Has Your Lawyer Settled A Case Without Your Authorization?

Almost two decades ago, Harry H. Schneider Jr., a partner at Perkins Coie in Seattle, published his “Top Ten” list of Legal Malpractice in the March 1994 issue of the American Bar Association Journal. Entitled See You In Court, Follow These Ten Rules and You, Too, Can Be Sued for Malpractice, this article touched on many malpractice issues that remain relevant to this day. Number nine on the list was: “Settle a Matter Without Written Authorization From Your Client.” For what it’s worth, if we had written this list, we would have may have ranked this rule higher.

Although some lawyers require their clients to sign contingency agreements allowing the lawyer to settle without the client’s consent, generally the decision to settle is the client’s and the client’s alone. If your lawyer settled behind your back to make a quick buck, check your contingency agreement. Or better yet, bring it to us. We’ll take a look and let you know if you've got a case.

Who’s the Boss?

Has your lawyer ever convinced you to take an action against your better judgement? Have you ever been convinced to follow what you thought was sound lawyerly advice only to find out that this “advice” prejudiced you or cost you a significant chunk of change? Well, it may come as a surprise, but your lawyer is professionally and ethically required to follow your instructions. You make the decisions regarding your representation, not your lawyer.

A lawyer’s job is to help you navigate the labyrinth that is our legal system. Of course, a lawyer’s familiarity with the legal process enables that lawyer to make informed decisions regarding your case but the final decision is yours and yours alone. If you've ever been pressured to settle a case when you wanted to go to trial or if you've been convinced to change your position against your better judgement you may be able to recover damages against your former attorney. Remember, your lawyer works for you, not the other way around. At Stanger law, we’re ready to work for you. Call us, we can help.

Lawyers Suing Lawyers

Any time a person is injured due to medical malpractice the victim contacts a lawyer to evaluate the claim against his doctor without a second thought. So why are victims of legal malpractice hesitant to do the same regarding a claim against their attorneys? Many aggrieved clients believe that lawyers are a group of good ol’ boys who will refuse to bring suit against a fellow member of their guild. Although this may still be true of many lawyers, we, at Stanger & Arnold, are dedicated to recovering damages for our clients no matter who is the adversary. If you’ve been injured by negligent or fraudulent legal representation, call Stanger & Arnold today. We’ll stand with you and help you recover your due compensation. Times have Changed. We are here to help.