Posted by Pat on 2/05/07

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I retained a labor/employment attorney in California to
represent me with a denial of disability claim from my
employer. The attorney stated that to file an appeal his fee
would be $4,000. I signed a retainer agreement and paid the
money. The attorney has dragged the appeal out for more than
a year. During this period the attorney requested additional
information from my employer and their agent regarding the
companies disability policies. During this time the attorney
said that things were progressing normally, but due to the
addition work he began to bill me hourly at the rate of an
addition $5000. I paid this and told the attorney unless he
could assure me that there was an end in sight I did not
want to continue. The attorney assured me that my case was
strong and that a decision was forth coming. I told the
attorney that unless the decision was in my favor and I
received a settlement I could not pay any further fee, to
which he acknowledged verbally. From this point there were
several months that the attorney claims to have been working
on my case with no results. I questioned that there were
time limitations with getting a response to the appeal and
what was he doing about it. The reply was that every time
the companies agent made an addition request for information
the clock was reset, and there was nothing we could do about
it. I finally told the attorney that my health was more
important than the disability and that I wanted to get on
with me life. I had not had any contact with him for several
months and recently received a bill for another $7000, and
his position is that I must pay regardless of any outcome.
My questions are 1. do I have to pay what seems to me to be
Extortion. 2. what vehicles are available to me to defend
myself. 3.Does making a complaint with the BAR do any good?
I have no intension of paying this, and can only assume that
I will be hauled into court. I have kept good records mostly
email communication that show how this Transpired. Any
assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in
advance for your cooperation.

Re: Attorny Ethics, 2/06/07, by Inland Empire Attorney.

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