expect much to come of it unless the violations are a blatant and egregious breach of ethics. You'll likely not be able to find an attorney to even consider your case, just as it's extremely rare to encounter a rule 11 sanction for a frivolous lawsuit.
If you check around, WA state bar association should publish ethics complaints that have been filed against attorneys. You may want to consult it before finding another attorney.
Better luck next time.
Edit to add, my 2007 divorce was hotly contested, with multiple custody hearings and three separate attempts at mediation. It took 2-1/2 years to finalize, costing just under $40K when complete. Naturally, I was pissed about it and felt like I had been given a good rogering by a rhinoceros. Apparently, she was too and took me to court multiple times afterward. Every time a settled case is reopened, the merits of the entire case can be reviewed. With the first post settlement suit, I went to two different, highly recommended attorneys. Both reviewed the settlement and concluded that I did exceptionally well. I stopped feeling pissed, and it silenced the beotching of my GF at that time.

 

[Koda]

"Slam dunk" is just an opinion - whether yours or your attorney's, it means nothing.

I have to question any divorce case thats contested as "slam dunk". Once anything goes to trial nothing is slam dunk.
Op should just walk away, less he adds another 20k to his situation.

 

[2ndtimer]

98% of all lawyers give the rest a bad name!!

 

[2ndtimer]

The second most important decision in life is choosing your mate. I guess choosing your attorney for your divorce comes in third…

 

[Spec.-K]

I have to question any divorce case thats contested as "slam dunk". Once anything goes to trial nothing is slam dunk.
Op should just walk away, less he adds another 20k to his situation.

Slam dunk as in I have all the evidence to prove that the credit card debt she racked up in my name is ALL HERS, even providing paystubs and Google Maps data that proved I was working while my cards were being used out of state.
I have proof that we were receiving rent money from her adult son and friends that we were renting out our garage apartment to, which SHE LIED about in the Interrogatories Process.
I have proof that I was being deceived as to what the debt was, and what the amounts were, with her even going so far as to claim that a good amount was vet bills from when my elderly dog started to decline in health...

Yes, I let her handle the bills, because she has a Degree in Business Management, and convinced me that she could better handle the needs of the family(2 stepkids, no bio-kids together), but she couldn't run the business of our household without embezzling over $100K.
And this was all within 3 years of us separating and agreeing to cohabitate in different parts of the house so we could pay down debt and make a clean break.

And please bear in mind that I'm diagnosed AuDHD (Autism Spectrum Disorder/ADHD), so time moves differently in my mind.
But she used that to manipulate my trust and to rob me of over $100K once we decided that we couldn't continue on as a married unit.

And NO. I do NOT tolerate being stolen from, so both her AND the lawyers that did the same thing WILL pay...even if it means me becoming a lawyer and going after them myself!
I've had to do the lawyers job for them this entire time, so I'm fairly certain I could get a degree with a bit of effort...
But if there are any lawyers I could study under, I'd appreciate it
I also follow Washington Gun Law, and Four Boxes Diner on YouTube, so I listen to legal stuff for a good portion of my day.
Law is and always has been an interest/hobby of mine since I retain much of what I read, and grasp the material well with the quite literal nature of my brain workings...
Still, any advice OTHER than the defeatist "be lucky it wasn't more..." would be appreciated.M, because Sunk-Cost Fallacy does not compute for me, and I WILL NOT take it lying down/bent over!
-K

 

[monkeybutler]

Total money grab...

You KNOW the marriage certificate is legit, ESPECIALLY if the State Department issued her an entry visa and permanent resident alien card!


They put you through the wringer at the U.S. Consulate... ask me how I know!

Mail order bride?

 

[Spec.-K]

Mail order bride?

I've thought about it....some of thise women from India ignite a spark in me...