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Review content:
I hired the firm of Spesia,Ayers and Ardaugh 5&1/2 years ago.I was so happy to have someone take my case,I really didn't ask too many questions on the contract.I was told it was a standard personal injury contract,so i assumed;no payment if we lose,but if we win they get 1/3\r
After a while and they had started on my case,i was told that there should be only minimal costs tobring forth my case.It was then that I found out that besides the 1/3 I was also responsible for costs,but again was told that the costs would be minimal.\r
After the 5&1/2 years there was a settlement hearing before a judge.The other side was offering $30,000.I was told by my lawyer from the afore mentioned firm that my costs were now at $26,000.All along I was assured that I had a pretty strong case,but all of a sudden on that day my attorney told me that he felt very strongly that we would lose and that the further costs of going to trial would actually put me in debt with the firm to the tune of thousands of dollars.\r
Before we had gone to this settlement hearing,they really played it down by me telling me it was basically a standard formality before going to court.However once there,I was told that I had to decide right then and there.I was also""warned that I may incurr a large debt with them so I had better settle.\r
I was quite shaken and did not know what to do.I ended up agreeing,while tears were pouring down my face,but I felt backed against the wall.\r
As if that weren't bad enough,my attorney told me,""well at least you'll get a few bucks in your pocket""which was actually not true.You see after the costs for the case,I thought they were taking 1/3 of the remaining $4,000,but in fact it was suppose to be 1/3 of the $30,000 which would have left me in the hole.The higher ups in the firm met and they did end up giving me an ""extremely""small check instead of charging me,but for what I went through in those 51/2 years and the ""costs""i had,I actually was in the hole,not only monetarily,but that long a time being so emotionally drained,it was almost as bad as the incident my case was about.\r
Beware if you are filing a law suit!The only ones who make any money are the attorneys.I trusted these people.I thought they were fighting for me,but they were really only out their own pocketbooks.
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